Label Spotlight: Ride The Fury

Tuesday

Jun082010

Tuesday, June 8, 2010 at 2:39 PM

Pat Gerity, owner & founder of Ride The Fury Records recently answered some quesitions for us regarding the ins and outs of running a label, the NJ scene, the hardcore scene as well as many other topics. Ride The Fury has been putting out releases from some of NJ's best hardcore/punk acts for the past two years. Some of the acts RTF has worked with are: Black Kites, Suburban Scum, Stressed Out and Fleshtemple. Recently RTF put out their first hip-hop release, GDP's "Magic Bullet" cassette. Find out more about the independent NJ label here.

How/when did Ride The Fury get started? Were you involved in the NJ music scene before hand?

I've been involved in the New Jersey Hardcore / Punk scene since 2000, booking shows since 2002, and have been running an independent DIY label since 2004. Ride The Fury, RTF, is comprised of a group of friends who all met through going to hardcore and punk shows in 2004. It's basically a collection of people who share similar interests, participate in bands, book shows, go to shows, write zines and are all active in the NJHC scene. I would sum it up as a crew of friends who really just want to continue improving the state of hardcore in and around New Jersey. As much as we like to joke around that we're a violent street gang, we're far from it and actually do productive things as a whole. RTF (the label) didn't get started til around 2008 when I released the Black Kites 12" Advancement to Ruins. Before that I ran a label called Try Dying Records (TDR). I Started TDR in 2004 when I was a senior in high school and released The Breakout- Prove Us Wrong EP, Years Spent Cold- Retribution and The Mongoloids / This Means Everything - Ahead of the Game Split. After the split I took some time off from putting out records and wasn't very interested in running a label anymore until Black Kites started playing shows and writing songs, I felt inspired to put out a 12" for the band. I started fresh with a new name and new mentality to try to do something different than I had before. I had never put out vinyl and Jeff is one of my best friends so I told them I would do their record for them and it worked out real well, the record rules and they're one of the best hardcore bands going right now in and outside of NJ in my opinion. After the Black Kites LP I did a CD for a band called Suburban Scum which has been on fire as of late. They've been playing some really gnarly shows with ridiculous bands like Skarhead, Stout, Bulldoze and other amazing acts. Keep a look out for them because they're going to be on some next level shit once the full length drops.

You release mostly hardcore/punk artists, but recently put out a GDP cassette. Do you plan on continuing to expand the realm of artists you work with?

I hope so, I'm really trying to broaden my horizon of artists that I work with. Miller is a good friend and even though I don't know anything about hip hop I do know that he writes amazing songs that I really enjoy listening to. He is constantly on tour and consistently writing awesome songs, like I said before I really don't know much about rap but I'm very excited to have the RTF stamp on the GDP tape. I really would love to get into putting out some more metal stuff along with more straight up punk bands and/or pop punk bands. Pretty much I am down to work with any type of artist as long as I'm into what they're doing. I only work with people I know are genuinely into what they do, they're not trying to make a buck or they're not doing it because it's cool, they're doing it because thats what they really want to do. Every cassette i've done has sounded different from the last... I've done tapes for Black Kites, Stressed Out, Night Birds, GDP, Fleshtemple and Big Eyes. Everyone of those bands sounds different than the last but still fall under the sub-genres of "underground" music. Don't get me wrong though, if Ke$ha wants to put out a tape on RTF I'm all for it.

You run your label a little differently from most, focusing on limited/alternative format releases. Why do you do this and what are the benefits?

The only thing I do that is limited is the cassettes I was just talking about. I do it because I think that it's a cool way to get people more involved with the bands. If there are only 100 tapes done and you want one, you're really going to try to get one. The only way to get my tapes is through pre-order on the internet and at the bands release show for the tape. You get a free tape with admission to the show as long as we've got them. Tapes are also very quick and easy to make so it's a great way for bands to get their new music out there. Some of the bands use the songs on the tapes for later releases too, The songs on the Black Kites "I won't accept what we've become" cassette are also on a split with Swallowed Up on Hydrogen Man records. The songs on the Big Eyes tape are also going to be released on a 7 inch. It's just a cheap, easy way to get music out to people and it's much more personal than a burned CD-R. I would much rather have a tape with interesting artwork, printing on the actual tape and an insert than someone handing me a burned CD-R they made on their computer before they went and played their show.

What would you say was your most successful release yet?

I would say the Black Kites- Advancement to Ruins 12". I had never done vinyl before, and it was a whole new ball game for me to put it out. We pressed 500 and less then 100 are left. I wouldn't really measure the success on the amount we've sold though, I would more so measure the success on how many people appreciate them as a band. I am by no means trying to take any credit for the success they've had, but on a personal level I feel like this is the most important record I've ever done. I'm constantly talking about them with friends about how they truly are a special band. It's only three dudes; they all come from different backgrounds, they're different ages and all come with their own story. They are all so similar to each other in so many ways which really comes through in the music they play. Tom was in bands like You and I, The Assistant and This Ship Will Sink, he's a wizard on the guitar and I honestly don't know how to wrap my head around the stuff he writes. Jay plays in a band called Zhenia Golov and is one of the only drummers I've ever seen that will grab a mic and have something real to say at a show. Jeff writes some of the most heart felt and honest lyrics i've ever read before, he's not singing about moshing or protecting your friends because they're you're family or any stupid bullshit that half of these idiotic "hardcore" bands these days sing about. His shit is real and you can tell it's real when you see this band live. They've gone on to write so many more songs and have grown as a band since Advancement came out and I'm just really proud to have worked with them.

What is the hardest part about running a label

I'd say the hardest part about running a label is just getting everything together to put out the release. Putting out an LP can be the biggest pain in the ass in the world... there are so many steps that go into it and half of the time they all go wrong. Everything that you can't control usually gets messed up and is just a headache. The end product is definatly worth it though. That and the post office, I hate the post office and the people there hate me too when I roll in with 100 packages to send. The angry stares and mean looks from people in line are always the brightest part of my trips there.

What are your hopes for Ride The Fury?

Right now I hope to expand the label, I'd really like to start working with more out of state bands. In the near future I'm going to be doing a tape for Product of Waste from Massachusetts, and it's going to be a split between them and the singers hip hop project. They're my favorite out of state band right now and I really hope that kids are into their music as much as I am. I also hope to start booking more shows, I've booked about five this year so far but I'd like to do more, maybe find a spot where I can do at least one or two a month. We've got a new spot at the American Legion all in Warren that has been letting us do shows. Joe from Man vs. Wild and the dudes there have really been hooking it up hard. I just hope to produce cool records that kids can get into. I've never been in a band but if my label can put out records that younger kids can listen to and think "this is cool" or "this is what I want to be involved in" then I've done my job. Hardcore and punk has always been a release for me and there are a slew of records that got me through some really tough times, if I can put out a record that helps a kid get through their shitty days then I'm happy.

How do you feel about the current state of the NJ music scene?

I think the NJ music scene is stronger than it's ever been. For years the NJHC scene was very separated and there was a ton of cliques of people who didn't get along. There was a lot of kids who just had a lot to say on the internet but didn't come out to shows and didn't do anything but complain about the way things were. Over the past 2 years or so I feel like everyone has kinda merged together as one and it's been a really positive experience. I'm good friends with people I once didn't get along with and I know the same goes for a lot of people. There are so many good bands going right now and so many people contributing to the scene. Whether it's by being in a band, booking shows, putting bands up for the night, cooking for bands, letting people use their homes for shows, writing zines...theres so many people doing a lot to support the scene right now... it's awesome. I live in a house now with two people who both book shows, play in bands ( Fleshtemple, Suburban Scum, The Banner... get into it ) and write a zine with me, we're constantly working on things that we want to bring to the table... it's a great experience.

How do you feel about the current state of the hardcore/punk scene?

I think it's been better. There are a lot of great things happening in NJ but outside of the state there's a lot of great things happening too but I feel like a lot of bands aren't trying as hard as they could be. Everyone seems to be ripping off the same few bands, we get it... you like Madball but how many times can you rip off the Set it Off intro without it becoming corny? I really feel like there are only a few bands that really have their own sound and are doing something interesting right now. I might sound critical but isn't it time that we start holding our scene to something higher since it's something we're passionate about? Product of Waste , Incendiary from Long Island, and Powertrip from Texas are just a few of the bands i'm really into from around the country. They're all AWESOME and should absolutely be checked out.

Anything you'd like to add?

Thanks a ton for the interview it's nice to see someone with a site thats consistently doing something and covering what's going on in the state. Product of Waste pre-orders go up today, don't sleep on RTF... we're running shit in 2010. http://ridethefury.bigcartel.com check it out.

NJU |