The Running

The Running’s funky mix of grunge, reggae, and blues has been pleasing fans and moving bodies from New York City to Nashville to the Virgin Islands since their inception in 2006. Playing more than six hundred shows in North America, they have shared the stage with the likes of The Wailers, Cage the Elephant, Ghostland Observatory, Skrillex, Keller Williams, Nappy Roots, The Supervillians, Iration, The Pink Spiders, Dubconscious, Nappy Roots, and many others. The Running has self-released two albums and has more than seven thousand albums circulating and spreading good vibes. The name itself, The Running, refers to their attitude toward musical conformity. “It’s idiotic to conform to current standards because they are constantly changing,” says Andy, the drummer. Instead, The Running values musical freedom, choosing to carve out their own niche in the industry by focusing on what feels right to them. “We don’t write songs for hooks,” says Mike, on vocals and guitar. “We write songs about the situations that we’re dealing with in our lives at that moment in a way that people can identify with. It’s also a healing process for ourselves." Most of The Running’s songs have an underlying reggae tone, but each could be described as fitting into a different genre, often combining genres in the same song. They go beyond Sublime’s punk-ska combination to create multi-layered songs that bring in different styles and levels of intensity. For example, “My Gun” incorporates grunge rock, blues, and rap, while “Right In Between” is a mix of punk, funk, and blues. This unique style of musical expression results in a very diverse fan base and an incredible amount of crossover potential. This is definitely not background music. Live shows are where The Running’s talent truly shines. Their music creates an energetic atmosphere, in which the listener’s awareness is heightened by the ever-present element of surprise. The Running has played Nashville's premier venues including Exit/In and City Hall, The Knitting Factory in New York City, as well as in Atlanta, Bowling Green, Gulf Shores, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Fort Walton Beach, and everywhere in between. They have also played Red Gorilla Music Fest in Austin, TX, Starry Nights Festival in Bowling Green, KY, the Free Eric Volz Benefit in Summertown, TN, and Rock for a Cure in Bowling Green, KY. The Running released their first album, Not From Around Here, on August 11, 2007. The name of the album reveals the comedic nature of the artists, referencing some interesting personal interactions while on tour. The album was recorded in Nashville and was mixed and mastered in New York City by co-producer Daniel Imana. Their second album, released November 21, 2009, received praise from the Nashville Scene, “Their new concert album, Running for Your Live, recorded at Tidball's in Bowling Green, KY, exhibits a band that not only busts its ass on the promotional end but the performance side as well—these are talented dudes with serious chops ready to throw down all they've got to keep the crowd amped.” Mike Williams and Andy Zimmerman have known each other since middle school, growing up in Bellevue, Tennessee. After high school, they played together in the band, Infinite Nameless, for about 6 months. Originally from Queens, NY, a re-connection with schoolmate Christ Mironescu was made in March 2006, and The Running was officially formed. With Mike on vocals and guitar, Christ on bass, and Andy on drums, their first show took place May 5, 2006 at Springwater in Nashville. They are influenced by various artists, including System of a Down, Nirvana, Primus, Muse, and Barrington Levy. Christ holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Business from Middle Tennessee State University’s Recording Industry program and a Masters in Business Administration, giving The Running an advantage in an industry that is quickly changing. They work diligently to manage all aspects of the band on their own. As Christ says, “It’s all about combining our love of music with the business knowledge necessary to put out a product that speaks true to who we are. The Recording Industry is constantly changing. In today’s market, you have to be an entrepreneur. Do it yourself. You can’t wait on a label to come along and do it all for you.” The content of The Running’s songs is extremely diverse. Mike writes about the relationships he sees around him in “Get High” and “WWIII,” his nostalgia for childhood’s lack of responsibility in “Sadderdays,” and friendship in “Pina Colada.” There are also instrumentals, “Laser Tag” and “BoBerry Jam,” as well as unique reggae covers of The Fresh Prince of Bel Air theme and Ice Cube’s “Today Was a Good Day.” In the next five years, The Running plans to expand geographically, with a focus on the West Coast, where sounds similar to theirs, Sublime and Slightly Stoopid for example, have traditionally flourished. They intend to widen their fan base, play shows in different markets, and push radio play as much as possible. As Andy puts it, “Do yourself a favor, and catch up with The Running.” written by Shelley Maddox Keep your eyes and ears open, we're about to drop that last joint