O.C. Supertones

The theme is that of a high school yearbook. The O.C. Supertones (yes, that’s short for “Orange County”) have no qualms with dressing in the garb of various school clubs, including the geeky astronomy society, the pretentious student theatrical group or the yuppie varsity golf team. Unknowingly, the photo shoot put the reggae-rock Christian band on a unique path for 2001.

“On our last two tours, we carried extensive production with us,” manager David Bahnson of Davdon Artist Agency told POLLSTAR. “Two semi-trucks, two buses, the whole moving-lights thing we were spending in excess of probably $25,000 a week in production and our numbers weren’t going up. If anything, they were going down. It was a fun show, it was impressive, but I thought what we should do on the next tour is have more of a concept as opposed to a regular Supertones concert with just a ton of lights and fancy-shmancy sound; I thought we needed an angle.

“When we did our photo shoot for the new album … with all those different looks and everything, I just came up with the concept of the tour. It was creative, it was fun, people would get behind it and yet, it wasn’t going to cost us $25,000 a week.”

“I think we’re going to call it the Loud and Clear Dance Party USA,” said O.C. Supertones bassist Tony Terusa. “If you come and dress up in the whole homecoming getup, you get a couple bucks off. There’ll be a photo booth and we’ll have a dance contest. We want to get into as many high schools as possible. If you go into a city and there’s something going on at school, it’ll be cool for kids [to go there] instead of going to a local church they’re not familiar with.”

The band started in 1991 when singer Matt Morginsky and some high school buddies formed a Christian rock band called Saved. By 1995, the ska-based O.C. Supertones were faves in San Clemente, Calif. At the time Southern California being a fertile petri dish for ska bands the newly named Supertones were signed to an agency, management and record company almost as soon as they set foot onstage.

Tooth and Nail/BEC Recordings’ Brandon Ebel inked the band despite his previous hesitancy for the more eclectic Saved. For agency, the Supertones approached Bahnson, who was recognized for his work with MxPx. Bahnson then approached the band about doing management as well.

But what is good and right for 1995 can become stale for 2000. Knowing this, and despite having its last album debut at No. 1 on the Christian charts, the Supertones are moving away from ska toward a more rock ‘n’ roll sound. Now, if only they can get the Christian market to understand.

“Yeah, we’ve been a little bit disappointed in the way the Christian CHR radio has approached the record,” Bahnson said laughing. “They seem to think that it has real strong ska influence, which I just don’t hear at all. I think they’ve done a real good job of transitioning out of the generic ska.”

Accordingly, he said Plan B is to go to a song with more specific Christian lyrics for the second single. Still, Bahnson pointed out the album is selling approximately 5,000 units a week prior to touring.

“We’ve been dealing with Christian radio stations not taking too kindly to us,” Terusa added. “We’re stuck in a neutral zone. … For mainstream, it’s too Christian and with Christian, it’s too alternative, so you get minimal play.

“Excuse me for sounding prideful,” he added, “but bands that haven’t sold as much as us, or not even half, are getting way more play. … It’s a tough situation but we just take everything with joy, try and smile, and say, ‘It’s good, the Lord’s good and we’ll see what happens.'”

Bahnson said that the band will tour the U.S. in the spring and Europe in the summer; his agency is booking Australia and New Zealand for August. Although this will be the longest tour the band has taken as a headliner (some 20 extra cities’ worth), the Supertones are road warriors accustomed to a 120-date year.

“I think this tour is going to be the most successful one on the Christian youth market in 2001,” Bahnson said. “I think the timing is perfect. We have a great concept and the marketing and promotions are certainly the most sophisticated and thorough of anything I’ve been a part of.”

The Supertones tour with Switchfoot and Reliant K, kicking it off in Knoxville, Tenn., February 1st. Although high school gyms and auditoriums were sought, Terusa said those venues were not often available.

“The problem that we’ve run into is that high schools and their administrations are reluctant. They would rather not bring in a rock band. They’re scared of vandalizing or whatever, getting the kids in trouble on the campus. I don’t agree.”

In the meantime, the O.C. Supertones continue to average several thousand fans per show, approximately 80 percent Christian, according to Bahnson. That’s a big jump from the 25 kids at the local skateboard park where it all started.