The Rondo Brothers
Encyclopedia
The Rondo Brothers are a musical collaboration between multi-instrumentalists and producers Diamond Jim (Jim Greer) and The Bastard Prince (Brandon Arnovick) from San Francisco, California
.
who started using them as musicians for various projects and tours. Jim Greer played keyboards for the original Dr. Octagon live band, and Brandon Arnovick played guitar on the Deltron 3030
and Lovage albums as well as accompanying the groups on US tours. While doing various side jobs for Dan the Automator, Jim Greer also worked extensively as a producer and founded a record label. His first major production was the legendary art-rock group the Gun & Doll Show, whose 1998 debut album he recorded in Petaluma, CA. Greer also wrote songs with RCA
/ Or Music (Matisyahu
, Los Lonely Boys
) artist, essence, and worked as a session player for producer Bill Bottrell (Michael Jackson
, Sheryl Crow
, Shelby Lynne
). The Rondo Brothers didn't really take shape, however, until 2003, when Dan the Automator hired them both to help produce New Orleans jam band Galactic's fourth studio album, “Ruckus
”. During production Greer and Arnovick seized the opportunity to form the Rondo Brothers. Almost immediately the Rondo Brothers were asked to join Warner Brothers act Head Automatica
, and subsequently toured the United States with such seminal acts as The Rapture
, Interpol
, Thursday
and The Cure
. They remained on tour with Head Automatica for close to two years. Over this period they also began working extensively as producers and remixers, and landed numerous gigs in film & TV as well as making classic remixes of songs like Patti Page
's "Frosty The Snowman", Bob James' "Nautilus", and Mike Patton
's project Peeping Tom
for which they remixed the song "We're Not Alone". They also recorded their first full-length album "No Time Left On Earth" which featured guest appearances from Daryl Palumbo
(Glassjaw
), Vinnie Caruana
(I am the Avalanche
), Samantha Stollenwerck
, Pedro Shanahan, and Tim Carter (Kasabian).
(Atlantic) , and were invited to open the month long tour across the United States, and several shows at the Jazz Cafe In London, where they also performed with UK superstar Jamie Cullum
. Meanwhile the No Time Left On Earth blew up in Japan, being released by JetSet Records
along with 2 special edition 12" records.
During this time the Rondo Brothers helped produce The Matches
and MC Lars
track called “Hot Topic is Not Punk Rock” which garnered a great deal of success, and also scored numerous remixes of classic artists such as Charlie Parker, Billie Holiday
, Rosemary Clooney, and Dean Martin
. In 2006, Rondo Brothers worked with local Bay Area beat boxer Kid Beyond
, and made a popular remix record for the band Vinyl featuring legendary keyboardist Bernie Worell. They have also been involved in high-profile commercials for clients such as John Frieda
, Banana Republic, the NFL and Dodge
. Around this time they began working extensively with producer Jack Douglas (John Lennon
, Aerosmith
, Clutch, Cheap Trick
) and contributed a remix of a New York Dolls
song after Jack Douglas produced the New York Dolls
album "One Day It Will Please Us To Remember Even This".
Demand around the Bay Area increased, and the Rondo Brothers worked with other Bay Area artists such as the The Lovemakers
(interscope), Scissors For Lefty
(Rough Trade), Loquat
(Jack Pine Social), Jefrodisiac, and more.
In 2007 the Rondo Brothers released their second album “Seven Minutes to Midnight”. There was a second USA tour at this time where the Rondos performed with Chali2NA, Andre the Giant, and Casual from Hieroglyphics, while backing up Dan The Automator
for his NBA video game score. They also produced multiple remixes by artists such as Common (one track featuring Lily Allen
), Shwayze, and Mc Lars. The same year they also worked on the Cuba Gooding Jr. / Michael Jordan
commercial spots for Hanes
, and also appeared on the soundtrack for the hit documentary “My Kid Could Paint That
”. Later that year they scored their first full length film "Lonely Street"
Some selected works of 2008 included producing an album with Les Claypool
, “Fogshack Music Volume Two
” by Vinyl, producing tracks for MC Lars on his 2009 release of “This Gigantic Robot Kills
”, as well as contributing production to legendary hacker YT Cracker's album "the Digital Gangster". Southern artist Eric Lindell (Alligator Records) included a rondo brothers co-write on his 2008 album Gulf Coast Highway, and the Rondo Brothers also partnered with Sony Music to release a library version of their album Seven Minutes To Midnight, distributed worldwide for producers and DJ's.
2009 saw the Rondo Brothers be one of a few winners of a remix contest held by Yoko Ono
, who selected their remix of her song "The Sun Is Down" for inclusion on the Yoko Ono website, and producer Jim Greer saw success with an artist he discovered through Jack Douglas named Cyndi Harvell, who was included on Bay Area powerhouse radio stations yearly compilation. Cyndi Harvell performed at the major festival Hardly Strictly Bluegrass
, accompanied by Jim Greer on bass guitar. The Rondo Brother at this time also contributed to a project featuring two brothers called The Kin - they added production and beats to their album "The Upside", and also began an extensive side project with the Kin called "Rondo Sessions". Over 2009 and into 2010 the Rondo Brothers recorded over 40 songs with the Kin.
In 2010 they released their third album "The Foreign Globester", a concept album with MC Lars
, Motion Man, K.Flay and Beefy
. The album was released through Oglio Records
and garnered them a cover story from Oakland tastemaker weekly the East Bay Express.
2010 also saw the Rondo Brothers gain some of their most far-reaching success, as a co-write with the band Galactic, the song "Heart Of Steel", was shouted out by NPR
as a top single and also noted by the NY Times as one of the "best top ten songs of 2010" next to Cee Lo Green, Brian Eno
, Eminem
, and Neil Young
. The song was featured in numerous TV shows including True Blood
. Around this time the Rondo Brothers live drummer Tim Carter also contributed to UK superstar act Kasabian's album, which was ultimately voted album of the year by the New Music Express (NME
).
The Rondo Brother also saw success with the phenomenally successful artist Foster The People
who included the Rondo Brothers production of their song "Chin Music For The Unsuspecting Hero" on the single for the smash hit song "Pumped Up Kicks
".
2011 has seen the Rondo Brothers begin a variety of new projects, notably working extensively with folk-royalty artists Sarah Lee Guthrie & Johnny Irion
, featuring Arlo Guthrie
's daughter Sarah Lee Guthrie. They have also done several remixes for Foster The People as well as continued their near constant work on licenses and commercials.
Most recently embarked-upon project is with Bay Area Gypsy/Punk band Diego's Umbrella, for whom the Rondo Brothers have begun recording a full length album due out sometime in 2012.
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
.
Origins & Background
Greer (primarily keyboards, bass guitar, rhythm guitar, drum programming) and Arnovick (primarily lead guitar, drum programming) were mutual friends in San Francisco who worked together at a now closed nightclub called the Paradise Lounge. Upon first entering into the music business in San Francisco, one of the first people both musicians met was Dan The AutomatorDan the Automator
Daniel M. Nakamura , better known by the stage name Dan the Automator, is a Japanese-American hip hop producer. He founded the record label 75 Ark, which was distributed by Tommy Boy Records during its short existence....
who started using them as musicians for various projects and tours. Jim Greer played keyboards for the original Dr. Octagon live band, and Brandon Arnovick played guitar on the Deltron 3030
Deltron 3030
Deltron 3030 is an alternative hip hop supergroup composed of producer Dan the Automator, rapper Del the Funky Homosapien and DJ Kid Koala...
and Lovage albums as well as accompanying the groups on US tours. While doing various side jobs for Dan the Automator, Jim Greer also worked extensively as a producer and founded a record label. His first major production was the legendary art-rock group the Gun & Doll Show, whose 1998 debut album he recorded in Petaluma, CA. Greer also wrote songs with RCA
RCA
RCA Corporation, founded as the Radio Corporation of America, was an American electronics company in existence from 1919 to 1986. The RCA trademark is currently owned by the French conglomerate Technicolor SA through RCA Trademark Management S.A., a company owned by Technicolor...
/ Or Music (Matisyahu
Matisyahu
Matthew Paul Miller , better known by his Hebrew name and stage name Matisyahu, is an American Hasidic Jewish reggae and alternative rock musician....
, Los Lonely Boys
Los Lonely Boys
Los Lonely Boys is a Chicano rock power trio from San Angelo, Texas. They play a style of music they call "Texican Rock n' Roll," combining elements of rock and roll, Texas blues, brown eyed soul, country, and Tejano....
) artist, essence, and worked as a session player for producer Bill Bottrell (Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
, Sheryl Crow
Sheryl Crow
Sheryl Suzanne Crow is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, musician, and actress. Her music incorporates elements of rock, folk, hip hop, country and pop...
, Shelby Lynne
Shelby Lynne
Shelby Lynne is an American singer, songwriter and actress. The success of the 1999 album I Am Shelby Lynne led to her winning the Grammy Award for Best New Artist, even though she had been active in the music industry for some time...
). The Rondo Brothers didn't really take shape, however, until 2003, when Dan the Automator hired them both to help produce New Orleans jam band Galactic's fourth studio album, “Ruckus
Ruckus (album)
Ruckus is the fourth studio album by the New Orleans, LA based band Galactic. It was produced by Dan the Automator.-Track listing:# "Bittersweet" – 3:29# "Bongo Joe" – 3:21# "The Moil" – 3:11# "Paint" – 3:19# "Never Called You Crazy" – 3:08...
”. During production Greer and Arnovick seized the opportunity to form the Rondo Brothers. Almost immediately the Rondo Brothers were asked to join Warner Brothers act Head Automatica
Head Automatica
Head Automatica is a Dance Rock band, formed by Glassjaw frontman Daryl Palumbo with Jarvis Holden, formerly of Give Up the Ghost or American Nightmare, Jim Greer, and Brandon Arnovick.-History:...
, and subsequently toured the United States with such seminal acts as The Rapture
The Rapture (band)
The Rapture is an Indie rock band based in New York City. The band mixes influences from many genres including post-punk, acid house, disco, electronica and rock, pioneering the post-punk revival genre...
, Interpol
Interpol (band)
Interpol is an American indie rock and post-punk revival band from New York City. Formed in 1997, the band's original line-up consisted of Paul Banks , Daniel Kessler , Carlos Dengler and Greg Drudy . Drudy left the band in 2000 and was replaced by Sam Fogarino...
, Thursday
Thursday (band)
Thursday were an American rock band from New Brunswick, New Jersey. Formed in 1997, the group has released six full-length albums, their most recent being No Devolución, which was released in April 2011 on Epitaph Records...
and The Cure
The Cure
The Cure are an English rock band formed in Crawley, West Sussex in 1976. The band has experienced several line-up changes, with frontman, vocalist, guitarist and principal songwriter Robert Smith being the only constant member...
. They remained on tour with Head Automatica for close to two years. Over this period they also began working extensively as producers and remixers, and landed numerous gigs in film & TV as well as making classic remixes of songs like Patti Page
Patti Page
Clara Ann Fowler , known by her professional name Patti Page, is an American singer, one of the best-known female artists in traditional pop music. She was the best-selling female artist of the 1950s, and has sold over 100 million records...
's "Frosty The Snowman", Bob James' "Nautilus", and Mike Patton
Mike Patton
Michael Allan "Mike" Patton is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer, and actor, best known as the lead singer of the metal/experimental rock band Faith No More. He has also sung for Mr...
's project Peeping Tom
Peeping Tom
Peeping Tom is a nickname commonly given to voyeurs, particularly males. It originated with the legend of Lady Godiva, when a man named Tom watched her during her nude ride and was struck blind or dead.It may also refer to:In music...
for which they remixed the song "We're Not Alone". They also recorded their first full-length album "No Time Left On Earth" which featured guest appearances from Daryl Palumbo
Daryl Palumbo
Daryl Palumbo is an Italian American musician, , grew up in Bellmore, New York. He is the frontman of the bands Glassjaw and Head Automatica. As a youth he was a member of the Long Island straight edge band XbustedX, however he has since rejected that philosophy...
(Glassjaw
Glassjaw
Glassjaw is a four-piece rock band from Long Island, New York. The band is fronted by vocalist Daryl Palumbo and guitarist Justin Beck, and have undergone numerous line-up changes since their inception...
), Vinnie Caruana
Vinnie Caruana
Vinnie Caruana is an American singer. He was the vocalist for Long Island punk band The Movielife from their inception in 1997 until their break-up in 2003. He is now the lead singer and songwriter for the indie/post hardcore band I Am the Avalanche, a Brooklyn-based indie rock band whose first...
(I am the Avalanche
I Am the Avalanche
-History:I Am the Avalanche was formed by vocalist Vinnie Caruana after the break-up of his previous band The Movielife, and followed his short stint playing in Head Automatica....
), Samantha Stollenwerck
Samantha Stollenwerck
Samantha Stollenwerck is an American singer-songwriter. She has recorded 2 full length albums, “Square One” and “Carefree” and also released a 4 song EP, “Summerlove”...
, Pedro Shanahan, and Tim Carter (Kasabian).
Career
Released on September 7, 2004, No Time Left On Earth was a hit among the college demographic with the track “Hey Stewardess” which featured Daryl Palumbo & Samantha Stollenwerck.. At this point the Rondo Brothers had also contributed various performances to the album White People by Handsome Boy Modeling SchoolHandsome Boy Modeling School
Handsome Boy Modeling School was a collaborative project between renowned hip hop producers Dan the Automator and Prince Paul...
(Atlantic) , and were invited to open the month long tour across the United States, and several shows at the Jazz Cafe In London, where they also performed with UK superstar Jamie Cullum
Jamie Cullum
Jamie Cullum is an English pop and jazz-pop singer-songwriter. Though he is primarily a vocalist/pianist he also accompanies himself on other instruments including guitar and drums. Since April 2010, he has been presenting a weekly jazz show on BBC Radio 2, broadcast on Tuesdays from 19:00.- Early...
. Meanwhile the No Time Left On Earth blew up in Japan, being released by JetSet Records
Jetset Records
Jetset Records was a New York-based indie rock record label. The label has released a variety of independent bands, including Firewater, Sun Kil Moon and Mogwai.-Roster:*16 Horsepower*Arab Strap*Black Box Recorder*Dean and Britta*Congo Norvell...
along with 2 special edition 12" records.
During this time the Rondo Brothers helped produce The Matches
The Matches
The Matches are a United States-based band formed in 1997 in Oakland, California. It currently is composed of vocalist and rhythm guitarist Shawn Harris, lead guitarist and backup vocalist Jonathan Devoto, bassist and backup vocalist Dylan Rowe, and drummer Matt Whalen...
and MC Lars
MC Lars
Andrew Robert MacFarlane Nielsen is an American rapper, known by his stage name MC Lars. He is the self-proclaimed originator of "post-punk laptop rap". He was one of the first underground rappers to sample and reference post-punk and emo bands...
track called “Hot Topic is Not Punk Rock” which garnered a great deal of success, and also scored numerous remixes of classic artists such as Charlie Parker, Billie Holiday
Billie Holiday
Billie Holiday was an American jazz singer and songwriter. Nicknamed "Lady Day" by her friend and musical partner Lester Young, Holiday had a seminal influence on jazz and pop singing...
, Rosemary Clooney, and Dean Martin
Dean Martin
Dean Martin was an American singer, film actor, television star and comedian. Martin's hit singles included "Memories Are Made of This", "That's Amore", "Everybody Loves Somebody", "You're Nobody till Somebody Loves You", "Sway", "Volare" and "Ain't That a Kick in the Head?"...
. In 2006, Rondo Brothers worked with local Bay Area beat boxer Kid Beyond
Kid Beyond
Kid Beyond is a singer, beat boxer and live looper based in the San Francisco area.-Early career:Chaikin attended Brown University and was a leader in the co-ed fraternity Zeta Delta Xi. He sang in the Jabberwocks, a student a cappella group...
, and made a popular remix record for the band Vinyl featuring legendary keyboardist Bernie Worell. They have also been involved in high-profile commercials for clients such as John Frieda
John Frieda
John Frieda is an English celebrity hairstylist and founder of hair salon and hair product businesses. The hair product business was acquired in 2002 by Kao Corporation, Japan. The hair products he created are widely available in the United States and many other countries.-Early life:Frieda was...
, Banana Republic, the NFL and Dodge
Dodge
Dodge is a United States-based brand of automobiles, minivans, and sport utility vehicles, manufactured and marketed by Chrysler Group LLC in more than 60 different countries and territories worldwide....
. Around this time they began working extensively with producer Jack Douglas (John Lennon
John Lennon
John Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
, Aerosmith
Aerosmith
Aerosmith is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "The Bad Boys from Boston" and "America's Greatest Rock and Roll Band". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based hard rock, has come to also incorporate elements of pop, heavy metal, and rhythm and blues, and has inspired many...
, Clutch, Cheap Trick
Cheap Trick
Cheap Trick is an American rock band from Rockford, Illinois, formed in 1973. The band consists of members Robin Zander , Rick Nielsen , Tom Petersson , and Bun E...
) and contributed a remix of a New York Dolls
New York Dolls
The New York Dolls is an American rock band, formed in New York in 1971. The band's protopunk sound prefigured much of what was to come in the punk rock era; their visual style influenced the look of many new wave and 1980s-era glam metal groups, and they began the local New York scene that later...
song after Jack Douglas produced the New York Dolls
New York Dolls
The New York Dolls is an American rock band, formed in New York in 1971. The band's protopunk sound prefigured much of what was to come in the punk rock era; their visual style influenced the look of many new wave and 1980s-era glam metal groups, and they began the local New York scene that later...
album "One Day It Will Please Us To Remember Even This".
Demand around the Bay Area increased, and the Rondo Brothers worked with other Bay Area artists such as the The Lovemakers
The Lovemakers
The Lovemakers were an electropop/New Wave band from Oakland, California. The band was formed in the spring of 2002 by Scott Blonde and Lisa Light who are the two core members. Light and Blonde met in 2002 via Blonde's manager, who Light was dating at the time...
(interscope), Scissors For Lefty
Scissors for lefty
Scissors for Lefty are an indie rock band, based in San Francisco. They released their debut album, Bruno, in 2005 on Rough Trade Records .-Biography:...
(Rough Trade), Loquat
Loquat
The loquat , Eriobotrya japonica, is a fruit tree in the family Rosaceae, indigenous to southeastern China. It was formerly thought to be closely related to the genus Mespilus, and is still sometimes known as the Japanese medlar...
(Jack Pine Social), Jefrodisiac, and more.
In 2007 the Rondo Brothers released their second album “Seven Minutes to Midnight”. There was a second USA tour at this time where the Rondos performed with Chali2NA, Andre the Giant, and Casual from Hieroglyphics, while backing up Dan The Automator
Dan the Automator
Daniel M. Nakamura , better known by the stage name Dan the Automator, is a Japanese-American hip hop producer. He founded the record label 75 Ark, which was distributed by Tommy Boy Records during its short existence....
for his NBA video game score. They also produced multiple remixes by artists such as Common (one track featuring Lily Allen
Lily Allen
Lily Rose Beatrice Cooper , better known as Lily Allen, is an English recording artist and fashion designer. She is the daughter of actor and musician Keith Allen and film producer Alison Owen. In her teenage years, her musical tastes evolved from glam rock to alternative...
), Shwayze, and Mc Lars. The same year they also worked on the Cuba Gooding Jr. / Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan
Michael Jeffrey Jordan is a former American professional basketball player, active entrepreneur, and majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats...
commercial spots for Hanes
Hanes
Hanes and Hanes Her Way are brands of apparel currently owned by the HanesBrands, Inc Corporation...
, and also appeared on the soundtrack for the hit documentary “My Kid Could Paint That
My Kid Could Paint That
My Kid Could Paint That is a 2007 documentary film by director Amir Bar-Lev . The movie follows the early artistic career of Marla Olmstead, a young girl from Binghamton, NY who gains fame first as a child prodigy painter of abstract art, and then becomes the subject of controversy concerning...
”. Later that year they scored their first full length film "Lonely Street"
Some selected works of 2008 included producing an album with Les Claypool
Les Claypool
Leslie Edward "Les" Claypool is an American musician and writer, best known as the lead vocalist and bassist in the band Primus. Claypool's playing style on the electric bass mixes tapping, flamenco-like strumming, whammy bar bends and slapping.Claypool has also self produced and engineered his...
, “Fogshack Music Volume Two
Fogshack Music Volume Two
Fogshack Music Volume Two is an album by Marin County band Vinyl, produced by The Rondo Brothers.-Track listing:#"Less Introduction" - 0:17#"Jelly James Jam" - 4:26...
” by Vinyl, producing tracks for MC Lars on his 2009 release of “This Gigantic Robot Kills
This Gigantic Robot Kills
This Gigantic Robot Kills is the sixth album by nerdcore musician MC Lars.Lars has stated that he worked with "Weird Al" Yankovic, the Rondo Brothers, Nick Rowe and Mike Kennedy of Bloodsimple, James Bourne of Busted, Daniel Dart of Time Again, Donal Finn of Flash Bastard, Pierre Bouvier of Simple...
”, as well as contributing production to legendary hacker YT Cracker's album "the Digital Gangster". Southern artist Eric Lindell (Alligator Records) included a rondo brothers co-write on his 2008 album Gulf Coast Highway, and the Rondo Brothers also partnered with Sony Music to release a library version of their album Seven Minutes To Midnight, distributed worldwide for producers and DJ's.
2009 saw the Rondo Brothers be one of a few winners of a remix contest held by Yoko Ono
Yoko Ono
is a Japanese artist, musician, author and peace activist, known for her work in avant-garde art, music and filmmaking as well as her marriage to John Lennon...
, who selected their remix of her song "The Sun Is Down" for inclusion on the Yoko Ono website, and producer Jim Greer saw success with an artist he discovered through Jack Douglas named Cyndi Harvell, who was included on Bay Area powerhouse radio stations yearly compilation. Cyndi Harvell performed at the major festival Hardly Strictly Bluegrass
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, or HSB for short is an annual free music festival held the first weekend of October in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. From its outset, the festival has been subsidized by San Francisco venture capitalist Warren Hellman. The first festival was held in 2001, originally...
, accompanied by Jim Greer on bass guitar. The Rondo Brother at this time also contributed to a project featuring two brothers called The Kin - they added production and beats to their album "The Upside", and also began an extensive side project with the Kin called "Rondo Sessions". Over 2009 and into 2010 the Rondo Brothers recorded over 40 songs with the Kin.
In 2010 they released their third album "The Foreign Globester", a concept album with MC Lars
MC Lars
Andrew Robert MacFarlane Nielsen is an American rapper, known by his stage name MC Lars. He is the self-proclaimed originator of "post-punk laptop rap". He was one of the first underground rappers to sample and reference post-punk and emo bands...
, Motion Man, K.Flay and Beefy
Beefy (artist)
Keith A. Moore , is a Nerdcore rapper from The Tri-Cities, WA better known by the stage name Beefy.In 2005, Moore produced two independent EPs, The Whitesican EP and nerd...
. The album was released through Oglio Records
Oglio Records
Oglio Records is an American record company started in 1993 by Carl Caprioglio. They are well-known for issuing compilations of rare 1980's modern rock and New Wave songs, many of which were previously unreleased on CD...
and garnered them a cover story from Oakland tastemaker weekly the East Bay Express.
2010 also saw the Rondo Brothers gain some of their most far-reaching success, as a co-write with the band Galactic, the song "Heart Of Steel", was shouted out by NPR
NPR
NPR, formerly National Public Radio, is a privately and publicly funded non-profit membership media organization that serves as a national syndicator to a network of 900 public radio stations in the United States. NPR was created in 1970, following congressional passage of the Public Broadcasting...
as a top single and also noted by the NY Times as one of the "best top ten songs of 2010" next to Cee Lo Green, Brian Eno
Brian Eno
Brian Peter George St. John le Baptiste de la Salle Eno , commonly known as Brian Eno or simply as Eno , is an English musician, composer, record producer, singer and visual artist, known as one of the principal innovators of ambient music.Eno studied at Colchester Institute art school in Essex,...
, Eminem
Eminem
Marshall Bruce Mathers III , better known by his stage name Eminem or his alter ego Slim Shady, is an American rapper, record producer, songwriter and actor. Eminem's popularity brought his group project, D12, to mainstream recognition...
, and Neil Young
Neil Young
Neil Percival Young, OC, OM is a Canadian singer-songwriter who is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation...
. The song was featured in numerous TV shows including True Blood
True Blood
True Blood is an American television series created and produced by Alan Ball. It is based on The Southern Vampire Mysteries series of novels by Charlaine Harris, detailing the co-existence of vampires and humans in Bon Temps, a fictional, small town in the state of Louisiana...
. Around this time the Rondo Brothers live drummer Tim Carter also contributed to UK superstar act Kasabian's album, which was ultimately voted album of the year by the New Music Express (NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
).
The Rondo Brother also saw success with the phenomenally successful artist Foster The People
Foster the People
Foster the People is an American indie pop band formed in Los Angeles, California in 2009. The group is composed of Mark Foster , Mark Pontius , and Cubbie Fink...
who included the Rondo Brothers production of their song "Chin Music For The Unsuspecting Hero" on the single for the smash hit song "Pumped Up Kicks
Pumped Up Kicks
"Pumped Up Kicks" is a song by American indie pop band Foster the People. It was released as the group's debut single in September 2010, and was later included on their EP Foster the People and their debut album Torches. The song was written and recorded by frontman Mark Foster while working as a...
".
2011 has seen the Rondo Brothers begin a variety of new projects, notably working extensively with folk-royalty artists Sarah Lee Guthrie & Johnny Irion
Sarah Lee Guthrie & Johnny Irion
Sarah Lee Guthrie and Johnny Irion are a musical duo....
, featuring Arlo Guthrie
Arlo Guthrie
Arlo Davy Guthrie is an American folk singer. Like his father, Woody Guthrie, Arlo often sings songs of protest against social injustice...
's daughter Sarah Lee Guthrie. They have also done several remixes for Foster The People as well as continued their near constant work on licenses and commercials.
Most recently embarked-upon project is with Bay Area Gypsy/Punk band Diego's Umbrella, for whom the Rondo Brothers have begun recording a full length album due out sometime in 2012.