Running on full

4. They know the right people. As Runner Runner began to amass a following, it hooked up with Recor, who has worked as a road manager for Loggins and Messina and other artists. Berry had played in the backup band for singer Lucy Walsh, Recor's stepdaughter, and she introduced Recor to Berry's group.

Recor recommended the band to friend and fellow industry veteran Jack Ponti, who runs Merovingian (MRV) Music, a label affiliated with EMI/Capitol Records. When Ponti expressed interest in Runner Runner, Recor and fellow Worldwide Pants partner Fred Nigro created C.E. Music to release the album.

If the above paragraph sounds like a music-industry mouthful, well, those are the connections that lift a band out of playing neighborhood bars.

The headline of the band's latest press release reads as follows: "Runner Runner Signs With EMI's Capitol Records Worldwide Pants Inc./MRV Alliance."

Recor, who credits the band's work ethic for much of its success, is convinced all those dealings will pay off.

"There's a lot of bands like this out there, but no one writes the songs like these guys do," he said. "These guys are great songwriters — a lot of radio appeal, good, hooky choruses, melodies."

A label executive hooked the band up with Los Angeles producer Dave Darling, who has worked with the Stray Cats, Brian Setzer and Soulive. Even the band's publicist is an old pro; Robinson-Fitzgerald counts System of a Down, Van Halen and other legends among her clients over the years.

5. Their name comes from poker, not sports. "It means things lining up perfectly for your hand to work," explained Ogren, who once dreamed of being a professional poker player. "Runner runner means you have to get two perfect cards to beat your opponent. I think that concept worked for our band."

6. They can still stand to be in the same house with one another. So far, success hasn't marred the friendships that hold Runner Runner together.

A few years ago, all five members rented a home together in Surf City; Bailey, Munters and Berry still live there, while Ogren and Ulrich have their own apartments nearby.

They're communal with songwriting, too — all the tracks on the album are credited to the entire band.