Local OC Punk Rock Originals Take To The Observatory Stage

IGNITE fires up The Observatory Jun 26 photo: Joe Foster

IGNITE fires up The Observatory Jun 26 photo: Joe Foster

Ignite is not just another punk rock/hardcore band from the OC, they aren’t a “here today, gone tomorrow,” flash-in-the-pan type band. Their here-to-stay talents will be displayed at a special summer kick-off touring show at the Observatory on Jun. 26.

“We are really excited to be playing a home show,” Brett Rasmussen (bassist) said. “We have a lot of great bands joining us at this show for a great ticket price.”

Founded in 1993 by Zoli Teglas (vocalist) and Rasmussen, the group has been keeping its music rocking fans for more than three decades. Now joined by the musical talents of Brian Balchack (guitar), Nik Hill (guitar), Craig Anderson (drums) and Kevin Kilkenny (guitar), Ignite has just completed their fifth album with honorary member/producer Cameron Webb who has produced many of the group’s past studio recordings.

“Our producer, Cameron Webb is like another band member at this point,” Rasmussen said. “He just knows our sound and how we like to approach our studio-recording experience.”

Their commercial-breakthrough album was released on May 30, 2000, on TVT Records, and was called “A Place Called Home”.

On one of their headlining shows at Persistence Tour 2009, the band announced they were working on a new record; however, soon after, the Pennywise website announced that front man Teglas had joined Pennywise.

“We are all really supportive of Zoli joining up with Pennywise,” Rasmussen said. “That gave us all a chance to branch out into new projects. Once Zoli took a break from touring with Pennywise, we were back playing together and writing new material that has lead to our latest studio record.”

Fans go crazy for Ignite all over Europe, Australia, South America and in their native US, and that’s why the band lives on the road, bringing the fans what they want and what they need.

“We recently returned from our first Southeast Asia tour, which was a great experience for both the band and our fans there,” Rasmussen said. “Our music is still reaching new places around the world, and we are excited to get out there and play anywhere fans want to see us.”

Ignite are a rock band with hardcore roots that supports a series of environmentally and socially conscious groups (such as Doctors Without Borders, Habitat For Humanity, Sea Shepherds, Project Blue Sea and Earth First). Ignite has donated the proceeds from a series of vinyl seven inches, ten inches, and split releases to these causes.

They’ve released three albums; A Place Called Home (2000), Past Our Means (1996), Call On My Brothers (1995), Our Darkest Days (2006) and their latest, as yet untitled full-length out soon on Century Media Records worldwide.

“We have known the crew at Century Media Records in Germany for some 15 years now and they had recently expanded in the U.S. with a new A&R team, so it seemed like the perfect time to re-sign with them and get into the studio,” Rasmussen said.

According to Rasmussen, this new album is one to look out for with a much more rooted punk rock edge than prior works. Teglas’ power-metal voice still holds true to the signature Ignite sound.