Rocketstar started taking off back in May, when they threw a free CD release party at the Paradox with Gatsby's American Dream, Acceptance, and Time to Fly. It was quite a success; 550 kids showed up, 200 CDs were sold, and Rocketstar signed another band (Time to Fly) right there at the show.
With two new albums from Time to Fly and Long Since Forgotten, the label tried to outdo itself recently with another free CD release party at the Paradox. On September 14, over 400 kids showed up, and over 100 CDs were sold. This is all pretty impressive, seeing as how the label is owned and operated by two young twentysomethings, Darrick Bourgeois and Eric Slagle.
"About two and a half years ago I put out a CD for some friends of mine in a band called Acceptance," says Darrick of the label's origin. "Acceptance played tons of shows and built a really good following, and we ended up selling 2000 CDs, so we thought 'Let's see what we can do with another band.'
"I got a hold of a demo from a band called Gatsby's American Dream," he continues. "I loved it, went to their practice the next week, and then I signed 'em. Around the same time, I also signed a third band called the Home Team, from Canada." Soon afterward, the label signed New York's Long Since Forgotten.
Right now Darrick, who is a bartender by night, pays for all the label's expenses out of his pocket. And despite the label's growing success, he's not close to breaking even. But he's still very happy.
"I didn't expect it to be this," Darrick says, motioning to the Paradox, which as he spoke was filled with 450 kids enjoying the remainder of Long Since Forgotten's set. "I'm super stoked about where we are. We've grown faster than I ever thought we would have, we've released more albums than I thought we would have at this point, and as far as what I wanted to do when I first started the label... well, we're still doing that.
"I started a record label because I was tired of hearing bands that were super good putting out crappy recordings with crappy layouts. It's so frustrating. So that was my main goal, to take bands that didn't have the resources to produce quality records, and help 'em out." MEGAN SELING
