Yeah, they sorta kinda had a virtual hourlong infomercial when they were featured on an episode of FOX's much-too-long-running melodrama The O.C., when an entire plot was centered on Seth—everyone else is insignificant—and the gang attending a Rooney concert. And yeah, the lead singer, Robert Carmine, is the younger brother of actor/former Phantom Planeteer Jason Schwartzman and the son of Talia Shire (also known as The Godfather trilogy's Connie Corleone or Adrian in Rocky I through V)—and yeah, that means he's a Coppola. And admittedly, Carmine's kind of a dreamboat whenever he's not sporting the Johnny Ramone hair.
Over the years, Rooney (namesake of that principal you love to hate in Ferris Bueller's Day Off) has managed to successfully woo the under-17 too-tight-Dickies-and-Converse-wearing Can-I-Have-Your-Babies? crowd. With their squeaky-clean looks and ultra-catchy pop tracks, the group hooked pop-loving audiences with their 2003 full-length, self-titled debut. Songs such as the jingle-jangly “Blueside” or the strangely familiar-sounding “If It Were Up to Me” have the ability to evoke memories of past pop favorites of yore, Weezer and yes, even the Beach Boys. Meaning, yeah, it's plenty embarrassing sometimes admitting that I actually enjoy Rooney, sure—but just like Weezer had mastered that pop formula some 13 years prior, Rooney's adopted a similar simple-yet-somehow-not m.o.
So while your friends may laugh at you for going to see a band whose fan base mostly consists of jailbait and/or O.C. fans (the unironic kinds), if you enjoy contagious three-minute pop tracks with an almost annoyingly unforgettable chorus, then you'll like Rooney.
Plus, the Cuomo-approved, recently reunited Ozma are opening. So, uh, yeah.
Rooney with Ozma, Marjorie Fair and Everybody Else at the Glass House, 200 W. Second St., Pomona, (909) 865-3802; www.theglasshouse.us. Sat., 7:30 p.m. $12-$14. All ages.
