Songwriter Finds His Niche as Producer and Engineer

Like other aspiring songwriters, Jeff Forrest moved here from Atlanta four years ago hoping to produce work that would gain the favor of recording moguls. Instead, he has become one. The 36-year-old Forrest recently launched Immune, San Diego’s newest independent record label and quickly came to terms with its first artist--former San Diegan and current musician-to-the-stars, Mike Keneally. Recording on Keneally’s first solo album begins in late-August for a proposed November release.

For years, Forrest has recorded his music under the name Forrest Butler, while simultaneously producing and engineering recordings for other local acts at his East County studio, Doubletime Productions. A year ago, he set aside his performance ambitions to concentrate on production.

“Business (at the studio) was pretty steady, but then a year ago it began snowballing and eventually became overwhelming,” Forrest said Monday by phone from his studio. “In the past year alone, I’ve recorded (local bands) Rocket From the Crypt, Drip Tank, Earl Thomas and the Blues Ambassadors, Willie Jaye and the Texas Hurricanes, Baba Yaga, Bicycle Thieves, Cindy Lee Berryhill, and, of course, Mike, who’s great.”

Most of Forrest’s clients were not signed to recording contracts, and it was during the process of bringing some of these “independent” projects to the attention of the industry at large that Forrest got the brainstorm to establish the Immune label.

“We were ‘shopping’ some of the bands’ demo tapes to the major labels, but because I’d already recorded them in my studio we really didn’t need a label to provide a recording budget,” he said. “I was talking to some record distributors, when it occurred to me that we should just start our own label, since the music was already in the can. The good news is that several of the better-known distributors were very receptive to the idea.”

The major record labels either have affiliated distribution departments or have agreements with independent companies to distribute their product. Among the distributors who have agreed to handle Immune’s product are Dutch East and Rough Trade, both leading distributors of punk and alternative rock acts. As the first beneficiary of Immune’s new connections, Keneally--who has performed and recorded with both Frank and Dweezil Zappa and Screamin’ Jay Hawkins--couldn’t be more pleased.

“I’ve recorded at some top studios, and in those situations, where time is so expensive, you’re inclined to take the most expedient route,” Keneally, a guitarist and keyboardist, said Monday by phone from Los Angeles. “But because of Jeff’s interest and enthusiasm and the informal vibe at his studio, there’s the compulsion to experiment more and to go for unique sounds. On the demos I’ve shopped to major labels, the songs that Jeff engineered have always gotten the best response. I have a lot of confidence in him musically, and I’m anxious to get back in the studio with him. I have faith that this album we’re going to do will be quite startling.”

Those who attended “91X-FM’s Listener Appreciation Party” at SDSU’s Open Air Theatre might have wondered what happened to Bobcat Goldthwait, who had been advertised as emcee. As it so happens, the comedian-actor is a big fan of 91X (which he can receive clearly in L.A.), and he occasionally makes his services available to the station without 91X having to go through the normal agency-management channels. That’s how 91X nabbed him to anchor Saturday’s seven-hour blast, which featured Los Lobos, Social Distortion, Material Issue, Soup Dragons, the Catherine Wheel, Dave Sharp and Pato Banton.

However, Goldthwait hadn’t first checked with his New York- based agent, who already had him booked elsewhere. Last-minute scrambling by 91X landed a replacement: comic Pauly Shore (currently starring in the film, “Encino Man”), who did 20 minutes between Material Issue and the Soup Dragons. Local comedians Rene Sandoval and Russ T. Nailz filled in elsewhere.

GRACE NOTES: Though no on-sale dates have been announced, a reunited Emerson, Lake and Palmer will stop at SDSU’s Open Air Theatre on Aug. 26 while touring in support of “Black Moon,” their first album of new music in 14 years. Meanwhile, a re-mastered, two-CD compilation of material from the progressive-rock trio’s previous 10 albums, titled “The Atlantic Years,” is scheduled to be released July 14.

BOOKINGS: (Tickets for the following concerts will be sold at all TicketMaster outlets unless otherwise specified.) After some shifting and cancellations, the lineup for this year’s concerts at the Del Mar Fair is set. Admission is free with admission to the fair ($6 for adults). Due to ongoing construction at the west grandstand, the shows will be presented at a temporary site on the infield, behind where the Grandstand Stage has always been. To reach the area, take the pedestrian bridge at the east end of the old grandstand. The schedule is as follows, with all shows beginning at 7:30 p.m.:

Larry Carlton (bringing his blues group), tonight (moved from Saturday); Atlantic Starr, Thursday; the Charlie Daniels Band, Friday; RTZ, Saturday; Carman Licciardello, Sunday; Billy Dean, Monday; Peabo Bryson, Tuesday; Shanice, June 24; Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, June 25; Sawyer Brown (replacing Kathy Mattea), June 26; Richard Elliot, June 27; a Pipless Gladys Knight, June 28; Gallagher, June 29; Gerardo, June 30; Ricky Van Shelton, July 1; Mary Chapin Carpenter, July 2; Richard Marx, July 3; Paul Anka, July 4, and Little Joe Y La Familia, July 5.

Cold Gin, a Kiss “tribute” band reportedly endorsed by Kiss originals Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, re-creates the Kiss experience Friday at Winter’s, with Dr. X and the Lonely Souls. . . . South African poet-turned-musician Mzwakhe Mbuli performs at Bogey’s in Mission Valley on June 25 ($8, on sale now at Lou’s Records in Encinitas, Mama Root downtown, Irieations at SDSU and Jamaican Place in Pacific Beach and Trade Roots in Golden Hill or call 452-SEAT). . . . An all-woman program at the San Diego Woman’s Club on June 26 will feature blues belter Marla BB, accompanied by pianist Nina Goldin, and a local group consisting of vocalist Candye Kane, pianist Sue Palmer and trombonist April West of Tobacco Road and drummer Sharon Shufelt. Tickets are $10 and are available at the Blue Door Bookstore and Paradigm Women’s Books. Call 298-4916 or 296-0306. . . . The Chickasaw Mudd Puppies plays the Casbah on June 26 ($6 at the door, call 294-9033). . . . The Levellers plays SDSU’s Backdoor on July 8. . . . Agent Orange, Inch and Lucy’s Fur Coat are at Winter’s July 11 ($7 through TicketMaster or at the door, 278-TIXS or 582- 1813). . . . The Rollins Band and Tool perform at Iguanas on July 18 . . . Tickets ($25) are on sale for Neil Diamond’s Sept. 25 “in the round” show at the Sports Arena.

CRITIC’S CHOICE CATCH-22 ON A TEAR

Local rock band Catch-22 has been making waves. In April, the group auditioned for a spot on the television show, “Star Search,” and recently the band got the good news: On June 26, Catch-22 will tape a performance at Universal Studios in Orlando, for airing on the program sometime in the near future. Before leaving for Florida, the band will perform at 8:30 p.m. Thursday on the Del Mar Fair’s Fiesta Stage and at the Park Place club in El Cajon on Monday.