E-Mail This Article to a Friend Shakin’ all over Rooney go national BY SEAN RICHARDSON

It’s been a year since Rooney put out their first album, Rooney (Geffen), which evokes the summertime cheer of everybody from the Beach Boys to Weezer. The disc earned more than its share of critical acclaim, and the band played Lollapalooza 2003, but radio gave them a cool reception. That changed this January, when the LA rockers performed the album’s second single, "I’m Shakin,’ " on an episode of The O.C. The song has since gained a foothold on Top 40 radio, and the band are in the midst of a six-week North American tour that hits Axis in Boston this Tuesday.

"I’m Shakin’ " is a breezy, escapist tune with offbeat lyrics about, among other things, staying home sick and watching the 1980s kid classic The Neverending Story. "Illness is a weird topic for a really simple pop song," Rooney frontman Robert Carmine admits. "It’s funny to watch people come to the shows and sing that song, because most of them have no idea what it’s about. People always think it’s about a bad drug trip." Most of Rooney was produced by Keith Forsey (Billy Idol), but the band recorded "I’m Shakin’ " with Interscope founder Jimmy Iovine, who began his career as a producer but rarely works behind the boards today. "It was a pretty big deal to have Jimmy in the studio with us," Carmine says. "We went to meet with different people before we got signed, and he really liked the band. We were talking about producers, and he was like, ‘I’ll produce you.’ We were like, ‘Okay, we’re going to hold you to that.’ "

The album’s vintage production is one of its strengths, and the 21-year-old Carmine makes no bones about his love for the classics. "I’m just a sucker for a great melody, whether it’s a song that’s out now or from the 1960s. We’re still discovering new bands. I picked up the second Nuggets box set, with all the British bands, and there’s so much good stuff on there. We’re trying to make songs that when you put them on, something about them grabs you right away, whether it’s a cool groove or a cool melody or great harmonies."

Iovine isn’t Rooney’s only high-powered ally: like his older brother, Rushmore star Jason Schwartzman, Carmine has Hollywood roots that run deep. He had a prominent role of his own in Disney’s The Princess Diaries, but music has always been his first love. "I stole my brother’s four-track when I was 13 and started recording little things. ‘Blueside’ was written when I was 16. The band was together way before anyone was trying to make extra money on the side with movies. Now that we can actually tour and make money off it, this is what we do. There are no other side projects."

As soon as they get off the road, Rooney are heading into the studio to record their second album. Carmine already has a bunch of songs, some of which he had the luxury of bouncing off Johnny Ramone. The two recently struck up a friendship after meeting at a party. "Pretty much all we do is talk about music, watch movies, and listen to new Rooney songs," Carmine says. "He’s a tough man to please, but it’s really cool to have him as a fan."

Rooney perform this Tuesday, June 15, at Axis, 13 Lansdowne Street in Boston; call (617) 262-2437).