About Us

Synchronic  Entertainment was founded in 1983 by Rob Ross (guitar/vox), along with  Marc Treboschi (guitar/vox) as an outlet for their band, Two Minutes  Hate (who eventually morphed into The Punch Line).  The label's initial  releases were the band's Love, Hate and Social Criticism (1983, cassette-only), and Seconds, Time Signatures and Strings (1984) e.p.'s.
 

With the release of The Punch Line's debut single, "The Wild Flowers"  c/w "Faster Than I Like" in January 1988, Synchronic Records was a  full-fledged record label.  Aside from issuing The Punch Line's single  and the 2006 "reunion" album, ...to get to the other side, it is with ambition and hope that Synchronic will release other artists under its banner.

(originally from Wikipedia)
 

Rob Ross (born January 7, 1965 in Brooklyn, New York) is a  singer/songwriter/musician. He is best known for his work with the late  '80's alternative pop band, The Punch Line.
 

Growing up in the New York City suburb of Staten Island, he joined local  political-punk band The Common Cause, who immediately became cult  favorites Two Minutes Hate (name taken from Orwell's 1984).   Although short-lived (1983 - 1985), T.M.H. built a quick reputation for  aggressive, exciting and (somewhat) confrontational performances.   While he was studying for his degree at Manhattan's Pace University, Rob  wrote half of Two Minutes Hate's debut album as well as most of the  tracks for two extended-play releases, Love, Hate & Social Criticism (their debut) and Seconds, Time Signatures & Strings, which received much local radio airplay.  
 

Two Minutes Hate dissolved in  late 1985, but along with T.M.H. bass guitarist, Marc Treboschi, Rob  assembled The Punch Line by May, 1986.  Joining this band were Carl  Treboschi (older brother of Marc), who came in on bass, while Marc moved  over to guitar and drummer Chris Collins (ex-Mod Fun), who had been a  friend of Two Minutes Hate and sometime drummer for an offshoot project  with Rob Ross and Marc Treboschi.  Taking their name from the debut  album by The Minutemen, The Punch Line were an altogether different  affair from Two Minutes Hate, with melodic, crafted pop songs and rich  vocal harmonies.  Often looked upon as "The Beatles meet The Buzzcocks",  The Punch Line very quickly garnered college radio airplay with the  release of their debut 45, "The Wild Flowers" in January, 1988.  While  recording the first attempted version of their debut album, the band  quietly dissolved.
 

Reconvening in 1991, The Punch Line picked up where they left off, with  shows, recording sessions and the promise of success looming ahead.   However, tensions again took their toll on the band due to the pressure  of not getting to that next level.  After more sessions were completed  for the album (the tapes were languishing at this point for three  years), the band went their separate ways.  They did, however, make an  appearance on the R.E.M. tribute album Surprise Your Pig, with their version of "Bandwagon".
 

Rob Ross then went on to briefly join another band, Smile, who released  one e.p., then split due to Rob's lack of interest.  Citing "a  band-by-numbers doesn't work", he turned his back on performing and  concentrated on working within the music industry, where he had assumed a  management position with a major label.
 

Solo appearances on the Julian Cope/Teardrop Explodes tribute compilation series, Interpreters, brought Rob back to recording on a regular basis (in this instance, playing all the instruments himself).
 

After a twelve-year gap, The Punch Line reformed (albeit with a slightly  changed line-up) in May, 2004.  They returned to playing live and  completed a re-recorded version of the "lost"/"legendary" ...to get to the other side, which was released via the Synchronic Entertainment imprint, in April, 2006.
 

In July, 2006, Rob quit The Punch Line, feeling there was nothing more  left for the band creatively.  At the beginning of 2008, a debut solo  album, Last Stop On The Arlington Line, was due to be released; however, in the spring of 2012, The Next Sometime Soon, a  collection of recently-written songs, was announced instead.  This album is now in progress.
 

Aside from his previous musical pursuits, Rob holds a Bachelor of Arts  degree from New York City's Pace University.  He majored in Psychology  and Human Relations with training in counseling and public relations.   While he's no longer involved on a day-to-day basis in music or the  "formal" music industry, he still has many close friends from that  period and always looks forward to seeing them for a "nice meal, good  wine and great conversation." 
 

Rob Ross currently lives in Staten Island, New York with his wife and their cats.

Full Name:  Robert Louis Ross
Date of Birth:  January 7, 1965
Status:  Married, no children - 2 cats
Birthplace:  Brooklyn, NY
Zodiac Sign:  Capricorn
 

Instruments:  guitars/bass/keyboards/harmonica/autoharp/Irish tin whistle/sitar/banjo/various percussion
 

Favorite Food:  Indian/Mexican/Italian
Favorite Drink:  Cappuccino/Bass ale
Non-musical interests:  Gym, Sahaja Yoga, reading, music, art,  photography, cooking, cats, Mac/web design, writing, politics, hockey,  baseball, movies
 

Music:    Beatles/Who/Big Star/Small Faces/Monkees/Lovin'  Spoonful/Pink Floyd/Buzzcocks/Undertones/Bongos/dB's/R.E.M./Minutemen...   and countless others
 

Solo artists:    Donovan/Richard Barone/Chris Stamey/Tom Robinson 
 

Favorite Song:    Paperback Writer - The Beatles/Armenia City In The Sky  - The Who/Wednesday Week - The Undertones/Start! - The Jam
 

Favorite Album:    Revolver - The Beatles/Sell Out - The Who/#1 Record - Big Star/Sound Affects - The Jam/Murmur - R.E.M.
 

Most Memorable Concert:  That Petrol Emotion at The Ritz - November, 1987.  The best and most powerful band I've ever seen.
 

Favorite Films:  Quadrophenia/The Long Good Friday/The Kids Are  Alright/Trainspotting/Head/Excalibur/Glengarry Glen Ross/The Big  Lebowski
Recent favorites:  There Will Be Blood/Ghost World/Superbad/Knocked Up/Clerks...  as with music, far too many to list
 

Favorite T.V. Shows:    The Monkees/The Munsters/The Flintstones
For modern shows:  Mad Men/Dexter/Sons Of Anarchy/Man vs. Food/Clean House...  was a fan of The Shield and Brotherhood
 

Favorite Books:    Down And Out In Paris And London - George Orwell/The  Ragged Trousered Philanthropists - Robert Tressell/Autobiography Of A  Yogi - Paramahansa Yogananda/Frontman - Richard Barone
 

Heroes:  George Orwell/D. Boon/Krsna