The Rock and Roll Report Cool Indie Record Label Feature is on Mohawk Bomb Records
April 21, 2009 by Mark Boudreau · Leave a Comment
In this edition of the Cool Indie Record Label feature we talk to Ivan Pena of Tamby Bay, Florida’s Mohawk Bomb Records as he pumps out some amazing music while attempting to give Austin, Texas a run for its money!
Rock and Roll Report: How long has the label been around? How did it get started?
Ivan Pena: I formed MBR in March 2008 out of need. I got tired of waiting for a label to come discover my band, so I put my business and marketing knowledge to work.
RRR: What kind of music does the label release?
IP: So far our releases have been Alternative and Rock mostly, but we hope to expand into Jazz and Hip Hop soon. It is my opinion that a label should never limit itself to a genre. I try to keep a Tony Wilson in “24 Hour Party People” approach in that MBR is an experiment in human nature and creativity. But we have contracts.
RRR: How many bands call Mohawk Bomb home? Name some of the best-known bands on the label.
IP: We have 2 types of bands: roster bands (Soulfound, The Redlight Stare, Rise of Saturn, Ascending to Avalon) and compilation bands (among them 900 Pound Gorilla, Drew Street Mary and Bull Lee). We are mostly working with local bands trying to build up the profile of their music scenes.
Versailles Records to release ‘Rock & Roll Train: A Tribute to AC/DC’ this Fall!
April 16, 2009 by Mark Boudreau · Leave a Comment
For Immediate Release:
Versailles Records is excited to announce the release of ‘Rock & Roll Train: A Millennium Tribute to AC/DC,’ due in the fall of 2009 in stores nationwide. The record will feature current/former members of the Alice Cooper Band, Guns N’ Roses, Dangerous Toys, Lillian Axe, Circle Jerks, Fuel, Steelheart, Heart, Michael Shanker Group, Warrant, LA Guns, White Lion, MC5, Slash’s Snakepit, Mountain, and others to be announced shortly. The tribute also features a bonus CD Sampler featuring millennium rock/metal bands influenced by AC/DC who sound derivatively alike or similar to AC/DC in some manner (be it songwriting, vocal range, riffs, etc) performing an original song. Interested bands should email acdctribute09@yahoo.com with a myspace or related web link.
CD Reviews: Ronny McNeir - self-titled & Johnny Pate - Outrageous (Dusty Groove America)
April 10, 2009 by Scott Homewood · Leave a Comment
Those who have been following my writing over the years probably know that I am a big fan of obscure soul music. I grew up listening to a lot of blues music thanks to my brother Robert, who was always a huge fan of artists such as B.B. King and Muddy Waters and many other blues artists of their vintage. I think he picked it up the way I did: through The Rolling Stones. Robert was a huge Rolling Stones fan and introduced me to the band by constantly playing their records until I had memorized just about all their lyrics, even the ones I couldn’t understand (and there were lots of those). Though we both loved the Beatles as well, The Stones were it as far as he was concerned, and, being the dutiful and older-brother worshiping little dude that I was, I agreed with him. Read more
GEARHEAD PARTIES FOR NATIONAL RECORD STORE DAY
April 10, 2009 by Mark Boudreau · Leave a Comment
Gearhead Records, a boutique music & clothing store owned by record label Gearhead Records will host a party to celebrate National Record Store Day, Saturday April 18th 2009. This free all ages event is open to the public and will be held at the store at 39 5th St. Suite C Woodland CA 95695. The celebration will feature live performances by two local bands: The Cupcake Bandits and Broken Trojan, as well as seminars on the care and storage of vinyl records and how to start your own music collection. Learn more about Gearhead at www.gearheadrecords.com.
The Rock and Roll Report Cool Record Label Feature is on Red Blue Records
March 31, 2009 by Mark Boudreau · 1 Comment
In this our latest installment of our Cool Record Labels feature we focus on Boston-based Red Blue Records. Mike and Jess from the label took some time out to give us an idea of what they are all about.
Rock and Roll Report: How long has the label been around? How did it get started?
RBR: Red Blue Records began May 31st 2006 as a vehicle for Gone Baby Gone, the band of its founder, Mike Krilivsky. It has since grown into a multi-band label and booking company.
RRR: What kind of music does the label release?
RBR: Red Blue releases everything from pop-punk (Phone Calls From Home, Gone Baby Gone) to riff-heavy screamo (Ice Nine Kills).
The Rock and Roll Report Cool Indie Record Label Feature is on 75 or Less Records
March 10, 2009 by Mark Boudreau · 1 Comment
On this week’s Cool Indie Record Label feature we profile 75 or Less Records based out of Warren, Rhode Island. We spoke to Label Head Dude Mark MacDougall to find out more.
Rock and Roll Report: How long has the label been around? How did it get started?
Mark MacDougall: The label has just celebrated it’s third year. In that time we have done 56 releases. We started back in 2001 with the music review site (www.75orLess.com). We receive about 1,200 submissions per year and we were getting some great music by bands who had no means of getting their music heard by more people. We also were seeing a ton of great bands in Providence. It finally hit us that we would be helping out all the bands with more exposure by combining all of them on one label.
RRR: What kind of music does the label release?
MM: Punk, indie, noise, experimental, singer songwriter, rock, electronic and anything else that sounds interesting and original. We do not stick to genres but we know good stuff when we hear it.
A2IM THANKS ITUNES FOR SHOWING INDIE LABELS SOME LOVE
March 5, 2009 by Mark Boudreau · Leave a Comment
Jim Mahoney, VP of A2IM, applauded the move by Apple’s iTunes Store to create an Indie Spotlight landing page with increased visibility. Mahoney said, “A2IM applauds the iTunes Music Store team for remaining engaged and communicative with A2IM and our independent label members tapping our collective expertise as they enhance the indie experience for their customers. With independent music making major strides in the digital market place, on the charts, and winning over 50 percent of this year’s Grammy Awards, it’s great to see iTunes recognizing the opportunities that independent music offers.” Currently in its soft launch, the page includes an indie podcast, playlists and label samplers alongside featured artists, though more features are in the works.
CD Reviews - Blues You Can Use (Hep Cat Records)
February 17, 2009 by Scott Homewood · Leave a Comment
Blues you can use:
Rod Piazza and The Mighty Flyers - Alphabet Blues
Anson Funderburgh and the Rockets- She Knocks Me Out
Ronnie Earl and The Broadcasters - Soul Searching
James Harman Band - Do Not Disturb
Sam Myers and Anson Funderburgh - My Love Is Here To Stay
During the blues revival of the mid-’80’s many indie labels popped up focusing primarily on roots music and blues, giving new blues artists a cfhance to build national careers when previously they would have played in their hometown and maybe a few surrounding areas for the entirety of their careers. While this development built a whole new crop of blues heroes, signing every blues band in sight may have diluted the waters a little and given rise to more mediocre talents than had these labels been more judicious in their signings. Luckily, these reissues are focused on a label named Black Top, which was one of the best indie blues labels ever and survived into the early 2000’s when the label finally succumbed to the current and puzzling general nonchalance regarding blues music. To be on Black Top meant you were an up and comer with real potential. The label focused on new acts and older stars who had low profiles. Plenty of blues stars were created from the Black Top roster and when you were on the label, the bigger labels kept an eye on you. I am reviewing five of the most noteworthy releases in this article and if you pick these up, you will encounter some of the best blues of the past twenty years.
The Rock and Roll Report Record Label Feature is on Romani Records
February 10, 2009 by Mark Boudreau · 1 Comment
In this edition of our cool Indie Record Labels feature we take a look at Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania-based Romani Records. Run by head honcho and namesake Jeremy Romani, Romani Records is just another example of a small indie record label in it for the love of music.
Jeremy was kind enough to answer some questions for The Rock and Roll Report:
Rock and Roll Report: How long has the label been around? How did it get started?
Jeremy Romani: The label itself has been around only about a year now. It was started as an outlet for me to release my music nationally. I wanted my band at the time, Goodbye Soundscape to really push it’s J. Robbins produced, debut release in a big way and turn some heads for us. At the time, I was really focused on the music end. But now with all the right connections for distribution and media contacts, I’ll be able to pursue the label completely.
The Rock and Roll Report Record Label Feature is on Chavis Records
January 27, 2009 by Mark Boudreau · Leave a Comment
Continuing our ongoing look at cool independent record labels, this week we feature Maryland based Chavis Records. President and owner Bill Chavis let us know what the label is all about and what they have planned.
Rock and Roll Report: How long has the label been around? How did it get started?
Bill Chavis: The initial thought and building process started in 2000. We officially launched in 2001. I used to run a webzine called Metalvault which started in 1996. It was one of the first and we did all the reviews, interviews, tour reviews etc. We advertised the labels and artists stuff for free. It was really to create awareness for the artist and give a web prescience with this new technology at the time.
RRR: What kind of music does the label release?
BC: We do what we like basically. Music That Rocks!!! Is the motto. In a nutshell our artists are geared around the hard rock/ heavy metal genre. But that could change this year. We are talking to several outside agencies to diversify the label and make it more lucrative in this ever shrinking and screwed up music business.
