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News and Album Releases
Pre-Order ADD/C 'Ordinary Souls' LP Out March 29th!
The three founding members of ADD/C met on the campus of the University of Tennessee in Chattanooga in 1999. Guitarist/singer Daniel, bassist Grady and drummer Cole all found that they shared a common interest, other than pre-1800’s English Literature: punk. Soon, they were practicing together and quickly integrated themselves into the local scene, playing shows in houses, dive bars and other DIY venues around town. Touring and writing songs quickly became more exciting than writing another paper.
It wasn’t long before they started recording handfuls of songs, each one better than the last. They appeared on comps, CD-r’s , criminally rare cassette releases and 7”s. These early blasts showed their obvious love for local bands in our scene, but also had a very strong voice of their own: smart, cocky, critical of local apathy, but also critical of themselves. It took almost 5 years for the band to finally get around to recording their first LP. While other bands around Chattanooga were seemingly becoming more “pro”, ADD/C went down into Daniel’s basement with the mysterious Ron Cobra, an armload of broken microphones and a cassette 8-track to self-produce an 18-song record. After a lot of time and effort, they emerged with something that showed an honest portrayal of the band in that moment and then threw it into the world like it was an afterthought: glued on covers, flubbed notes and hastily scrawled liner notes…and it was excellent! It was another chapter of what was happening in our city and it was made for us, the local punks… since we didn’t think anyone else was paying attention. It’s the kind of album you can only authentically write when you’re young, punk and insane.
In the later 00’s, the band brought in a 2nd guitarist/singer in the form of Harry, whom most of the members had already spent time with in other bands and tour vans. They were already focusing on writing new songs and having Harry’s skills in the mix brought an added melodic energy that seemed to recharge them. They brought that focus and drive to their 2nd LP, Busy Days. They still recorded it in Chattanooga on their own terms, but with a higher lowered standard. They produced fifteen songs and there’s not a dud in the bunch. Artistic friends swooped in to deliver unforgettable and potent artwork. It wasn’t their intention, but ADD/C set a benchmark for punk in the region with an album that only gets better as the years sail by. Driven by hopeful negativity and hooks for days, it not only sticks in your head, but it moves in to live there on the couch, rent-free, for eternity.
By this time, “Region Rock” had already made a name for itself in the vernacular of DIY punk. While coastal fanzines and non-southerners smirked about jangly chords, attempting to define our southern US scene with their own interpretation of what Region Rock is, they missed the point entirely. The region was never about a sound. It was about an upended isosceles right triangle that formed a road map full of maniacal friends playing any music they wanted. It was about shared ideals and inside jokes forged through barely functioning instruments. It was about a family.
For the next 10 years, the band never broke up, but took time off to move around (4 different states), raise children (6 between them all), get a PhD (one) and do a lot of living in an increasingly weird world. Sometimes, it takes a plague to remind you of your artistic roots. The band started writing songs remotely during lockdown in 2020. Daniel, Grady and Cole got together in Bloomington, IN in September 2021 to keep hashing out ideas and thought that they might put out a 7”. With Harry’s input, things kept snowballing until they realized that they had 17 songs. The band practiced in shifts, never all meeting in the same room until they found themselves in the studio in the summer of 2023. Sure, one might worry that a long-running band separated by many state lines, logistical acrobatics and varying life paths might reconvene and produce an embarrassing turd, yet it sounds like they somehow never missed a day of hanging out together in the basement. That doesn’t mean that their new album, Ordinary Souls is a rehash of what they did before. I always wanted a band that grew older with me, but retained the wild spark that made them special and ADD/C does that. There are melodic tributes to friends who have kept their head up through unthinkable tragedy (“Fireflower”) as well as tales of utter heartbreak and brutal honesty (“Fatherloss”). They tell us that we’re losing time in this world, so it’s worth it to show those you love that you really care (“Dead Deeds”). There’s the sad ode to the DIY punk world that has held us for all these years (“Ghost Ship”). Themes ping-pong out in all directions, but the critical eye and humor with which ADD/C has always examined the world remains sharply focused. We couldn’t ask for more.
But what does the name ADD/C stand for? I’ll tell you on the next record.
-Greg Harvester Jan. 2024
Kora Puckett '3 Song' LP PRE-ORDER this Saturday Feb. 10th
KORA PUCKETT 3 SONGS LP
Pre Order Now! All LP’s ship February 23rd
LIMITED TO 200 COPIES
RIYL - Zach Bryan, Jason Isbell, Kacey Musgraves, Wilco, Alex G, Ruston Kelly, Kurt Vile
“This is the first music I’ve made that feels 100% me,” says Kora Puckett of his debut EP 3 Songs. A little bit country, a little bit rock n’ roll, 3 Songs is a radio ready collection of singles that softly shout his obvious confidence, heartache and swagger as a craft-focused songwriter and lyricist.
Considering Puckett has been playing basements, clubs and festivals around the world in DIY punk, grunge and rock bands for the last couple decades, this solo debut feels that much more realized and collected. Before cranking out this instant classic, Puckett was playing in bands like Narrow Head, Sheer Mag, Bugg, Laffing Gas, Angel Du$t and The Berries. And while this release stands apart sonically, if you listen real close, you can hear a little bit of those bands’ collective success. But you don’t need to listen real close at all to hear influences like Sheryl Crow, Paul Westerberg, Tom Petty, or The Lemonheads.
“Far as I Can Tell,” “Forever or Just Then,” and “Wait All Week” were written throughout the pandemic, and recorded/mixed between Appleton, Wisconsin and Silver Lake, Los Angeles. The collection of singles was engineered by Amos Pitsch (Tenement, Dusk) and mixed/produced by Jamie Candiloro (REM, Willie Nelson, Ryan Adams). Steve Marino (Bugg, Angel Du$t, solo) and Matt Berry (Happy Diving, Big Bite, The Berries) played additional guitar, and Mickey Raphael (Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris, Neil Young) ripped a mean harmonico solo to close out the EP. The 12” vinyl featuring Puckett’s visual art is out February 23 on Let’s Pretend Records (Zero Boys, Vacation, Graham Hunt) and limited to 200 copies.
Hello, I'm here again. Standing outside of your door. Dinner on the fire escape and takeout on your floor. I close my eyes and walk away.
Upcoming shows 2/25/24 - LA @ Genghis Cohen
Inquiries Reed Dunlea (management) reeddunlea@gmail.com 518-598-9992
Small Doses LP Pre-Order
Small Doses s/t LP
All orders ship January 24th
Limited to a press of 200 on mixed colored vinyl w/ black dust sleeves and download code
Small Doses(WNC) was formed in 2022 when two former high school bandmates decided to reunite and write songs together after a 30-year hiatus. Their first band together was called Fourandahalf. The band had a handful of songs, big dreams, and basement shows to play but faded into the void, like so many other things.
The two would go on to play in groups like Dawn of the Dude, Vacation Bible School, Luxury Spirit, and Off With Their Heads. After reconnecting so many years later, the two began writing songs together in a basement in a small, North Carolina town. The final three-piece iteration of the band was completed when the bassist of Zombie Queen and the Rory Kelly band joined in 2023, rounding out the sound and adding infectious energy to the live performances.
Small Doses’ self-titled EP Small Doses is a love letter to the sonically dissonant bands we grew up loving and listening to until the tape broke. Sometimes pop, oftentimes noise, Small Doses' only real goal has always been to write songs that are enjoyable to perform with people who are enjoyable to perform them with. Everything else is bullshit.
Already midway through the writing process for their second record, Small Doses looks to continue writing songs that not only reflect where they come from but also document the evolution of a friendship and writing partnership that has survived through time when so many other things, have not. Small Doses hopes to have another release out this upcoming year.
Pre Order the new Shotwell 21 song album and new Beef s/t tape!
LPR-235 Shotwell New 21 song S/T album new Available for Pre-Order on:
LP / TAPE / CD (CLICK!)
All of these formats are super limited to 200 180 gram LP’s, 100 Tapes, and 200 CD’s
Shotwell started life in the Mission District of San Francisco by Jimmy, Aaron
Cometbus, Paul Curran in 1994. They made their name playing guerrilla street shows at venues such as 24th Street BART (Subway) Station, Dolores Park and abandoned construction sites around San Francisco and Oakland. They managed to replicate these venues across the US and Canada. No booking agents, no hotels, no dressing rooms no bottled water, just mad batches of two minute melodic punk songs cleverly skewing government, state sponsored terrorism and your basic societal hypocrisy. Twenty-five years, and as many band members later, Shotwell releases a self titled album of 21 well recorded two minute melodic punk songs in the vein of Stiff Little Fingers, Rancid or I dare say, The Gits. It has the same fury of the early Shotwell singles and albums but this album is different. It’s meant to be Shotwell’s London Calling.
Drummer Steve Moriarty (The Gits, Joan Jett,etc), who initially took over for Aron Cometbus for a U.S. tour in 1995, has rejoined Jimmy to produce and arrange.. The East Bay ska punk movement of the late eighties Gilman Street regulars like
Jawbreaker, Green Day Pansy Division and Op Ivy comes to mind. This is Shotwell’s most mature, listenable and powerful album to date. The lyrics are the worth reading of the small print.
The album is available on LP and CD and streaming.
A tour of the midwestern states could result in controversy, even combat with the midwestern Christian MAGA set. But that is nothing new to Shotwell after all the years, tours and fiery direct action, politically unrepentant and always full of urgency heart, and conviction on and off stage.
Recorded at Get Reel in San Francisco by Rob Preston. All songs copyright Shotwell Music.
LPR-236 BEEF S/T TAPE
Pre Order Here
Limited to just 100 tapes on black shells w/ magenta imprint
BEEF first began appearing in various basements and dives of Cincinnati on Labor Day, 2022. BEEF is the brainchild of drummer/lead vocalist Takoda Hortenberry, first joined by his wife Ally on keys/vox, and a cast of players in Richmond, Virginia. Following a slew of singles, an EP, and a relocation to BEEF's true home of Cincinnati, a new lineup featuring bassist John Hoffman (Vacation) and fellow Richmond expat/guitarist Sam Richardson was born. Influences include: punk, sex, violence, and red meat. BEEF recorded their entire eight song set on eight track tape just over the river at The Lodge in Dayton, KY in early 2023. Hoffman engineered and mixed the madness, Caufield Schnug (Sweeping Promises) mastered it, and Richardson's prolific Feel It imprint will be releasing BEEF's self-titled debut album on LP, with a cassette edition available from Let's Pretend Records.
The Bohannons 'Days of Echo' LP Now Available for PreOrder
PreOrder THE BOHANNONS ‘Days of Echo’ LP
All orders ship on the release day of July 28th 2023
This is the first official LP release of The Bohannons beloved 2010 album recorded by Steve Albini. Super Limited to 200 pressed on randomly mixed vinyl colors w/ black dust sleeves and download codes. Art and layout by the wonderful Zach Hobbs. More singles and music videos to follow in support of the album,
4 New Bloomington releases and 4 band release show!
Four new releases Out Now! Followed by an all ages release party on Saturday May 27th at The I Fell in Bloomington, IN
LPR- 225 Mike Adams At His Honest Weight ‘Graphic Blandishment’ TAPE
LPR-231 Sitar Outreach Ministry ‘Mythis Times’ TAPE
LPR-232 Rearview Rhonda ‘Glutton For Bad Energy’ CD
LPR-233 Negative Glow ‘Volume 1’ TAPE
LPR- 225 Mike Adams At His Honest Weight ‘Graphic Blandishment’ TAPE
Limited to just 100 copies and wont be repressed
Mike Adams At His Honest Weight is the flagship recording project of Mike Adams (duh). Musician, writer, TV host, parent, humorist, friend, nimble agitator, these are all adjectives that describe Mike Adams, the man. But, in another realm, he's a complex mixture of Star-stuff, somehow equally at home whether he's at home, or performing for a captivated drooling audience.
Mike Adams at his Honest Weight taps into the Indiana Rock Sound on Graphic Blandishment. Recorded primarily at home during These Uncertain Times®, Adams' latest draws from influences as diverse as The Mamas & the Papas, Superdrag, Black Bananas, and Roger Miller. The result is 12 inches chock full of God's top-shelf good stuff (we're talking about harmony, big hooks, creative home production, and efficient attitude!). Subject matter includes literal Death, identity and anxiety, real Love, Mike's cat Tammy, and a bunch of other stuff.
LPR-231 Sitar Outreach Ministry ‘Mythis Times’ TAPE
Limited to 100 tapes on gold shells and art by Ryan Dunn
Nick had always loved music, growing up in 70’s with AM Radio. I was a late bloomer as a musician, but started with guitars and then got a sitar in 2005, abc then started Sitar Outreach Ministry here in Bloomington. Back in the magic day we had Magnetic South, Auris Apothecary, Russian Recording, and some other great labels going strong here. So many great musicians! We probably did at least a dozens recordings/releases in that time.
Sitar Outreach Ministry has been going strong for awhile now! The lineup has gone through various modulations, but the musical output has been surprising and fresh most of the time.
This new tape was really a departure from some of our older recordings. Less sitar, but includes other string instruments like guzheng and shamisen, crystal bowls, an incredible percussion smorgasbord, ethereal tones, vocals in an unknown language, and even the terrifying primal screams of creation and destruction.
LPR-232 Rearview Rhonda ‘Glutton For Bad Energy’ CD
Limited to 200 digipak CD’s w/ art by Ryan Dunn
Stefanie Rhonda started the Bloomington, In rock/punk band Rearview Rhonda in 2019. The band has 2 prior EPs available on digital streaming. Rearview Rhonda is a collaborative project with Stefanie Rhonda on bass and vocals, Zac Rhonda and Greg Rhonda on guitars, and Ty Rhonda on drums.
With “Glutton for Bad Energy”, Rearview Rhonda calls on influences rooted in 90s era indie and punk rock. The album’s themes center around the struggles of everyday living and the relationships experienced along the way. Scream it out on a bad day, sing it on a good day.