Indie Info 10.23.02: Damn The Man
Posted by Eric Katz on 10.23.2002
Way too much stuff about MCA and it’s incarnates, more about post Cap’n Jazz bands, Victory in a few ways, and more.
Hello, hello. Eric Katz here, bringing you all of your indie info for the week. Not that great a week when it comes to information, but some new releases that I can talk about, plus some concerts. But now onto the news.
Top Story
This was reported on by a few sites, but I think official credit is being given to the famous (or imfamous) Timmy of punkbands.com. According to these people, Drive Thru Records (indie imprint of MCA) plans on forming a “sub-division” of the label to put out records featuring new talent that they could sign. The talent gets a van, a bit of cash, and two record deals. Plus, if the band is good, they’ll get signed to Drive Thru Records.
Now that I’ve reported it I’ll give you my official word. What . . . crap! First off, Drive Thru Records is one of the biggest jokes I’ve ever heard of. A bunch of pop punk bands pretending they haven’t joined a major label and thinking they still control their sound. You’ve got Midtown, The Startling Line, and Homegrown. Hell, all Drive Thru is missing is Rufio. Now, MCA has formed a way to scout possible victims in their process of money making. Sickening I tell you, sickening.
And Now I Shall Pull A Rabbit Out Of My Hat
Speaking of MCA. . . . Finch has re-negociated a deal with MCA that will keep them with the label, contrary to original reports. Dang, and I thought Finch would do something smart.
Here’s a plus. Adam from Taking Back Sunday is walking around using a cane right now. TBS may rejoin their tour with Midtown by the 25th.
Look, it’s MCA again! A deal for MCA records to purchase 25% of Victory Records has collapsed under final deal points. I had been hearing of this deal back in the spring. I honestly flipped when I heard about it. Well it collapsed, thank god. Maybe Victory will say that MCA would have had no controlling points, but MCA started to advertise Thursday stuff under the MCA name, so I don’t buy Victory’s propaganda at all.
If your interested in The Promise Ring (and their subsequent break up last week), here’s an article about it from billboard.com. http://www.billboard.com/billboard/daily/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1742139.
Speaking of more ex-Cap’n Jazz stuff, Jade Tree Records announced that Joan Of Arc will be releasing an 11-song record titled "So Much Staying Alive and Lovelessness" on February 4, 2003. Tim Kinsella (Cap’n Jazz, Owls, Friend/Enemy, Everyone) leads Joan of Arc who has "amassed a collection of songs culled from a variety of sources-sketches begun on his computer at home and collaborations with kindred spirits from coast to coast-and given them life."
This is straight from Victoryrecords.com; Victory Records is proud to announce the additions of two new artists to our roster. Expect new albums from Silverstein and Somehow Hollow in early 2003! Silverstein is a new-age emo band. I don’t mind what I’m hearing from them at all. Nothing life-changing though. I haven’t heard Somehow Hollow, but it’s ex-Grade so I probably won’t like it.
That Fat Mike! Fat Wreck Chords has made a new website, punkvoter.com. This site is suggested for democrats, anti-Republicans, and social punks. You really have to check it out to see what I mean. Let’s put it this way . . . Fat Mike and George W won’t be having lunch anytime soon.
To Save or Spend
Here’s the important new releases.
From Victory Records:
Thursday Five Stories Falling- Got some cash? Then buy this cd. I mean in theory it’s not worth much because well, it’s only 1 new song and then some live stuff. But the new song, Jet Black New Year, is really good. It’s got a similar Thursday feel. The guitar chords are almost a mix between Waiting and Full Collapse. Intruiging indeed. There’s some downloads for the song around but you’ll have to look well. It’ll probably be on Kazaa in a few weeks.
The Reunion Show Kill Your Television- I can deal with these “pop sensibilities”. It’s an alright cd, it’s a lot better than the junk bands TRS tours with. The keyboard plays an interesting role.
From Vagrant Records:
Koufax Social Life- I CAN’T deal with these “pop sensibilities”. Koufax never struck me as anything and well, I kind of find this cd junky.
Rocket From The Crypt Live From Camp X-Ray- No Comment . . .
From Epitaph/Hellcat:
The Transplants Self Titled: Rap Punk? What in the name of Tim Kinsella?
Coming Soon To a Venue Near You
I skipped it last week, but here’s the tours coming your way this week.
First off, wow. CMJ’s Music Marathon is coming to NYC and holy crap, there’s a lot of bands playing. Let me TRY to do this by date/venue.
October 30th
The Warsaw, Brooklyn; Jade Tree Records Showcase
Paint it Black, Trial By Fire, Online Drawing, The Owls, Denali, Strike Anywhere, Milemarker, The Explosion, Pedro The Lion
The World
Christiansen, Vendetta Red, Fairweather, Boy Sets Fire, Thursday
October 31st
CBGB
Lyndsay Diaries, Cruiserweight, Tora Tora Torrence, The Beautiful Mistake, Digger, Mustard Plug, Atom and His Package, Stereo, Moneen
The World
Balzac, The Misfits
November 1st
Hammerstein Ballroom
The Used, H2O, Boxcar Racer
November 2nd
CBGB
Cannae, Boys Night Out, Remembering Never, Sky Came Falling, Every Time I Die, Lamb of God, Since By Man, On The Might of Princes, 32 Frame, Christiansen, Shai Hulud, Time In Malta
Irving Plaza; Saddle Creek Records Showcase
(every band on Saddle Creek): The Desaparecidos, The Good Life, Now It’s Overhead, The Azure Ray, Rilo Kiley, Cursive, Bright Eyes
The Warsaw; Epitaph/Burning Hearts Showcase
Sunshine, Ikara Colt, Division of Laura Lee, Dillinger Escape Plan, The (International) Noise Conspiracy
There’s a ton more bands playing, but these are the only ones I took the time to write down (these are the more important shows to the punk/emo/hardcore scene).
Hot Rod Circuit, Dashboard Confessional, Ash
Oct 24: Ogden, Denver CO
Oct 25: Bricks, Salt Lake City UT
Oct 26: Same as Above
Oct 27: NONE
Oct 28: Northgate Theatre, Seattle WA
Oct 29: Crystal Ballroom, Portland OR
Saves The Day, Kind of Like Spitting, Saturday Looks Good To Me
Oct 24: St. Andrews Hall, Detroit MI
Oct 25: Eagles Club, Milwaukee WI
Oct 26: The Annex, Madison WI
Oct 27: Quest, Minneapolis MN
Oct 28: NONE
Oct 29: Fox Theatre, Boulder CO
Coheed & Cambria, Hot Water Music, Thrice
Oct 24: Quest Club, Minneapolis MN
Oct 25: Maintenance Shop, Ames IA
Oct 26: Ogden Theatre, Denver CO
Oct 27: Bricks, Salt Lake City UT
Oct 28: NONE
Oct 29: Richards on Richards, Vancouver BC Canada
No Use For a Name, Slick Shoes, The Eyelines, Yellowcard
Oct 24: The Axis, Boston MA
Oct 25: 9:30 Club, Washington D.C.
Oct 26: The World, New York NY
Oct 27: Theatre of Living Arts, Philadelphia PA
Oct 28: NONE
Oct 29: Club Laga, Philadelphia PA
Plea For Peace/ Take Action Tour
This is the last segment of the 2002 Plea For Peace/Take Action Tour
Thu Oct 24 : West Palm Beach, FL : Coral Sky Ampitheatre
Thursday / Glassjaw / Poison The Well / American Nightmare / Cursive / Common Rider / Lawrence Arms / Blood Brothers
Fri Oct 25 : Jacksonville, FL : DV8
Thursday / Poison The Well / Cursive / Common Rider / Lawrence Arms
Sat Oct 26 : Atlanta, GA : The Maquerade
Thursday / Poison The Well / Cursive / Common Rider / Lawrence Arms
Sun Oct 27 : Charlotte, NC : Tremont Music Hall
Thursday / Poison The Well / Common Rider / Engine Down / Armor For Sleep / Pyramid
Mon Oct 28 : Richmond, VA : Alley Katz
Thursday / Poison The Well / Engine Down / Common Rider / Armor For Sleep
Conclusion
I’m out for this week. Hopefully we’ll get some more music stuff, the columns have been a little slow. C’mon guys, there’s tons of stuff to write about. At least we don’t cover an industry where the main feature of it proposes necrophilia as a drawing power. Music rules. I’m out.
