Thursday, February 17, 2011
PHOENIX, WE'RE COMIN' YOUR WAY!
This Sunday, Feb 20th, Fort Lowell Records will be exhibiting at the Nile Record Fair in Mesa, AZ, from 12p-6p! We will have all five of our beautiful 7inch records available for you to purchase, including the new Death Kit 7inch that comes out next week! Stop by to support your local Arizona music scene and get some new sweet tunes for the family!
Monday, February 7, 2011
'DEM WET & RECKLESS GIRLZ GOT BALLZ!
Our fab four female friends from Los Angeles CA, Wet & Reckless, stopped by the DTLA Live studios to bring you their latest single "Latered." Check it out here... the song freakin' RAWKZ! Go ladies! Go ladies! Don't forget to order their 7inch record direct from our site... "to the right, to the right!"
Sunday, January 30, 2011
DEATH KIT DONE ACOUSTIC!
Back in August 2010, Death Kit hooked up with Gorillacoustic for an acoustic performance of "Devadasi," the song they just released with our lil' ol' label on creamy 7inch vinyl! Check it out, and read their interview below! Then pre-order their 7inch directly with us--->>>
DEATH KIT "DEVADASI" from Gorillacoustic.com on Vimeo.
INTERVIEW FROM GORILLACOUSTIC w/ DEATH KIT:
Most people assume that since I run a site that focuses on acoustic performances, that I must be a fan of acoustic music. And I am… to a certain extent. But it’s not what why I started this site. See, my theory has always been that a good musician is a good musician no matter what the musical delivery method. This focus on acoustic performances is just a fun way to test that theory... A test to see if when you strip all the technology away, the emperor still has his clothes, so to speak. This week’s featured artist, Death Kit, passed the test with flying colors.
To be honest, when I initially approached Death Kit, it was with a wee bit apprehension. While I quite enjoyed their music, it was seeped in electronica which could be rather difficult to translate if they happened to rely too heavily on it create their sound. So I was more than pleasantly surprised when we hit the location and they effortlessly turned out this wholly acoustic number… and so was everyone else heading home that particular evening.
Watching the video, you can definitely tell there was a bit of skepticism and nervous laughter when we first boarded. Just watch the woman in the corner between singer August Brown and bassist Cove Gelt… You can see her actually cover her face, bracing for the worst. But as soon as August opens his mouth, everyone’s focus immediately shifts to the band. And, by the 1:25 mark, that woman in the corner is completely into it too, bobbing her head along to the music.
GORILLACOUSTIC: What does the world need to know about Death Kit?
AUGUST BROWN: That we love you terribly and promise to call more.
GA: Your output is fairly electronic in nature, yet you easily broke out this acoustic number for the shoot. Does your writing process generally start more acoustically or does it just depend on what you have at hand when inspiration strikes?
AB: Death Kit started as a wholly laptop-based project that I wasn’t even producing for – a friend helmed most of the programming on an early e.p. that we did in our bedrooms with barely any organic instrumentation. But I’ve always been hugely bored with most live electronica, and really wanted a band to build out performances and give people something to watch. I like the idea of not really revealing what sound is coming from where onstage while still being really physical and tactile as a live act. So once I took over production duties, I made a point of writing loops and melodies and structures and kind of stopping halfway through the arrangement process, to let Terry and Cove and Chad finish the songs off. They’re all such impossibly creative and fantastic players, and now that the lineup is settled it’s getting way more egalitarian in writing arrangements and we’re switching instruments more often, so we’re feeling more familiar with the “songs” instead of just “parts” and can translate that to different settings as needed.
GA: Why did you choose to perform on a train?
AB: Chad thought of it, but it was apropos. I’m kind of riveted by public transit; that grand Metro route schematic for LA county that you see at bus stops can hypnotize me for hours. This is such a stoner musing, but absorbing the sheer scope of all the different places you can go from any given point on that grid just kind of amazes me. And most of the techno I’m listening to now, like Basic Channel and Gas, is kind of made for night bus rides coming down from a long night out. There’s something so sweet and kind of celestial about being surrounded by mute strangers in terrible fluorescent light. I ride the Gold Line recreationally, it still has a bit of the ghost of the Red Cars about it, and I can’t help but pine for what Los Angeles could have been if those weren’t torn out.
In a different life where I could perform simple math or draw a straight line to save my life, I’d love to be a city planner. I kind of look at writing music as solving a similar structural problem -- there’s an end goal of creating a particular emotional world, and you try to make as many right decisions as you can to get close to that ideal.
GA: What’s in your death kit?
AB: Scotch.
GA: What other local artists (besides yourselves of course) should people be checking out?
AB: Well, Wet & Reckless and Emperor X are just movements unto themselves, and it would behoove all of you to go shovel money at them and cook elaborate vegan meals in alms to their artistic benevolence.
Gorillacousticers probably don’t need me to tell them this, but Health is the best band in L.A., it’s not even a contest anymore. But beyond that, Infinite Body is composing some crushing, heartbreaking ambient pieces, and the Franks are just pure pop whiplash. Our friend Ferraby Lionheart has a really winsome new record too.
GA: If you could do another gorillacoustic performance anywhere else in the world, where would you do it?
AB: Probably inside the wooden stilt house on an island off the west coast of Thailand where I had the loveliest week of my life. In all likelihood it washed away in the tsunami, but I have to believe it’s still there.
GA: Better straight to SyFy "on a Train" movie: "Snakes on a Train", "Zombies on a Train" or "Mega Shark vs. Giant Octopus on a Train"?
AB: I don’t know, you can’t really top “Under Seige 2:Dark Territory” for riveting train-centric cinema.
www.deathkitmusic.com
www.myspace.com/deathkit
www.facebook.com/deathkit
DEATH KIT "DEVADASI" from Gorillacoustic.com on Vimeo.
INTERVIEW FROM GORILLACOUSTIC w/ DEATH KIT:
Most people assume that since I run a site that focuses on acoustic performances, that I must be a fan of acoustic music. And I am… to a certain extent. But it’s not what why I started this site. See, my theory has always been that a good musician is a good musician no matter what the musical delivery method. This focus on acoustic performances is just a fun way to test that theory... A test to see if when you strip all the technology away, the emperor still has his clothes, so to speak. This week’s featured artist, Death Kit, passed the test with flying colors.
To be honest, when I initially approached Death Kit, it was with a wee bit apprehension. While I quite enjoyed their music, it was seeped in electronica which could be rather difficult to translate if they happened to rely too heavily on it create their sound. So I was more than pleasantly surprised when we hit the location and they effortlessly turned out this wholly acoustic number… and so was everyone else heading home that particular evening.
Watching the video, you can definitely tell there was a bit of skepticism and nervous laughter when we first boarded. Just watch the woman in the corner between singer August Brown and bassist Cove Gelt… You can see her actually cover her face, bracing for the worst. But as soon as August opens his mouth, everyone’s focus immediately shifts to the band. And, by the 1:25 mark, that woman in the corner is completely into it too, bobbing her head along to the music.
GORILLACOUSTIC: What does the world need to know about Death Kit?
AUGUST BROWN: That we love you terribly and promise to call more.
GA: Your output is fairly electronic in nature, yet you easily broke out this acoustic number for the shoot. Does your writing process generally start more acoustically or does it just depend on what you have at hand when inspiration strikes?
AB: Death Kit started as a wholly laptop-based project that I wasn’t even producing for – a friend helmed most of the programming on an early e.p. that we did in our bedrooms with barely any organic instrumentation. But I’ve always been hugely bored with most live electronica, and really wanted a band to build out performances and give people something to watch. I like the idea of not really revealing what sound is coming from where onstage while still being really physical and tactile as a live act. So once I took over production duties, I made a point of writing loops and melodies and structures and kind of stopping halfway through the arrangement process, to let Terry and Cove and Chad finish the songs off. They’re all such impossibly creative and fantastic players, and now that the lineup is settled it’s getting way more egalitarian in writing arrangements and we’re switching instruments more often, so we’re feeling more familiar with the “songs” instead of just “parts” and can translate that to different settings as needed.
GA: Why did you choose to perform on a train?
AB: Chad thought of it, but it was apropos. I’m kind of riveted by public transit; that grand Metro route schematic for LA county that you see at bus stops can hypnotize me for hours. This is such a stoner musing, but absorbing the sheer scope of all the different places you can go from any given point on that grid just kind of amazes me. And most of the techno I’m listening to now, like Basic Channel and Gas, is kind of made for night bus rides coming down from a long night out. There’s something so sweet and kind of celestial about being surrounded by mute strangers in terrible fluorescent light. I ride the Gold Line recreationally, it still has a bit of the ghost of the Red Cars about it, and I can’t help but pine for what Los Angeles could have been if those weren’t torn out.
In a different life where I could perform simple math or draw a straight line to save my life, I’d love to be a city planner. I kind of look at writing music as solving a similar structural problem -- there’s an end goal of creating a particular emotional world, and you try to make as many right decisions as you can to get close to that ideal.
GA: What’s in your death kit?
AB: Scotch.
GA: What other local artists (besides yourselves of course) should people be checking out?
AB: Well, Wet & Reckless and Emperor X are just movements unto themselves, and it would behoove all of you to go shovel money at them and cook elaborate vegan meals in alms to their artistic benevolence.
Gorillacousticers probably don’t need me to tell them this, but Health is the best band in L.A., it’s not even a contest anymore. But beyond that, Infinite Body is composing some crushing, heartbreaking ambient pieces, and the Franks are just pure pop whiplash. Our friend Ferraby Lionheart has a really winsome new record too.
GA: If you could do another gorillacoustic performance anywhere else in the world, where would you do it?
AB: Probably inside the wooden stilt house on an island off the west coast of Thailand where I had the loveliest week of my life. In all likelihood it washed away in the tsunami, but I have to believe it’s still there.
GA: Better straight to SyFy "on a Train" movie: "Snakes on a Train", "Zombies on a Train" or "Mega Shark vs. Giant Octopus on a Train"?
AB: I don’t know, you can’t really top “Under Seige 2:Dark Territory” for riveting train-centric cinema.
www.deathkitmusic.com
www.myspace.com/deathkit
www.facebook.com/deathkit
Friday, January 28, 2011
HOWE GELB 7INCH RELEASE FOR RECORD STORE DAY!
We are extremely excited to annouce that our next 7inch record to be released will be with Howe Gelb [FLR006]! We are going to feature two of his projects: 'Sno Angel on Side-A and Melted Wires on Side-B! "Spiral" will be the 'Sno Angel song, which is a live version with the Voices Of Praise Gospel Choir. "Cordoba in Slow Motion" will be the Melted Wires song, which is a collaboration between Giant Sand and Calexico, and has not been release yet. Frankly, we feel "Cordoba in Slow Motion" is the best track from the Melted Wires session, and can't wait for you all to hear it!
Howe Gelb's 7inch record is also going to be an official release with Record Store Day, Saturday, April 16th! Stay tuned for more information! This is an very special record and is sure to sell out fast!
Howe Gelb's 7inch record is also going to be an official release with Record Store Day, Saturday, April 16th! Stay tuned for more information! This is an very special record and is sure to sell out fast!
FREE DEATH KIT POSTER!
The first 20 pre-orders for Death Kit's new 7inch record receive this limited edition poster for free! Pre-order today directly from us by clicking "Add to Cart" on the right column--->
Saturday, January 22, 2011
INDIE-POP QUEEN TRACY SHEDD ROCKS THE CAKE WORLD
Dry River Company features these beautiful tasty delights made by our very own Tracy Shedd! Not only is she rockin' the indie-pop world with her latest single "Tear It Up" released on her split 7inch single with Wet & Reckless, but now she's rockin' the cake world here in Tucson AZ! The coffee / pizza house, Dry River Company, on the east side of town that has been generating quite the buzz is now featuring Tracy Shedd's decadent cakes! Stop by to taste for yourself... 800 North Kolb Road.
Friday, January 21, 2011
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
ANDREW COLLBERG SAVED MY LIFE
Monday, January 10, 2011 will always be remembered as 'The Day My Dual Died.' My pops, Jim Tritten (yep, I'm a Junior, people!) had given me his Dual turntable from the 1970's (model 1257 for all of you techies out there) a few years back (possibly the greatest gift of a lifetime). Unfortunately, this past Monday, that Dual 1257 stopped working. She provided an amazing listening experience, one that was well suited for approving all test pressings for Fort Lowell Records. We appreciate all the Dual did for us during our inaugural year, and will miss her dearly as Fort Lowell Records grows forward. Rest in peace, Dual 1257.
The passing on of our Dual 1257 this week was especially hard for us because we are expecting to receive Death Kit's 7inch records in the mail, and in the coming weeks we should be working toward our test pressing for FLR006... both very important events for our lil' ol' label, that would require support of a turntable (and a good one at that) to enjoy. Fortunately for us, Tucson's own Andrew Collberg (an great musician / songwriter that you should become familiar with) came to the rescue! He just so happened to have a Dual turntable, that his own father had passed on to him, available for us to borrow until we are able to replace our turntable. The timing could not be more perfect! Below is a photograph of Andrew's Dual, spinning his own 12inch On The Wreath [Le Pop Music].
While we save our pennies to purchase a Pro-Ject turntable, what will become the official listening station for all future Fort Lowell Records test pressings (and what has been a dream turntable for us for a number of years; since like 1992), we will proudly (and thankfully) enjoying testing our vinyl with Mr. Collberg's Dual turntable, and enjoying his record On The Wreath as well!
Thank you Andrew!
- James Tritten, Fort Lowell Records
The passing on of our Dual 1257 this week was especially hard for us because we are expecting to receive Death Kit's 7inch records in the mail, and in the coming weeks we should be working toward our test pressing for FLR006... both very important events for our lil' ol' label, that would require support of a turntable (and a good one at that) to enjoy. Fortunately for us, Tucson's own Andrew Collberg (an great musician / songwriter that you should become familiar with) came to the rescue! He just so happened to have a Dual turntable, that his own father had passed on to him, available for us to borrow until we are able to replace our turntable. The timing could not be more perfect! Below is a photograph of Andrew's Dual, spinning his own 12inch On The Wreath [Le Pop Music].
While we save our pennies to purchase a Pro-Ject turntable, what will become the official listening station for all future Fort Lowell Records test pressings (and what has been a dream turntable for us for a number of years; since like 1992), we will proudly (and thankfully) enjoying testing our vinyl with Mr. Collberg's Dual turntable, and enjoying his record On The Wreath as well!
Thank you Andrew!
- James Tritten, Fort Lowell Records
Monday, January 10, 2011
RESPECT FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE
I would like to personally thank Jimmy Cracovaner of Fire City Music for sharing a moment of silence with me this morning at 9:00am, to pay respect to the victims from the tragic events of this past weekend. We were in the middle of a business meeting discussing the amazing community of Tucson, AZ and all of it's wonderful musicians, and how our companies could partner together to foster more growth and opportunities for Tucson musicians. This is an awesome city full of beautiful people! We love you Tucson!
- James Tritten, Fort Lowell Records
- James Tritten, Fort Lowell Records
Saturday, January 8, 2011
OUR HEARTS GO OUT TO THE VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES FROM TODAY'S TRAGIC EVENTS
Young Mothers with Congresswoman Giffords, Saturday, April 17, 2010, Earth Day
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Friday, December 17, 2010
KXCI DJs ARE COOL!
Thank you to KXCI Community Radio and DJs Laura Adams and Jason Repko for inviting us to be a part of Laura's Guest DJ Project she will be debuting in 2011. Laura is looking to connect the city of Tucson with various people in the community by asking them about what music inspired them. She requested that we bring in 4-5 songs that have a significant meaning to us and our journey through life, that tell a story. Here is a list of what we brought in to play:
Echo & the Bunnymen - "Crocodiles" (Shine So Hard)
fIREHOSE - "Brave Captain" (Ragin', Full-On)
Mudhoney - "In 'N' Out of Grace" (Superfuzz Bigmuff).
My Bloody Valentine - "Feed Me With Your Kiss" (Isn't Anything)
Unrest - "Make Out Club" (Perfect Teeth)
You will have to wait to listen to the live broadcast from Laura in 2011 to hear how we wrap all of these great songs into one story. And in addition, we gave Laura an advanced copy of Death Kit's new 7inch record, due out February 22, 2011, for her to debut with the radio broadcast. We will be sure to let you know when to tune in.
Again, thank you KXCI for all of the great support!
- Fort Lowell Records
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
DEAD WESTERN PLAINS STAY ON TOP!
Dead Western Plains continue to stay on the Top Ten in Music chart, rated by Toxic Ranch Record Store for the Tucson Weekly publication. Congratulations boys, and keep up the great work!
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
TEST PRESS RECORDS, THE BEST CHRISTMAS PRESENT EVER!
The test press records for Death Kit's 7inch have arrived, and they sound sweeter than a candy cane dipped in sugar! The official release date is February 22, 2011. Stay tuned for pre-orders coming in the new year! Ask Santa for some new dancing shoes, 'cause you're gonna need them with this wax!
- Fort Lowell Records
- Fort Lowell Records
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
DEAD WESTERN PLAINS vs R. KELLY - FREE DOWNLOAD
Care of Paul Jenkins and our very own ...music video? (FLR002), please enjoy this oh-so-sweet-jam-of-a-remixxx of Dead Western Plains' psychedelic tune "Alta," laid in ever-so-sexy ...wid' a lil' bit'a o' sum R. Kelly (up 'een heeah)! ...GO!
http://www.sendspace.com/file/hout14
Enjoy!
http://www.sendspace.com/file/hout14
Enjoy!
DEAD WESTERN PLAINS SURFS THE RADIO WAVES
When the decision was made to release a 7inch record for the (at the time of decision) less-than-a-year-old Dead Western Plains, we knew that it would only be a matter of time for the world to take to Dead Western Plains the way that the boys and girls in Tucson were doing at that time. Well, their 7inch record has officially been out for only one week now, and there has been an overwhelming amount of interest and support already! 3WK.com, one of our favorite internet radio stations from St. Louis, MO, has already charted the boys from Arizona at #27 in their first week of airplay! In addition to that, they have received support from WESN in Normal, IL, on the show The Quaker Goes Deaf, along with our very own Tracy Shedd! And we cannot forget about all of the support Tucson's KXCI has been giving Dead Western Plains since we leaked their 7inch to them a few months ago! (Did I just type that? Woah!) ...not bad for a band that just celebrated their first year birthday a few months back! Congratulations Dead Western Plains! Kickflip says, "Rock out with your paw out!"- Fort Lowell Records
DEAD WESTERN PLAINS LIVE VIDEO: RECORD RELEASE PARTY
Dead Western Plains celebrated the release of their highly acclaimed 7inch record on the evening of November 19, 2010, in Tucson, AZ, at Plush. This video footage was taken by from the audience perspective, and has been posted on the world wide web for your enjoyment. We really enjoyed the second track that comes in about 2:12! Dead Western Plains performs their hit single "Alta" around the 12:45 marker, and a great new tune with a very entertaining video to accompany the live performance at the 23:40 marker. If you were either not able to join us for the celebration or you just simply have to re-live the experience over again, we hope you enjoy this video footage and Dead Western Plains amazing music!
- Fort Lowell Records
Saturday, November 27, 2010
GIRLS > BIRDS > ANALOG PHOTOGS > DEATH KIT
Fort Lowell Records is about to celebrate it's first birthday. We were not sure if this project would even make it this far, but it has, and we are very excited to already be working on releases for 2011. To commemorate each year, we've decided to feature a different theme year to year with the artwork for the records released. We will also partner with a new photographer for each year; establishing continuity between the artwork, but yet diversity between the themes.
As you may have already noticed, 2010 featured the theme of girls. All of the photographs used for our artwork this past year were taken by Alaina Brownell, a local Tucson photographer. Alaina, along with Loreto Echevarria, fashion stylist and owner of Lolo Chic, helped shaped the look for what will now be known as "The Year of the Girl" for Fort Lowell Records. If you have not collected all of these records, be sure you do so soon, before they are all out of print. For 2011, we will be working with Julia DeConcini, co-owner of the Tucson Community Darkroom, featuring birds as the theme, making next year "The Year of the Bird." Julia will also carry on the tradition set forth by Alaina of exclusively using photographs taken on film (analog photography). In addition, the partnership between Fort Lowell Records and Julia's Tucson Community Darkroom will bring more awareness to the analog arts, such as vinyl records and film photography, for years to come.
For our fifth release, first for next year and first to feature our new bird theme, we did not have to look too far from our already existing family of bands. In September 2010, we introduced you to Jessica Gelt, a Tucson native that is now living in Los Angeles, CA, playing bass in a band called Wet & Reckless. Jessica also plays in another band, along with fellow Wet & Reckless'er Whitney Blank, that is led by August Brown, who used to play guitar with Tracy Shedd when they both lived in Jacksonville, FL. Their band is called Death Kit. We were introduced to Death Kit back when we first heard Wet & Reckless, and knew that we had to do a record with them as well.
To make things extra special for Death Kit's 7inch, ...music video? will be featured on the B-Side, doing a remix of Death Kit's hit "I Can Make You Love Me." Both bands have been fans of each others work are excited about the collaboration for this record. And of course, we are just thrilled to bring more work from the boys with ...music video? to you. This record is sure to get you moving on the dance floor. Here is the video for Death Kit's song "I Can Make You Love Me," featuring the original version. You will have to buy the 7inch record from us to hear what ...music video? does to it.
As always, thank you for the support!
"Here, here!" to another great year to come!
- Fort Lowell Records
To make things extra special for Death Kit's 7inch, ...music video? will be featured on the B-Side, doing a remix of Death Kit's hit "I Can Make You Love Me." Both bands have been fans of each others work are excited about the collaboration for this record. And of course, we are just thrilled to bring more work from the boys with ...music video? to you. This record is sure to get you moving on the dance floor. Here is the video for Death Kit's song "I Can Make You Love Me," featuring the original version. You will have to buy the 7inch record from us to hear what ...music video? does to it.
As always, thank you for the support!
"Here, here!" to another great year to come!
- Fort Lowell Records
Saturday, November 20, 2010
EXTRA! EXTRA! READ ALL ABOUT IT!
Thursday, November 18, 2010, will always been known to us as the day Tucson showed the greatest amount of media support we could have ever wished for: both local weekly publications, The Caliente and the Tucson Weekly, featured stories on Fort Lowell Records. We have included all of the articles below on our blog for your reading enjoyment!
THE CALIENTE:
Tucson puts a new spin on vinyl
by Dan Sorenson
James Tritten is not a typical record company executive. For one thing, when his Tucson label "drops" a new record, it's actually a 7-inch vinyl record, not a CD or a digital download.
Tritten is the owner (and just about everything else) of Fort Lowell Records, a tiny label he runs out of the Midtown home he shares with his wife, Tracy Shedd.
There's no promise of a gold record coming out on Fort Lowell Records, either. Not unless it just happens to be colored gold. Tritten says Fort Lowell will press only 500 discs for each of its artists' releases.
And with the exception of a single by Shedd, an established artist, none of the label's artists has released a recording before this. The breathy-voiced Shedd has released several albums and EPs, but she's the exception.
Being previously unrecorded, at least unreleased, is virtually a requirement for a release on Fort Lowell Records, Tritten says. He wants to bring new music to the public, on vinyl.
So far, the Fort Lowell stable has been made up strictly of indie pop groups - Young Mothers, Dead Western Plains and ...Music Video? - but Tritten says he's open to other genres, though "it's got to be good music."
What he offers isn't a traditional record deal. Tritten doesn't sign the bands whose music he has released on vinyl so far. He takes recordings they make and releases them at his expense.
Tritten isn't looking to Fort Lowell to make it rich and quit his day gig as a banquet manager at Marriott.
In fact, he isn't trying to make any money at all from Fort Lowell Records. It's a nonprofit by design, Tritten says.
"I love my career with Marriott," Tritten says. "I don't own a TV. This is what I do when I go home. I run it as somebody might be buying a piece of art, just the same way I collect paintings at my house. It's a living, breathing piece of art," Tritten says of the colored vinyl discs. It's a different color for every release - red, green, white, clear - that he's done so far.
The bands are responsible for their recording costs. Fort Lowell picks up the cost of the art and design - most of it done by Tritten - and has the colored vinyl discs pressed at a plant in California. Then they are distributed for sale at a few local retailers and at Fort Lowell's website, fortlowell.blogspot.com
Tritten says he and Shedd put about $4,500 total into the first three Fort Lowell releases, pressing 500 copies of each - selling 400 and using roughly 100 for promotion.
"It takes 400 records to pay off what it cost to press," Tritten says of self-sustaining system.
They've used the income from those sales to fund each successive release.
Tritten says he won't do a second pressing, regardless of sales.
"I like the idea of a limited release. We talk about it with the bands" beforehand, says Tritten, who'd love to see a Fort Lowell disc so popular and in demand that it would sell on eBay for $500.
And it's not like the pressing limit restricts the bands' release of their music. He says most of the bands also offer digital downloads or sell CDs of the music on their vinyl releases. Tritten says he has even helped the label's bands with digital releases.
Shedd says continuing to put money into Fort Lowell's releases for new bands is OK with her.
"It's all right. We had friends that did it for us. This is just giving back," Shedd says of backing the releases by new bands.
She and Tritten met in high school in Jacksonville, Fla., playing in bands together long before getting romantically involved. While living in Boston, she met Mark Robinson of indie label TeenBeat Records, who recorded and released some of Shedd's songs. She went on to have songs placed on popular TV shows: "One Tree Hill" and "Dawson's Creek."
Tritten said music hasn't been a complete bed of roses. There was a year when he swore off music and even sold his guitars. "In 2004, I came home after the U.S. tour we did for Tracy's album. It was a six-week tour," and Tritten said they weren't getting radio play and nothing seemed to be going right. "I was devastated. I swore it off."
But Tritten said he soon realized music was an important part of his life, whether he was playing in his own group, supporting Shedd's career, working as a booking agent or putting out new music on vinyl. He says it all enriches his life, and he doesn't regret spending money on this latest phase.
"People ask me: 'Are you crazy?' But I didn't have a concern," Tritten insists. "Our first release, Young Mothers (a Tucson band), we're down to 100 copies in less than a year. Young Mothers are kids, people nobody knew."
Zach Toporek, Young Mothers' guitarist and singer, said most of the sales of that April release were through local retailers and online, not through the band's efforts at gigs. He said the band didn't have to do anything other than give Tritten the tapes, and they've even made a little money off the sales.
"It's interactive; you have to do something to make music. And it holds a kind of magic. On top of that, you're always looking for ways to stand out. And I don't know many Tucson groups outside of the Fort Lowell group" releasing vinyl records, Toporek said.
"The seven-inch (vinyl record) paired with a download is the running plan from here on out," Toporek said.
Keyboard player and singer Johnnie Munger of Dead Western Plains said vinyl is more than a gimmick.
"Our band's got a really unique sound, and I think it's a fit for analog type of releases," Munger said. "I think even the size of the release, the 7-inch (one song on each side), is perfect for our band. We like to write in little spurts. Release it and move on.
"I definitely wouldn't be as excited about a CD. They're collectors' items as well."
Dead Western Plains is doing a release show for its new Fort Lowell release, "Alta," on Friday at Plush with Sleep Driver and Holy Rolling Empire.
Tritten says he has always considered the label, the record company issuing a recording, when buying new albums. He said record companies are sometimes "filters," signing only a certain type and quality of act. He says if he buys something from a certain label, he knows he stands a good chance of liking it.
"I wanted to be that for the world with what's happening in Tucson. To say to the world, 'This is music that you ought to be listening to.' 'There are more, a lot more - great bands like Calexico and Howe Gelb in Tucson - worth taking to the world."
WHY VINYL?
Asked what his vinyl obsession is about, James Tritten says he's not part of some retro movement worshipping old things, though he says there is a coolness about vinyl, new or vintage. And it's not strictly an audiophile thing, although, like many audiophiles, he thinks that vinyl does sound "warmer" than digital media versions of the same recording.
"For me, it's more about putting out music," says the 35-year-old, who is also a musician, a guitarist and a former booking agent.
Tritten says it's worthwhile to put music on vinyl because listeners will value the music more if they have to make an effort to hear it.
"There is much more engagement with the music," Tritten says of vinyl, as opposed to the digital format. "The idea of the digital version of music somewhat depressing. I shouldn't say 'depressing'; I have an iPod at work. It's convenient."
If vinyl records motivate people to listen to Fort Lowell artists because they like the color of the disc, love the sound or are into the retro nature of old-technology discs, that's OK with Tritten. They're making an effort, and the music is getting out. Besides, he says, there's something more tangible about a vinyl record than a download, or even a jewel boxed CD.
"We're both obsessed with vinyl," says Shedd, who had her first vinyl record with a 7-inch Christmas release in 1998, a "split" with Tritten's old band, Audio Explorations.
"I love the way music sounds on vinyl. It's warmer," Shedd says. She said what cinched it for her was hearing some tracks she had cut for a EP.
"I was testing out my last EP," listening to the MP3 files of the recording session. But, she says, "as soon as it came out on vinyl," it was love.
THE CALIENTE:
Artists big and tiny are going back to black
by Dan Sorenson
Howe Gelb is doing it. Elvis Presley did it. Elvis Costello and Fred Eaglesmith are still doing it.
Black (or colored) vinyl is in.
Releasing records on vinyl, in some cases only on vinyl (though usually with a free download of a digital version), is increasingly popular.
English singer-songwriter Costello released his 2006 album, "Momofuku," only on vinyl, with an access code that allowed buyers to download a digital version.
Fred Eaglesmith, a Canadian singer-songwriter who has been burning up the pavement in a Ford van for 20 years, released a limited pressing of his 2008 double vinyl LP (that's "long playing" for you novices) "Tinderbox."
And almost everyone between Costello and Eaglesmith is giving vinyl at least an occasional try.
Tucson rocker Gelb's new release, "Howe Gelb and a Band of Gypsies," with a group Spanish musicians, is coming out on vinyl.
In April, Tucson vinyl-only label Fort Lowell Records issued its first release, a green 7-inch disc by the local Young Mothers. Next came another Tucson indie band - ...Music Video? - on a clear disc.
Its third release (on red vinyl) is the only shared release (known as a "split") and the only one with an artist with a previous release - Tracy Shedd with a Los Angeles-based act, Wet & Reckless, on one side. Tritten said a key figure in Wet & Reckless, Jessica Gelt, is now a Los Angeles Times reporter. Gelt used to live in Tucson and still has connections here.
Fort Lowell's latest release, a two-song disc by Tucson's Dead Western Plains, is set for Tuesday
All photos above by Ron Medvescek for Arizona Daily Star
TUCSON WEEKLY:
Soundbites
by Stephen Seigel
You'd be hard-pressed to find a more enthusiastic cheerleader for local music than James Tritten. The guitarist for (and husband to) local artist Tracy Shedd, Tritten decided last year to put his money where his mouth is and start a (mostly) locals-only, 7-inch-vinyl-singles-only record label, with the goal of releasing four singles in 2010. It's been a trial by fire, and this week, Tritten meets his goal. After putting out singles by Young Mothers, ... music video? and a split with Los Angeles' Wet and Reckless and Tracy Shedd, his Fort Lowell Records is releasing a white-vinyl 7-inch by Dead Western Plains.
The A-side, "Alta," is a shape-shifting 5 1/2 minutes that begins with an Animal Collective-like tangle of harmonies and whistling (or is that a theremin?) before it all recedes to the background in favor of a jaunty vocal melody that carries the song throughout a series of pleasant interruptions—a complimentary countermelody here, a well-placed breakdown there, before concluding: "Sometimes we fail / If the heavens won't hold you tight / the ground surely will." Cue the lovely, nearly two-minute outro.
The B-side, "Gift Horse in the Mouth," is darker and slightly less complicated, relying on a skittery drumbeat, some nifty interaction between keyboard and guitar, and a sung/spoken-word break. It's only slightly less enjoyable than the much-different "Alta."
As usual, each record comes with a code to download the songs onto your computer or portable device. And when you get to the download page, follow the gray dotted line, and scroll down. Click on the box that cryptically reads "treats are for the curious." It'll give you access to three remixes of "Alta" by Jacob Safari, ... music video? and Kurt Snell.
Tucson puts a new spin on vinyl
by Dan Sorenson
James Tritten is not a typical record company executive. For one thing, when his Tucson label "drops" a new record, it's actually a 7-inch vinyl record, not a CD or a digital download.
Tritten is the owner (and just about everything else) of Fort Lowell Records, a tiny label he runs out of the Midtown home he shares with his wife, Tracy Shedd.
And with the exception of a single by Shedd, an established artist, none of the label's artists has released a recording before this. The breathy-voiced Shedd has released several albums and EPs, but she's the exception.
Being previously unrecorded, at least unreleased, is virtually a requirement for a release on Fort Lowell Records, Tritten says. He wants to bring new music to the public, on vinyl.
What he offers isn't a traditional record deal. Tritten doesn't sign the bands whose music he has released on vinyl so far. He takes recordings they make and releases them at his expense.
In fact, he isn't trying to make any money at all from Fort Lowell Records. It's a nonprofit by design, Tritten says.
"I love my career with Marriott," Tritten says. "I don't own a TV. This is what I do when I go home. I run it as somebody might be buying a piece of art, just the same way I collect paintings at my house. It's a living, breathing piece of art," Tritten says of the colored vinyl discs. It's a different color for every release - red, green, white, clear - that he's done so far.
The bands are responsible for their recording costs. Fort Lowell picks up the cost of the art and design - most of it done by Tritten - and has the colored vinyl discs pressed at a plant in California. Then they are distributed for sale at a few local retailers and at Fort Lowell's website, fortlowell.blogspot.com
Tritten says he and Shedd put about $4,500 total into the first three Fort Lowell releases, pressing 500 copies of each - selling 400 and using roughly 100 for promotion.
"It takes 400 records to pay off what it cost to press," Tritten says of self-sustaining system.
They've used the income from those sales to fund each successive release.
Tritten says he won't do a second pressing, regardless of sales.
"I like the idea of a limited release. We talk about it with the bands" beforehand, says Tritten, who'd love to see a Fort Lowell disc so popular and in demand that it would sell on eBay for $500.
And it's not like the pressing limit restricts the bands' release of their music. He says most of the bands also offer digital downloads or sell CDs of the music on their vinyl releases. Tritten says he has even helped the label's bands with digital releases.
Shedd says continuing to put money into Fort Lowell's releases for new bands is OK with her.
"It's all right. We had friends that did it for us. This is just giving back," Shedd says of backing the releases by new bands.
Tritten said music hasn't been a complete bed of roses. There was a year when he swore off music and even sold his guitars. "In 2004, I came home after the U.S. tour we did for Tracy's album. It was a six-week tour," and Tritten said they weren't getting radio play and nothing seemed to be going right. "I was devastated. I swore it off."
But Tritten said he soon realized music was an important part of his life, whether he was playing in his own group, supporting Shedd's career, working as a booking agent or putting out new music on vinyl. He says it all enriches his life, and he doesn't regret spending money on this latest phase.
"People ask me: 'Are you crazy?' But I didn't have a concern," Tritten insists. "Our first release, Young Mothers (a Tucson band), we're down to 100 copies in less than a year. Young Mothers are kids, people nobody knew."
Zach Toporek, Young Mothers' guitarist and singer, said most of the sales of that April release were through local retailers and online, not through the band's efforts at gigs. He said the band didn't have to do anything other than give Tritten the tapes, and they've even made a little money off the sales.
"It's interactive; you have to do something to make music. And it holds a kind of magic. On top of that, you're always looking for ways to stand out. And I don't know many Tucson groups outside of the Fort Lowell group" releasing vinyl records, Toporek said.
"The seven-inch (vinyl record) paired with a download is the running plan from here on out," Toporek said.
Keyboard player and singer Johnnie Munger of Dead Western Plains said vinyl is more than a gimmick.
"Our band's got a really unique sound, and I think it's a fit for analog type of releases," Munger said. "I think even the size of the release, the 7-inch (one song on each side), is perfect for our band. We like to write in little spurts. Release it and move on.
"I definitely wouldn't be as excited about a CD. They're collectors' items as well."
Dead Western Plains is doing a release show for its new Fort Lowell release, "Alta," on Friday at Plush with Sleep Driver and Holy Rolling Empire.
Tritten says he has always considered the label, the record company issuing a recording, when buying new albums. He said record companies are sometimes "filters," signing only a certain type and quality of act. He says if he buys something from a certain label, he knows he stands a good chance of liking it.
"I wanted to be that for the world with what's happening in Tucson. To say to the world, 'This is music that you ought to be listening to.' 'There are more, a lot more - great bands like Calexico and Howe Gelb in Tucson - worth taking to the world."
WHY VINYL?
"For me, it's more about putting out music," says the 35-year-old, who is also a musician, a guitarist and a former booking agent.
Tritten says it's worthwhile to put music on vinyl because listeners will value the music more if they have to make an effort to hear it.
"There is much more engagement with the music," Tritten says of vinyl, as opposed to the digital format. "The idea of the digital version of music somewhat depressing. I shouldn't say 'depressing'; I have an iPod at work. It's convenient."
If vinyl records motivate people to listen to Fort Lowell artists because they like the color of the disc, love the sound or are into the retro nature of old-technology discs, that's OK with Tritten. They're making an effort, and the music is getting out. Besides, he says, there's something more tangible about a vinyl record than a download, or even a jewel boxed CD.
"We're both obsessed with vinyl," says Shedd, who had her first vinyl record with a 7-inch Christmas release in 1998, a "split" with Tritten's old band, Audio Explorations.
"I love the way music sounds on vinyl. It's warmer," Shedd says. She said what cinched it for her was hearing some tracks she had cut for a EP.
"I was testing out my last EP," listening to the MP3 files of the recording session. But, she says, "as soon as it came out on vinyl," it was love.
Artists big and tiny are going back to black
by Dan Sorenson
Howe Gelb is doing it. Elvis Presley did it. Elvis Costello and Fred Eaglesmith are still doing it.
Black (or colored) vinyl is in.
Releasing records on vinyl, in some cases only on vinyl (though usually with a free download of a digital version), is increasingly popular.
English singer-songwriter Costello released his 2006 album, "Momofuku," only on vinyl, with an access code that allowed buyers to download a digital version.
Fred Eaglesmith, a Canadian singer-songwriter who has been burning up the pavement in a Ford van for 20 years, released a limited pressing of his 2008 double vinyl LP (that's "long playing" for you novices) "Tinderbox."
And almost everyone between Costello and Eaglesmith is giving vinyl at least an occasional try.
Tucson rocker Gelb's new release, "Howe Gelb and a Band of Gypsies," with a group Spanish musicians, is coming out on vinyl.
Its third release (on red vinyl) is the only shared release (known as a "split") and the only one with an artist with a previous release - Tracy Shedd with a Los Angeles-based act, Wet & Reckless, on one side. Tritten said a key figure in Wet & Reckless, Jessica Gelt, is now a Los Angeles Times reporter. Gelt used to live in Tucson and still has connections here.
Fort Lowell's latest release, a two-song disc by Tucson's Dead Western Plains, is set for Tuesday
All photos above by Ron Medvescek for Arizona Daily Star
TUCSON WEEKLY:
Soundbites
by Stephen Seigel
You'd be hard-pressed to find a more enthusiastic cheerleader for local music than James Tritten. The guitarist for (and husband to) local artist Tracy Shedd, Tritten decided last year to put his money where his mouth is and start a (mostly) locals-only, 7-inch-vinyl-singles-only record label, with the goal of releasing four singles in 2010. It's been a trial by fire, and this week, Tritten meets his goal. After putting out singles by Young Mothers, ... music video? and a split with Los Angeles' Wet and Reckless and Tracy Shedd, his Fort Lowell Records is releasing a white-vinyl 7-inch by Dead Western Plains.
The A-side, "Alta," is a shape-shifting 5 1/2 minutes that begins with an Animal Collective-like tangle of harmonies and whistling (or is that a theremin?) before it all recedes to the background in favor of a jaunty vocal melody that carries the song throughout a series of pleasant interruptions—a complimentary countermelody here, a well-placed breakdown there, before concluding: "Sometimes we fail / If the heavens won't hold you tight / the ground surely will." Cue the lovely, nearly two-minute outro.
The B-side, "Gift Horse in the Mouth," is darker and slightly less complicated, relying on a skittery drumbeat, some nifty interaction between keyboard and guitar, and a sung/spoken-word break. It's only slightly less enjoyable than the much-different "Alta."
As usual, each record comes with a code to download the songs onto your computer or portable device. And when you get to the download page, follow the gray dotted line, and scroll down. Click on the box that cryptically reads "treats are for the curious." It'll give you access to three remixes of "Alta" by Jacob Safari, ... music video? and Kurt Snell.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
YOUNG MOTHERS FEATURED ON TUCSON 12 TELEVISION!
Tucson 12 is an awesome television station here in Tucson, AZ, that is über supportive to our community, in particular, the arts. So much, that they were a major inspiration to us for starting Fort Lowell Records (seriously, read our post from January 10, 2010, here). Earlier this month, Tucson 12 invited our very own Young Mothers into their studio for a live recording and interview, as part of their D-Town Program.
CLICK LINK:
Watch D-Town featuring Young Mothers' performance and interview here!
(Their feature comes in at the 10min mark)
In addition to their television appearance, Tucson 12 has posted a 2nd song by Young Mothers from the same live studio recording session on their YouTube channel:
You can order Young Mothers' 7inch record, which happens to be our very first release, direct from our website, here (to your right-->). There are still a few copies left, but it is nearly out of print, so don't delay! Young Mothers will also be releasing a new full length CD called Have Some Fun on their own label, December 10th.
As always, thank you for the support!
Enjoy the music!
- Fort Lowell Records
CLICK LINK:
Watch D-Town featuring Young Mothers' performance and interview here!
(Their feature comes in at the 10min mark)
In addition to their television appearance, Tucson 12 has posted a 2nd song by Young Mothers from the same live studio recording session on their YouTube channel:
You can order Young Mothers' 7inch record, which happens to be our very first release, direct from our website, here (to your right-->). There are still a few copies left, but it is nearly out of print, so don't delay! Young Mothers will also be releasing a new full length CD called Have Some Fun on their own label, December 10th.
As always, thank you for the support!
Enjoy the music!
- Fort Lowell Records
Saturday, November 13, 2010
DEAD WESTERN PLAINS IS NOT DEAD.
We can't begin to tell you how excited we are to present to you the debut release for one of Tucson's newest and most innovative bands, Dead Western Plains. Their very first show can still easily be found on their Facebook page, dated August 22, 2009. It wasn't shortly after that, we began hearing a buzz around Tucson about Dead Western Plains. Upon first listen, we heard the call of duty that record labels are faced with everyday; the responsibility of bringing new music to people of the world, and we knew Dead Western Plains was a band that needed to be heard by everyone. Dead Western Plains is simply amazing, and now that their 7inch is available to order directly from us here on our site, we could not be happier! We know that the minute you hear those first "Ooo-Waa-Ooo's" on the crisp white vinyl, you are going to be sold for life as a Dead Western Plains junky. It won't surprise us to hear that you will have listened to your 7inch record so many times that flipping the 7inches of vinyl over, back and forth, measured out to be the distance from here to the moon.
We have been blessed by all of the immediate attention that has been given to Dead Western Plains' debut 7inch. Here are just a few of the bloggers out there and what they have to say about the boys from Tucson AZ:
Here Come The Flood - The Netherlands
No Modest Bear - Sweden
I'm Into Indie
The Fox & The Chicken
Something Civil
Das Klienicum - Germany
Magiska
Deck Fight
Pre-order their 7inch record before the official release date of November 23rd, and you will receive a free download link for additional remix tracks of their song "Alta." This first 25 people to pre-order will also receive a signed copy of the cover art by all five members of Dead Western Plains. This is one record you will not want to miss! The link to order is to your right --->
Thank you for the continuous support!
- Fort Lowell Records
Friday, October 15, 2010
VINYL VLOG: EPISODE #20
Matt and Josh, hosts of Vinyl Vlog (a video web blog that reviews vinyl records via YouTube), take a moment to share with you their first impressions about Fort Lowell Records and the 7inch records we have released; Young Mothers, ...music video?, and our Wet & Reckless + Tracy Shedd split.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
TESTING TESTING, 1, 2, 3... DEAD WESTERN PLAINS NEVER SOUNDED SO SWEET BEFORE!
The test pressing has arrived for Dead Western Plains! Mastered by JJ Golden and pressed by Rainbo Records, once again... we've got another great record on our hands that we can't wait to get into yours! "Alta" b/w "Gift Horse In The Mouth" is a spectacular 7inch from these Tucsonans, who will soon become your new favorite band! November 23rd is our release date for this gem on White Vinyl. Stay tuned for more information about the pre-orders, and plan to see Dead Western Plains in action on Saturday, September 25, with the Fort Lowell Records Showcase in Tucson, AZ, at Sky Bar... or on Saturday, October 2, with our Showcase in Phoenix, AZ, at The Compound!
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
WET & RECKLESS GO ON TOUR!
Thursday, September 23 - Los Angeles CA - Origami Vinyl
Friday, September 24 - Las Vegas NV - Double Down Saloon
Saturday, September 25 - Tucson AZ - Sky Bar
Sunday, September 26 - Phoenix AZ - The Rogue Bar
Tuesday, September 28 - San Francisco CA - El Rio
Detailed information about each show is available on Wet & Reckless' MySpace page.
Friday, September 24 - Las Vegas NV - Double Down Saloon
Saturday, September 25 - Tucson AZ - Sky Bar
Sunday, September 26 - Phoenix AZ - The Rogue Bar
Tuesday, September 28 - San Francisco CA - El Rio
Detailed information about each show is available on Wet & Reckless' MySpace page.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
7INCHES OF MUSIC VIDEOS
Nicolás Prados, from Spain, has been making custom videos since 2008 for bands that release their music on 7inch records. He posts his videos on YouTube and Tumblr, and has worked with artists in the past such as Washed Out, The Smith Westerns, Best Coast, and Neon Indian. Our team here at Fort Lowell Records have been blessed with Nicolás' talent, and are very proud to present to you his latest work... for our very own Wet & Reckless (Non-Official Video)! Enjoy!
Saturday, September 18, 2010
AN INTERVIEW WITH FORT LOWELL RECORDS BY METROMIX, MIXED LOCALLY BY TUCSON CITIZEN
Fort Lowell Records showcase
A Q&A with the founder of the vinyl-only Tucson label in advance of its Sept. 25 party
By Billups Allen
Originally posted by Metromix on September 17, 2010
As good records have found their way almost completely out of thrift stores and onto eBay, there seems to be a newfound interest in vinyl collecting.While some die-hard record labels weathered the vinyl slump, there is a need for a new generation of labels. Fort Lowell Records is a new label in Tucson dedicated to releasing singles. Label patron James Tritten is taking on the old-style method of running a label by arranging shows, self-distributing product and promoting the bands. It is an uphill climb, but with Fort Lowell’s third release—a split 7-inch with local Tracy Shedd and L.A.'s Wet & Reckless—being celebrated on Sept. 25 Sky Bar, there is hope that music can still be hustled off the computer screen.
Many of your releases are bands are from Tucson. Is it part of your mission to document music from the area?
Fort Lowell Records was started with a mission to release music by bands that have roots with Tucson. So far, all of the bands, with the exception of Wet & Reckless, currently live in Tucson. Wet & Reckless live in Los Angeles, but have ties back to Tucson. This town generates some of the best music I have heard in a long time, and from many different genres. I want to try and document as much of it as possible and share with the world. People need to know what is happening here.
Do you feel like you are going to focus on documenting a certain genre?
My personal interests lie mostly with indie pop/rock, but that does not mean I am not open to ideas. I collect a lot of music from hip-hop to classical to country. As long as it is something I would have bought in the store, then I would consider putting it out on Fort Lowell Records.
I have explained this to many bands before... deciding what bands I want to release is really no different then buying music in a record shop. The money is extremely limited with Fort Lowell Records, so I honestly can’t release everything I would want to. Imagine if you had $20 to buy new music, but there were over 200 different records you want to purchase. That is the feeling I have with trying to decide what record will come out next.
Fort Lowell Records is run as a non-profit. I personally invested the money to start the project, and I don’t ever intend to take money out. All of the money made from the sales of the 7-inches simply goes back into Fort Lowell Records to continue putting out more and more music. There are a lot of bands from a lot of genres that have asked to work with me that want to release a 7-inch record. It is very simple... the more support we can receive from the community with purchasing our records, the more support Fort Lowell Records will give back to supporting more and more bands. I would love to see this project grow to be able to support different genres of music outside of indie pop/rock.
What inspired you to start an all-vinyl record label?
I personally only buy music on vinyl, so I honestly can’t imagine releasing music via any other format. We do make all Fort Lowell Records music available through digital distribution, reaching outlets like iTunes, Amazon, eMusic, etc. I understand that there are listeners who prefer collecting music on a digital format, and because there is no cost to us to make this possible for them, we’ve made that available. In addition to the vinyl records, each 7-inch comes with a digital download of the music, so you can listen to your -7inch at home and take the MP3s of the music with you on the go.
For me, vinyl is music and music is vinyl. I’ve been collecting vinyl records since 1994, when I purchased Stereolab’s single “Ping Pong” on 7-inch. I owned the same recording on CD, and when I first heard it on vinyl, it became an entirely new experience. I had owned plenty on vinyl records before that, but never had been able to A/B compare the same song. There was much more of an honest presentation to the music. It was warm, alive, and able to breath on it’s own. I’ve been listening to music on vinyl ever since.
As a musician, I felt my own music deserved the respect that a vinyl record lends to the music.
It’s nice to see your records are getting into stores all over town. Are you doing a lot of hands on distribution?
When I began Fort Lowell Records, I agonized over getting distribution. This is the main advantage for a band to work with a record label. Because Fort Lowell Records is focused on a single community, Tucson, I felt the only way to handle the distribution within the city was in person.
Building relationships with each vendor is extremely important to me. I want them to feel a part of what we are doing. I love going into Bookman’s on Grant and seeing how excited Scott (Landrum) gets I come in, or watching Tasha (Sabatino) at Mast proudly place the new 7-inch on their record player for their customers to enjoy, or reading the weekly report from Bill (Sassenberger) at Toxic Ranch showing what ranking our records are in his Top 10 Best Sellers report. We’ve extended the love to our neighbors to the north in Phoenix, and they are equally as engaged in what we are doing here in Tucson.
I notice on your website that you seem to be taking on a lot of extra responsibility in the form of putting on shows and doing grass roots promotion for your bands, whereas a lot of labels don’t seem to be doing that sort of thing. Are you using any labels you are a fan of as a model for this dynamic?
Teenbeat (Records). In 1999, my wife, Tracy Shedd, and I met Mark Robinson, owner of Teenbeat. He became a fan of her music immediately, and asked to release her music on his label. From that point forward, Mark gave a lot of support to Tracy with her music career, more than simply making her music available to the public. I learned a lot with how to run a record label from her time spent with Teenbeat, and have great admiration for what Mark has done with his label in the past 25 years.
I look to create opportunities for the bands and the record label to simply have fun and share experiences together. At the end of the day, that is why I am doing what I am doing ... to have fun. I certainly don’t want to put all of this effort into Fort Lowell Records just to create work for myself; I want to have fun. I love doing the DJ nights with The Vinyl Baron, where the bands themselves join her at Hotel Congress to DJ their own favorite music the week of their 7-inch release. I am also looking forward to the showcase at Sky Bar on Sept. 25 in Tucson, as well as the one at The Compound on Oct. 2 in Phoenix, where all of our bands will be playing together on the same night.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Mast in Tucson has the new Wet & Reckless + Tracy Shedd 7inch!
TRUTH.
"Much of the beauty that arises in art comes from the struggle an artist wages with his limited medium." ~ Henri Matisse
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Saturday, September 4, 2010
COME ON DOWN!
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
PRE-ORDER FLR003 NOW!
Pre-order our Wet & Reckless + Tracy Shedd 7inch now on our WEBSITE + MYSPACE!
All pre-orders will receive a free CD of Tracy Shedd's last full length album, Cigarettes & Smoke Machines, which was released on Teenbeat in 2008! The candy-red vinyl is so delicious, you are going to want to eat it when it arrives at your doorstep! Don't forget, all Fort Lowell Records 7inches come with digital downloads so you can take your music with you on the go!
FUN FACT #1: Emily Wilder, singer / guitarist from Wet & Reckless, is the cover star on Tracy Shedd's album, Cigarettes & Smoke Machines!
FUN FACT #2: Wet & Reckless have a production company called Echo Productions Productions. They made this video for Tracy Shedd's song "City At Night," from her last release, EP88, put out by our dear friends at Eskimo Kiss Records earlier this year!
All pre-orders will receive a free CD of Tracy Shedd's last full length album, Cigarettes & Smoke Machines, which was released on Teenbeat in 2008! The candy-red vinyl is so delicious, you are going to want to eat it when it arrives at your doorstep! Don't forget, all Fort Lowell Records 7inches come with digital downloads so you can take your music with you on the go!
FUN FACT #1: Emily Wilder, singer / guitarist from Wet & Reckless, is the cover star on Tracy Shedd's album, Cigarettes & Smoke Machines!
FUN FACT #2: Wet & Reckless have a production company called Echo Productions Productions. They made this video for Tracy Shedd's song "City At Night," from her last release, EP88, put out by our dear friends at Eskimo Kiss Records earlier this year!
TEST PRESSING GIVEAWAY! ...SIGNED!
For those of you that don't understand the significance of this... test pressings are the very first run of vinyl pressed from the manufacturer. They are mailed to us to listen to before going into production, to be sure everything is correct with the pressing. For Fort Lowell Records, test pressing are even more significant because they are the only copies of our records that are pressed on black vinyl, making them extremely rare; there are only four copies like these in existence... but only one copy that was been signed by the band, making them uber-rare!
Fort Lowell Records is going to take part in the 4th Annual Vinyl Revival Record Fair on Saturday, September 4th, at Hotel Congress (http://www.hotelcongress.com) in Tucson, AZ. There will be raffle prizes given away during the event, that will include three signed test pressings from Fort Lowell Records... FLR001: Young Mothers, FLR002: ...music video?, and our newest release FLR003: Wet & Reckless + Tracy Shedd!
In addition to the giveaways, we will also have copies of our Wet & Reckless + Tracy Shedd Split 7inch (FLR003) for sale, along with Young Mothers and ...music video?! The release date for FLR003 is not until September 28th, so come on down and pick up a copy before the bands get theirs! Once you see the candy red vinyl in person, you won't be able to resist! All Fort Lowell Records 7inches will be on sale for $5.00 each! See you at the show!
Sunday, August 29, 2010
EMBRACING THE BLOG
Okay, we've been back and forth between Blogspot, Facebook, and Twitter, trying to figure out what the best site is for us to use to drive our updates. Our goal is to be able to drive everything via a BlackBerry mobile device, and not have to be stuck behind a computer all of the time... allowing us more time for turning over the 7inch records in our Corporate Offices. So here we go... this is our official test; typing our original post here on Blogspot, then using TwitterFeed to re-post this same note to Twitter and Facebook. Let's see how it works.
TUCSON AZ SHOWCASE - SEPTEMBER 25
FORT LOWELL RECORDS SHOWCASE
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Sky Bar, 536 N. 4th Ave., Tucson, AZ
8 p.m.
Free.
Sky Bar, 536 N. 4th Ave., Tucson, AZ
8 p.m.
Free.
See all five bands from Fort Lowell Records’ four 7inch releases in one place and pick up an early copy of FLR003 before it’s officially released!
7inch-only Fort Lowell Records is throwing a party to celebrate the release of their third 7inch record, a split single featuring Tucson band Tracy Shedd and LA’s Wet & Reckless. Copies of FLR003 will be available for purchase, even though the official release date is September 28.
It’s not just any party--- at the show will be all of the bands who have released music through Fort Lowell Records, including LA’s Wet & Reckless, and Tucson’s Dead Western Plains, who will be on Fort Lowell Records’ fourth 7inch release, due to come out November 23. DJ The Vinyl Baron will be spinning records before the show and between sets.
Admission is free.
LINEUP:
8:00pm: The Vinyl Baron spins records
9:00pm: ...music video?
9:45pm: Dead Western Plains
10:30pm: Young Mothers
11:15pm: Wet & Reckless (from Los Angeles CA)
12:00am: Tracy Shedd
8:00pm: The Vinyl Baron spins records
9:00pm: ...music video?
9:45pm: Dead Western Plains
10:30pm: Young Mothers
11:15pm: Wet & Reckless (from Los Angeles CA)
12:00am: Tracy Shedd
ATTENTION PRESS + RADIO
If you are interested in receiving promotional copies of our 7inch records to use for reviews in magazines, newspapers, internet, etc... or for playback on a radio station or podcast, please contact us directly (fortlowell AT gmail DOT com) to request to be added to our physical mailing list. Because our 7inch records are pressed in limited quantities, we have to reserve this list for those of you that have an interest in what we are doing. If you are interested in Fort Lowell Records, but like working with digital media... no worries, we have a digital mail list as well. Just let us know what your preference is.
We are about to begin our campaign for our third release, a split 7inch for Wet & Reckless and Tracy Shedd, so contact us as early as possible! We look forward to hearing from you soon!
We are about to begin our campaign for our third release, a split 7inch for Wet & Reckless and Tracy Shedd, so contact us as early as possible! We look forward to hearing from you soon!
INTRODUCING... THE RAD BAG!
Holy crap, this bag is cool! We are so excited to show you The Rad Bag - our very own bag, custom made by Petite Bonfire just for our 7inch records! These are photographs of the final prototype that has been approved by our Executive Team. Petite Bonfire is going to begin production for The Rad Bag this week. We are hoping to have a few available for the 4th Annual Vinyl Revival Record Fair at Hotel Congress (Tucson AZ) on Saturday, September 4th. In addition, we are going to make The Rad Bag available on our website as part of a package including all of our 7inch records, as well as at other future events for Fort Lowell Records. Seriously, people... this bag is the raddest thing going! It's even got a pocket under the hood for your phone! Be the first one on your block to own The Rad Bag! Stay tuned to our sites for more information on how to get one!
Saturday, August 28, 2010
4th ANNUAL VINYL REVIVAL RECORD FAIR
Saturday, September 4
9am-3pm - Vinyl Revival Record Fair
11am-3pm - Fort Lowell Records Showcase
- Live performances by Tracy Shedd + Young Mothers
- DJ sets by The Vinyl Baron + Fort Lowell Records Executive DJs
It’s that time of year again! Vinyl Revival invites you to join us at Hotel Congress for Tucson’s most exciting record sale! This year’s fair will coincide with Club Congress’ 25th Anniversary Party, Labor Day Weekend. A three day music festival featuring some of the best Tucson bands from the past 25 years, who will rock the stage each night. In it’s fourth year, Vinyl Revival will help us revive some of Tucson’s best music. Vinyl Revival will provide an atmosphere where the serious record collector or novice can have exposure and access to all things vinyl! Come on down and take part in Arizona’s largest independent record fair. We’re sure you’ll find something you love!
Fort Lowell Records, Tucson's latest record label releasing 7inch records for Tucson artists, will have their records from Young Mothers and ...music video? for sale. In addition, this will be a one-time-only chance to purchase their latest release, a split 7inch featuring Wet & Reckless + Tracy Shedd, that is not available to anyone else until September 28th!!! Come down to the Vinyl Revival to get your copy of FLR003 first! Tracy Shedd will be on hand to play a few live tracks for everyone, along with Young Mothers! Then, resident Fort Lowell Records' DJ, The Vinyl Baron, will be spinning some sweet, sweet vinyl all afternoon long!
To top if off... Fort Lowell Records will have a SIGNED Test Pressing for each of their records (Young Mothers, ...music video?, and the Wet & Reckless + Tracy Shedd Split 7inch) to give away as door prizes! You won't want to miss it!
SPINNING AROUND WITH ...MUSIC VIDEO?
We love this end-cap that Zia Records on Speedway (Tucson AZ) designed for ...music video?'s 7inch Record!
RELEASE DATES... MOVIN' ON UP TO THE EAST SIDE
We are so excited about these next two records coming out for 2010, we decided to move the release dates up so we can get them in your hands sooner!
- WET & RECKLESS + TRACY SHEDD Split 7inch: September 28, 2010
- DEAD WESTERN PLAINS Alta 7inch: November 23, 2010
Consider this an early Holiday Gift from the Executive Team at Fort Lowell Records!
Preorder announcements coming soon!
Enjoy!
- WET & RECKLESS + TRACY SHEDD Split 7inch: September 28, 2010
- DEAD WESTERN PLAINS Alta 7inch: November 23, 2010
Consider this an early Holiday Gift from the Executive Team at Fort Lowell Records!
Preorder announcements coming soon!
Enjoy!
Friday, July 16, 2010
INTRODUCING... "THE $7 HOLLER!"
Fort Lowell Records has partnered up with The Vinyl Baron to celebrate the release of each FLR 7inch record. Band members from the 7inch that is being celebrated join The Vinyl Baron at Hotel Congress, in downtown Tucson, AZ, to spin some of their favorite music on vinyl! This always takes place on the Friday night that follows the release date for their 7inch record. This tradition began with Young Mothers, back on April 23, 2010, and will carry on again this coming Friday, July 16th, with ...music video?. J Lugo Miller, from ...music video? will be spinning some soul records, as well as some of the beats he used in various ...music video? recordings, including beats from "I'm Afraid Of Everything," ...music video?'s song featured on their FLR 7inch.
To help celebrate the night, Fort Lowell Records is offering a drink special in honor of 7inch records, called The $7 Holler! For just $7 you can get a FLR 7inch record and a 7-N-7 Mixed Drink (Seagram's 7 Whiskey with 7-Up)! And, if you don't particularly like 7-N-7's, then the fine people at Hotel Congress will be happy to serve you up another type of well drink or beer of the same value. We won't let you go thirsty! Just don't drink and drop (the vinyl)! Stop by the merchandise table to purchase your FLR 7inch and receive a drink ticket you can take to the bar. Otherwise, 7inch records are $5.Remember, every Friday Night following our release dates, plan to join us with The Vinyl Baron at Hotel Congress! You will get to hang out with the band members and hear them spin some of their favorite vinyl records!
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