Order GROW: A Compilation in Solidarity with Black Lives Matter today from Gravity Records, Modern Legend, or Yellow Dog Discs; international shipping is available. All money will be donated to the North Carolina New Hanover County NAACP to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate race-based discrimination.
GROW: A Compilation in Solidarity with Black Lives Matter -- NOW AVAILABLE on all digital music download and streaming platforms.
Remember, every time you download or stream GROW on any digital music platform, you are making a financial donation to the North Carolina New Hanover County NAACP. Your contribution will be used to help ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate race-based discrimination.
Thank you in advance for your support.
[Repost from The Big Takeover; by Jen Dan / The Big Takeover Exclusives, October 22, 2020]
Moved by the horrific Memorial Day murder of George Perry Floyd Jr. at the hands of four Minneapolis Police officers, Fort Lowell Records presents GROW: A Compilation in Solidarity with Black Lives Matter, arriving on October 30th.
The project, focused on Wilmington, North Carolina, is a response to the racial injustice continuously displayed by law enforcement across the United States of America.
Friends of the formerly Tucson, Arizona-based label involved with GROW have donated their own talents to allow 100% of the sales from the record to endow the New Hanover County NAACP with working capital to help Fort Lowell’s newly adopted local community.
GROW must be brought to the attention of our country because of Wilmington, North Carolina’s history: being the location of The 1898 Massacre and only successful American Coup D’État. People deserve to know about our suppressed past, and learn what this one specific community is doing today to make it better for the future
GROW is an effort to help address the dire effects of racism in America.
A personally curated collection of regional artists, GROW arranges a sampling of the vast indie rock talent exhibited within The Port City. Both new and old, all embrace the alternative rock ‘n’ roll sound that Fort Lowell Records promotes.
Big Takeover is deeply pleased to host the video for one of the three never-before-heard compositions from previous recording sessions found on this album. The track “Comfortable Town” is from Summer Set, an indie pop outfit who have been active beyond the Carolinas since 2001 and contains members of the band De La Noche.
The hazy dreaminess of the synth-pop single is mirrored in the video clip which shows a ballerina-type dancer slowly going through her dance moves at the start. The footage then transitions to an art studio where the physical form is drawn, sculpted, and celebrated in all its complex beauty.
The litany of images of the video clip are a meditation upon the passage of time and the ephemeral nature of life that can be captured in an artistic way…
All video footage by Cotton
Pre-Orders Available through Gravity Records and Modern Legend
Fort Lowell Records Website
Summer Set Bandcamp
Summer Set is Brian Weeks and Robert Rogan from De La Noche, which is their "frivolous soufflé of soft-rock baby-makers and disco deliria" (Pitchfork; August 24, 2019) project with Ivan Howard of The Rosebuds (Merge Records). Summer Set was much more active in the live music scene back between 2000-2005, and have a few great indie recordings to show for it on their Bandcamp page, which also features a fantastic EP from 2012. Summer Set has since remained a studio project for the most part for the dynamic duo from Wilmington, North Carolina. Weeks and Rogan wrote their contribution to GROW: A Compilation in Solidarity with Black Lives Matter -- "Comfortable Town" -- a few years ago, but finalized the track for the album just this summer as the project came together.
We are very excited to share with you that Summer Set "Comfortable Town" is now available as of today on all digital music download and streaming platforms.
[Repost from Independent Clauses; by Stephen Carradini, October 15, 2020]
I’m a big fan of Tracy Shedd, The Band and the Beat, and Fort Lowell Records– all efforts of some combination of Shedd and James Tritten. They (in Fort Lowell form) have a new compilation coming out called GROW: A Compilation in Solidarity with Black Lives Matter. The label explains that “The project, focused on Wilmington, North Carolina, is a response to the racial injustice continuously displayed by law enforcement across the United States of America. Friends of the formerly Tucson, Arizona-based label involved with GROW have donated their own talents to allow 100% of the sales from the record to endow the New Hanover County NAACP with working capital to help Fort Lowell’s newly adopted local community. GROW is an effort to help address the dire effects of racism in America.”
In advance of the record, they’re releasing four singles, and we have the honor of premiering Tracy Shedd’s single/video for “Holding Space.” The video is here:
The song is an icy, stark, downtempo electro framework with Shedd’s inviting vocals lifting the proceedings. “Are you listening?” she asks over a rubbery bass guitar, Casio-esque tinny synths, and distant tambourine clink. “Holding space / make it a better world” she croons over the chorus, as the instrumentation cheers slightly to meet the hopeful lyrics. The song isn’t long (2:59), keeping things tight and urgent. This is especially reflected in the coda of the song, which shudders to a sudden halt, leaving the listener with a sense of incompleteness that fits the lyrics. The accompanying video focuses on moving shots of horses and plants (particularly flowering ones, plus the spiky/beautiful aloe plant), but with a cold, desaturated color palette reflecting the dim light of the song’s sonic world. It’s a unique, interesting song with a tightly connected video.
You can also listen to “Holding Space” via SoundCloud:
“Holding Space” officially releases Friday, October 16th. The full album of GROW will be released on Friday, October 30th.
Pre-Order links for GROW are here: Gravity Records, Modern Legend, Yellow Dog Discs.
[Repost from Fuzzy Logic; by Megan Petty, October 9, 2020]
Back in 2015, John Staton of the Wilmington Star News described Life of Saturdays as "the best Wilmington band no one's ever heard of." Five years down the road, and that's not so much the case anymore - even non-Wilmingtonians might already know/love Life of Saturdays; if not by name, perhaps by note, thanks to the band's song "If U R Alive" being featured in an episode of Vice Principals (please allow me to save you some searching - season 2, episode 7).
For the uninitiated, I'm thrilled to be able to introduce you to Life of Saturdays through this here video premiere. The video you're watching, for the unreleased "That Kind of Love," is special - not only because it's a gem in its own right, but because it's part of the Fort Lowell Records GROW compilation (full name of the record being GROW: A Compilation in Solidarity with Black Lives Matter). The record is officially released on October 30, and features songs from Wilmington/Wilmington-adjacent artists. 100% of sales from the album will be donated to the New Hanover County NAACP, so your purchase will go to an extremely worthwhile cause.
You'll be hearing more from me about GROW in the very near future, but let's get back to Life of Saturdays.
"That Kind of Love" is all sorts of intriguing. The beguiling beat hints at the early 2000s slink of Ladytron, the sort of sound that makes for a glorious good time, underpinned by an acute sense of unflinching resignation. The vocal interplay between John Jeremiah Sullivan and Jessie Williams is both warmly complementary and far out free-wheeling. Sullivan, the band's ringleader, and Williams both have the kind of rambling, offbeat vocal styles made for storytelling, and both imbue Sullivan's lyrics with a poignancy that hits hard.
The more I listen to "That Kind of Love," the more I keep thinking to myself, "Magnetic Fields." Sullivan seems to have a knack for spinning yarns, but there's something sardonic about the lyrical realism mixed in with his vibrant, poetic tendencies. At times diverging from one another, Sullivan and Williams consistently find their own ways to yank the heartstrings, while also doing plenty of damage together. The song's video certainly hits the spot, a collection of grainy moments pulled from vintage movies, with plenty of Hollywood kisses adding dramatic effect to the cinematic feel of the song.
Watch the brand new music video from Life of Saturdays for their song "That Kind of Love" from the album GROW: A Compilation in Solidarity with Black Lives Matter, to be released via Fort Lowell Records on Friday, October 30th. You can pre-order your copy of GROW now from Gravity Records, Modern Legend, or Yellow Dog Discs. Remember, 100% of the sales from GROW: A Compilation in Solidarity with Black Lives Matter be donated to the North Carolina New Hanover County NAACP, so order two, or three, or even ten copies of the record and give them away as gifts for the holidays. Thank you in advance for your support.
Life of Saturdays is a band from Wilmington, North Carolina -- made up of John Jeremiah Sullivan [New York Times Magazine Author], Jessie Adair Williams [Owner of Edge of Urge], and Nicholas Christian Laudadio [Associate Professor of English at UNCW] -- who released an amazing album titled So How We Seem back in 2015 ((we strongly recommend you check it out)). During those recording sessions many years ago, Life of Saturdays fortunately recorded and handful of additional tracks that were not included on their album. One of those songs is "That Kind of Love," and thanks to Life of Saturdays' own interest to help address the dire effects of racism in America, we are all able to enjoy their song "That Kind of Love" as a part of GROW: A Compilation in Solidarity with Black Lives Matter. Officially today -- Friday, October 9th -- their song from GROW is now available as a 'Digital Single' ahead of the albums release on Friday, October 30th. Remember, every time a song from GROW is downloaded or streamed from a digital music platform, the North Carolina New Hanover County NAACP receives all of the revenue as working capital to help ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate race-based discrimination. So as Shannon said, "LET THE MUSIC PLAY" ((such a great song))! Know we love you. Be well, be kind, and enjoy. - Fort Lowell Records
Check out the new music video for Tracy Shedd's remix of honeybrandy's song "Not in Our City", featuring Dr. Keith R. Anderson's speech which was presented to the Lynchburg, Virginia City Council on June 23, 2020. Then, head over to Harding Street Assembly Lab to listen to honeybrandy's original version, as well as a ton of other great releases from their record label.
Remember, 100% of the sales from this song and all remixes that appear on the honeybrandy 'Not in Our City (Remixed)' Digital EP will be donated to the North Carolina New Hanover County NAACP, so be sure to let the music play all day and all night to help raise as much money as possible for our community!
Do you remember the Wilmington band Pandora's Lunchbox, who had a record out on the Shimmy Disc label, founded by Kramer [Butthole Surfers, Ween]? • Do you miss the annual 'WE Festival' [Wilmington Exchange Festival; 1996-2009 (2010)] -- a music conference once held in our Port City, which hosted bands like Mooney Suzuki, The Dismemberment Plan, Mae, Val Emmich, Mountain Brothers, Lamb Of God, and Tracy Shedd -- and which was also featured on MTV News? • Are you a frequent patron of Whatever Wilmington, once located on Castle Street now on Grace Street in downtown? • Do you frequent Anne McCrary (Sullivan) Park over on Randall Parkway enough that you've researched her life and family history?
If so, then you are likely aware of our dear friend Mr. Kenyata Sullivan; a person who we personally are very thankful to have in our lives; for Wilmington NC would simply not be our home if it weren't for Kenyata. We first met Kenyata at The Exchange -- an old vintage clothing store once located at the corner of Grace & 2nd that used to host concerts in their back room -- while our previous band Audio Explorations was on tour in 1996. We've been close friend ever since, and couldn't be more excited to share this...
Starting this week, each Friday of October we will feature the release of one song 📻 + music video 📺 from GROW: A Compilation in Solidarity with Black Lives Matter, beginning with The Majestic Twelve "Amphibious Vehicular Love" on Oct. 2nd [premiered by Here Comes the Flood], then Life of Saturdays "That Kind of Love" on Oct. 9th [premiered by Fuzzy Logic], followed by Tracy Shedd "Holding Space" on Oct. 16th [premiered by Independent Clauses], and Summer Set "Comfortable Town" on Oct. 23rd [premiered by Big Takeover Magazine], then finally the big finally of the month being the official release of the full compilation album on Oct. 30th! We couldn't be more excited for October to be here so we can begin sharing the amazing music of GROW with you. Stay tuned to our Instagram + Twitter each week for further updates, and remember to place your pre-order today with Gravity Records, Modern Legend, or Yellow Dog Discs -- and be sure to pick up a few extra copies to give out to the kids on Halloween as a 'treat' 🎃; they'll love it! Remember, ALL / 100% / EVERY PENNY 💰 of the sales of GROW will be donated to the North Carolina New Hanover County NAACP, so there is EVERY reason you could buy two, three, or ten copies of GROW and gift them to family and friends -- your money is going to help ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate race-based discrimination. So do it, today -- order GROW -- now! Thank you in advance for your support! ♥️
[REPOST from Here Comes the Flood; by Hans Werksman, September 17, 2020]
VIEW PREMIERE: La Cerca - "Gloomy Vista Way"
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[REPOST from Here Comes the Flood; by Hans Werksman, September 23, 2020]
ALBUM REVIEW: La Cerca - A Nice Sweet Getaway
Tuscon based alternative rockers La Cerca have changed course (and line-ups) quite a few times. Still, even for longtime followers of the band it comes as a surprise to see them releasing A Nice Sweet Getaway, a full-on, dark ambient album. They even used a basic two-track recording device, and had to cope with the limitations that came along with it.
Echo, delay and reverb were put to good use to create an atmosphere that is not particularly safe or soothing. They point to the dangers that are hiding in the great wide open, with pulsating rhythms and swaths of guitar that are both welcoming and issuing a warning. A Nice Sweet Getaway flows as a continious piece of music and should be enjoyed as such. This kind of music does not allow outside interference, so better disconnect the phone and other things that can break the spell.
A Nice Sweet Getaway will be released via Fort Lowell Records. Release date: September 25.
Tracks:
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JPW & DAD WEED
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RED DWARF STAR
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MINDSONE
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JPW
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SHELBY SMOAK
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TERCEL
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AL FOUL |
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THIS WATER IS LIFE, VOL. IV |
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RED DWARF STAR
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TERCEL
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FOREST FALLOWS
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NAÏM AMOR
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BLAB SCHOOL |
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FEMALE GAZE |
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DOGGY DAYCARE |
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COMMON THREAD |
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THIS WATER IS LIFE, VOL. III |
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JON RAUHOUSE |
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SUMMER SET |
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SODA SUN |
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TRACY SHEDD |
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LA CERCA |
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DOGGY DAYCARE |
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JAMES SARDONE |
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JPW |
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BRIAN LOPEZ |
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MINDSONE / RIZZYBEATS |
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KICKING BIRD |
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DESARIO |
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INFINITIKISS |
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THIS WATER IS LIFE, VOL. II |
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KIM WARE |
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LAUDS |
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AUDIO EXPLORATIONS |
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KIM WARE AND |
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JPW |
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LAUDS |
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TRACY SHEDD |
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KITIMOTO |
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DESARIO |
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THIS WATER IS LIFE, VOL. I |
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LAUDS |
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CITIFIED |
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LAUDS |
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LUZ DE VIDA II |
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NEON BELLY |
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THE GOOD GRACES |
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TRACY SHEDD |
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SODA SUN |
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SEAN THOMAS GERARD |
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BREC |
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LA CERCA |
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GROW |
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HONEYBRANDY |
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TRACY SHEDD |
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TRACY SHEDD |
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TRACY SHEDD |
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TRACY SHEDD |
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TRACY SHEDD |
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TRACY SHEDD |
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MOYAMOYA |
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MOYAMOYA |
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MOYAMOYA |
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BAND & THE BEAT |
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MOYAMOYA |
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BAND & THE BEAT |
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BAND & THE BEAT |
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HEY MANDIBLE |
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NAÏM AMOR |
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MOYAMOYA |
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THE GOOD GRACES |
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LA CERCA |
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FAIRWEATHERFRIEND |
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SAINT MAYBE FLR009 | 12inch |
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ANDREW COLLBERG |
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LUZ DE VIDA |
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HOWE GELB 'Sno Angel |
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DEATH KIT
"Devadasi" |
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DEAD WESTERN PLAINS |
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WET & RECKLESS "New Guy" |
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...MUSIC VIDEO?
FLR002 | 7inch |
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YOUNG MOTHERS FLR001 | 7inch |
