GOD, WE LOVE SHOEGAZE & FAIRWEATHERFRIEND

FairWeatherFriend is comprised of four friends from Tucson, Arizona, who enjoy making (shoegaze) music together and being friends.  They also happen to be our own personal latest addiction; we freakin' love their music!  Help FairWeatherFriend gather the funding necessary to release their debut 7inch record with Fort Lowell Records!  Here is the info you need to know from their KickStarter page:

FairWeatherFriend, thought-provoking, emotive indie-rock... cultivated in the desert southwest by four vastly different fellows bonded in brotherly love.

KICKSTARTER POSTING:
Dear friends, family, curious on-lookers, etc....

As you can imagine, the process of producing a physical, recorded work of music takes time, creativity, and money!  We have made the time to get together for rehearsals and brainstorm what this process will entail.  We are tapping into our creative minds this very second, considering how best to draw each one of you into this project. That brings us to this- the money aspect is awkward to address, but difficult to overlook!  In order to accomplish the goal of releasing a record, we are shooting for $2000.  Here's how it breaks down financially when it comes to producing a vinyl record...  

$790.00 - Vinyl manufacturing/shipping
$238.55 - Lacquers/ vinyl masters
$58.30 - Polyethylene bags
$224.02 - Record jackets
$38.83 - Mailing boxes
$210.00 - Shipping records to stores for sale

These charges total $1559.70.  With a portion of the remainder amount of $440.30 we are attempting to raise, we will be paying a friend to facilitate our recording process so we can focus on instrumentation.   Finally, the last of the money will be used to ship out the rewards to you, the "backers".  

Needless to say, we need your help to partner with us to make this dream come alive.  If we meet our goal, you can rejoice with us and smile with great satisfaction.  The bad news is, if we don't receive the entire goal amount during the 30-day drive, the campaign will be over and no money will be available.  We are going to go forward in confidence with our goal in mind, so we invite you to respond!   We feel so passionately about this music and desire to share the sense of community with all who desire to join us.  Friends and family- unite!  Don't forget, strangers are welcome to donate, too!

By the way, EVERY BACKER WILL BE MENTIONED BY NAME IN THE LINER NOTES! 

We believe that in a community effort, gifts, both miniscule and massive, are a sacrifice worthy of mention! We thank you in advance for your love... 

God bless,
FAIRWEATHERFRIEND

Pledge $5 or more
Thank you, dear person! You shall receive digital downloads of our very first 2 original songs. In addition, we will send you a one-of-a-kind, personalized thank you photo. We may make a human pyramid or pose in a stranger's car without asking.

Pledge $10 or more
Wow. You're swell! We're going to send you a physical copy of the 7 inch vinyl record. This little beauty will possess splendid color, a visually pleasing sleeve, and shall contain 2 original songs. A download card will accompany it so that your iPod can feel as special as your turntable.

Pledge $25 or more
You. Are. Awesome! To thank you, we will send you the 7 inch vinyl record, complete with digital download card (because it's hard to keep the record from skipping in your car). Oh yeah, you also get a one-of-a-kind, personalized, slightly unconventional thank you photo from the band! Most importantly, you are eligible to submit a photo for potential use on the cover of the record! The theme is Tucson missions, so make it good! (Can't go wrong with San Xavier...)

Pledge $50 or more
Can''t thank you enough! But let us start by sending you a copy of this limited-run, 7-inch vinyl record. There will only be 500 of these babies on the entire planet! A digital download card will eliminate the need to take your record player to the park, thereby preventing people from staring at you on your jog. Of course, you'll also receive a unique thank you photo containing the band (possibly walking dogs or juggling). Finally, 8x10 black and white prints of all 3 photos used on the record cover! The theme is Tucson missions...That's cool!

Pledge $100 or more
Benjamin Franklin?! Wow, thank you! You get a limited-edition copy of the vinyl 7-inch record for sure. And a digital download card. And a thank you picture. And check this out- you get a private drum lesson from Ryan! Can't beat THAT. Get it? Nothing.

Pledge $500 or more
In addition to all of the goodies in the $50 package, Sean will build you a custom piece of furniture!! Yeah, you read that correctly. He's multi-talented, and you'll be the recipient of said talent. This item will be wooden in nature, and shall forever be a conversation piece in your home.

Pledge $1,000 or more
WHAAAAAAT?!!! That's NUTS! So we're giving you the recorded goods, the thank you photo, cover art prints....and how about we play a live set at your house? We'll even play a cover tune of you choice. The evening will only be complete if we bring pizza for as many friends as can legally fit inside your dwelling. Don't forget- fire code guidelines need to be followed, or Kevin will lay the hammer down!


Help support FairWeatherFriend via KickStarter!
Follow FairWeatherFriend on Twitter and SoundCloud!

SAINT MAYBE - DEBUT FULL LENGTH RECORD

Saint Maybe
Things As They Are

Side-A:
- Everything At Once (And More)
- Houses For Ghosts
- Delicate Prey
- She’s Alright

Side-B:
- Way With Words
- Everything That Rises
- Take It Easy (But Take It)
- Things As They Are

Coming soon... October 30, 2012!

TAMPA, TONIGHT!

New Granada Presents...
TRACY SHEDD!

Wednesday, August 8th
7:00-9:00pm
Free Show!

New World Brewery
1313 E. Eighth Ave., Tampa, FL 33605

Arizona's Tracy Shedd (Teen Beat; DIW; Fort Lowell Records) will be playing a special one-off show as part of New World Brewery's ongoing Wednesday night BBQ Acoustic Series. The show is FREE (!!!!!), Tracy will be doing a couple sets between 7:00-9:00pm.

So, get there early! Do NOT MISS this !!!!!!

And bring some extra cash for NWB's famous $5.00 BBQ plate!

FACEBOOK EVENT PAGE 

See you tonight!
FLR

NEW YOUNG MOTHERS VIDEO

Zach Toporek, frontman of Young Mothers (the first band we released a 7inch with), performs their new tune "Go Mad," live at Lost Leaf in Phoenix AZ!

SATURDAY IS FOR SHOPPING

If you didn't hear already...

Luz de Vida, our 12inch compilation that features 12 Tucson artists on the beautiful yellow vinyl plus a total of 37 amazing artists from all over the globe on the download card, is now priced at $10.00!  Featuring bands like Calexico, Giant Sand, Robyn Hitchcock, John Vanderslice, Spoon, Neko Case, Meat Puppets, Jimmy Eat World, Ozomatli, Visqueen’s Rachel Flotard & Jon Rauhouse, Mark Growden, Chuck Prophet, Tracy Shedd, Lenguas Largas, La Cerca, Dead Western Plains, Brian Lopez, Golden Boots, etc., etc., etc...

We've got Howe Gelb 7inches available again!  But only a couple, so get 'em while you can!  Howe's record sold out immediately with Record Store Day 2011.  Fortunately for you, we found a few extra copies that must have missed the original shipment!

And lastly, it's bitter sweet to report that we've finally sold out of the Young Mothers' 7inch, our very first release!   We believe the only remaining copies might be with the band up in New York City, so catch them at a show up there is you need a copy!

Order Luz de Vida and Howe Gelb, plus more, directly from us... over in the right column-->

Happy Record Shopping!
Enjoy!

FLR

SAINT YES!

Saint Maybe, who will be releasing their debut full length with Fort Lowell Records later this year, recently opened for Los Lobos here in Tucson, AZ, at the Rialto Theatre.  Here are two videos from that performance, featuring our very own Tracy Shedd on backup vocals, and the best record producer this side of the Mississippi and owner of Wavelab Studio, Craig Schumacher, on keys!  Catch Saint Maybe on the road this summer as they tour around the US promoting their rockness (dates listed below)!



Wed June 20 - Midway Cafe - Boston MA
Thur June 21 - The Rock Shop - Brooklyn NY
Mon June 25 - Mercury Lounge - New York NY

Fri July 13 - Raven Cafe - Prescott AZ
Sat July 14 - Spirit Inn - Jerome AZ
Sun July 15 - Lost Leaf - Phoenix AZ

Thur Aug 9 - Pappy & Harriets - Pioneertown CA
Fri Aug 10 - Old Towne Pub - Pasadena CA
Sat Aug 11 - Museum of Music and Instruments - Los Angeles CA
 
Saint Maybe is...
- Oliver Ray (Patti Smith): vocals, guitar
- Chris Sauer: guitar
- Naim Amor: guitar
- Geoff Hidalgo (Mostly Bears): bass guitar
- Winston Watson (Bob Dylan, Greyhound Soul): drums

CHAMBER OF (BAD ASS) SOUNDS

Our friend Jamie Laboz is the sole creator behind Chamber Of Sounds, a company here in Tucson AZ building amazing handheld analog synthesizers. Jamie is simply a genius and his creations are some of the most beautiful synthesizers ever built since Bob Moog! The videos below speak for themselves... check 'em out!












Learn more about Chamber Of Sounds here!

Enjoy!
FLR

FORT LOWELL RECORDS DOES PHOENIX AZ

Saturday, June 16
Lost Leaf
914 N 5th Street
Phoenix AZ
(602) 258-0014

Young Mothers
Jess Williamson (from Austin TX)
Tracy Shedd
Snow Songs

...MUSIC VIDEO? WEST COAST TOUR

Looks like the boys from ...music video? are heading back out the road starting tonight in Tucson AZ!  Don't miss their show in your home town, and be sure to pick up their 7inch (FLR002) from them on the road!  Check out their website for more details on each show.

5/16 – Tucson @ Plush, Tour Kickoff with Enemies! and Vanity Theft
5/17 – San Diego @ Ruby Room w/ Lo-Fi Sugar
5/18 – Sacramento @ The Cave w/ Monkeys In Space
5/19 – San Francisco @ Amnesia w/ Foolproof Four (EARLY SHOW 6-9)
5/20 – Brookings, OR @ 101 Bar
5/21 – Portland @ Dante’s
5/22 – Seattle @ High Dive
5/23 – Brookings, OR @ 101 Bar
5/24 – San Francisco @ Hotel Utah
5/25 – Santa Monica @ Central SAPC w/ Lo-Fi Sugar
5/26 – TBA
5/27 – Tempe @ Rogue Bar


...music video? "I'm Afraid Of Everything" by FortLowellRecords

RIP ERNIE GARDNER

"RIP Ernie Gardner (far right), one of the founding members of '05 local sexy proto-punkers Red Switch, and a frequent participant in the recent popular spinoff act, HAIRSPRAYFIREANDGIRLS (featured on our Luz de Vida compilation). He was always quick with a smile, a handshake (usually a bear-hug) and a kind word. Devastating, to say the least." ~ Club Congress + TucsonScene James

VINYL ON SALE TONIGHT ONLY

We'll be at Club Congress tonight for the Lambchop (Merge Records) + Howe Gelb show with two of our records that feature Mr. Gelb himself on sale!

$3.00 - 'Sno Angel + Melted Wires Split 7inch (normally $5.00)
$10.00 - Luz de Vida 12inch Compilation, featuring Giant Sand (normally $20.00)

Hope to see you there!
~ FLR

KXCI RADIO INTERVIEWS EL PATRON DE FLR

Thank you to Dan Sheffer from Tucson-12 Television for stopping by KXCI Community Radio Studios last year on our 1st Anniversary, April 22, 2011. Here is an interview between Jason Repko from KXCI and yours truly, El Patron de Fort Lowell Records. Enjoy!

TRACY SHEDD PLAYS TUCSON AZ!

WE NEED HELP, PLEASE

As some of you may already know, Fort Lowell Records is a non-profit organization.  100% of the money made from our records goes back into releasing more records for more artists.  We have a lot of great ideas for new releases this year, but we need more money to pay for them.  The sooner we can sell the records we have been releasing for the past two years, the sooner we can make new records available for you to enjoy.  Please spread the word and tell your family and friends that you want more Fort Lowell Records in your life and you need their help to get them.  Thank you for all the support for the past two years, and thank you in advance for the support you continue to give!

- Team FLR

COMMON THREAD, THE GREATEST BAND EVER

One of the most influential bands of my life has been Common Thread.  Fort Lowell Records would simply not exist if it weren't for them.  Not only were they close friends of mine growing up in Orange Park, FL, but they were simply amazing musicians that pushed boundaries like no other band.

In the late 80's and early 90's, a big part of the skateboarding scene in Orange Park, FL, existed at "The Sandtrap."  This was the name for Joe & Tiger Parker's backyard half-pipe skate ramp.  Tiger was one of my best friends at the time (shout-out to the Rice Posse) and Joe was his older brother.  Joe's friends Travis Taylor and Joey Zimmerman would often come over as well to skate with us, but before we knew it, Joe, Travis, and Joey were plugging in guitars in the living room.  It wasn't too long after that Common Thread was born and shows at The Civic League and Pizza Blue became the most mind blowing experiences for us growing up.  Craig Parlet, a friend of mine literally since the age of one (we were both born in Portsmouth, VA, due to our fathers both being in the Navy) became Common Thread's drummer just after the release of their first cassette.

Fortunately for all of us, our friend Aaron O'Laughlin has posted up two great video's of Common Thread.  The first is a video he made for their classic hit "Lydia Elle," a song that appeared on what most will agree was their greatest release ever, Fountain.  The second video is a live recording from a show at The Bad Boy Club, playing John Denver's "Leaving on a Jet Plane," a song they would often end their shows with, featuring their original drummer, Donald Kilpatrick.





In addition, here are a few other classic songs by Common Thread for you to listen to, taken from their MySpace page:

Sesame "Sesame"
Destroying Red Lights "Destroying Red Lights"
Drippings "Drippings"
My Feet as Prunes "My Feet as Prunes"

We hope you have enjoyed listening to Common Thread as much of we have! By the way, you may have noticed the Teisco Japanese Guitar that Joe Parker was playing in the live video. This guitar was a big inspiration for him to begin building his own guitars, Joe Parker Guitars, photographed below as seen at Austin Vintage Guitars in Texas.

Happy Shoegazing!
~ FLR

ANDREW COLLBERG - EUROPEAN TOUR

Our latest artist featured on 7inches of beautiful mint green vinyl, Andrew Collberg, is heading off to Europe in April!  Andrew Collberg will be touring with Luz de Vida (FLR007) artists Sergio Mendoza y La Orkesta and Brian Lopez, along with Tucsonan Marianne Dissard.  The four artists collectively are out promoting the Tucson Songs compilation (Le Pop Musik), but we are sure Andrew Collberg is going to have some of his "Dirty Wind" 7inchers with him as well!

April 17 - München, Germany - Feierwerk
April 18 - Mannheim, Germany - Alte Feuerwache
April 19 - Linz, Austria - Posthof
April 20 - Lyon, France - L'Epicerie Moderne
April 22 - Freiburg, Germany - Cafe Atlantik
April 23 - Dortmund, Germany - FZW
April 24 - Berlin, Germany - Heimathafen
April 25 - Hamburg, Germany - Fabrik
April 26 - Köln, Germany - Stadtgarten
April 27 - Zug, Switzerland - Chollerhalle
April 28 - Schaffhausen, Switzerland - Kammgarn
April 29 - Chemnitz, Germany - Schauspielhaus
April 30 - Offenbach, Germany - Hafen 2

Enjoy the show!
~ FLR

JACKSONVILLE FL VISITS TUCSON AZ

We are super excited about this... Sunbears! are coming to Tucson AZ!  Jared + Jonathan are ol' friends of ours from Jacksonville FL, as well as signed to our friends Keith + Susie's label New Granada Records (Tampa FL), who manages the Digital Distribution for Fort Lowell Records!  Double R Nites is going to be hosting Sunbears! at La Cocina on Wednesday, February 1st!  To make the night even better, our very own ...music video? is going to be playing as well!  Page of Cups will be opening the show.  Don't miss this event, it is going to be superexciting!

Not to mention... we always said The Red Room was the best venue for catching amazing new artists in Tucson!  Now with Double R Nites taking over La Cocina and picking up where we all left off with The Red Room closing, well... we simply love what they are doing now!

Here are some videos for you to check out...

Sunbears!


...music video?


See you at the show!
Fort Lowell Records

...MUSICTELEVISIONVIDEO?

Check-it-check-it out!  The boys from ...music video? landed themselves a lil' ol' spot on MTV's show Caged!  Scroll forward to 26:45 to take a listen for yer' self...

MICROGROOVES + MICROBREWS

Fort Lowell Records + Borderlands Brewing Co. have partnered together to celebrate the release of Andrew Collberg's "Dirty Wind" 7inch record. Come celebrate with us on Friday, February 3rd, from 4:00pm-7:00pm. This will be a free event to the public, and Borderlands Brewing Co. will have tastings of their amazing all natural hand-crafted beers for only $3.00. In addition, we will have copies of Andrew Collberg's 7inch record for $5.00, along with other records from our catalog.

4:00pm - Doors Open
4:45pm - Young Mothers
5:30pm - Tracy Shedd
6:15pm - Andrew Collberg

Borderlands Brewing Co. Microbrews:
- Santa Rita, a refreshing amber ale
- Borderlands Lager, perfect for desert days
- La Morena, nutty, toasty, brown ale
- Noche Dulce, moonlight vanilla porter
- Ol' Loco, ol' frontier's citrus IPA
- Prickly Pear Wheat, summer's sweet bounty

Learn more about Borderlands Brewing Co. here:
http://borderlandsbrewing.com/

Learn more about Fort Lowell Records + Andrew Collberg here:
http://fortlowell.blogspot.com/
http://www.andrewcollberg.com/


PLUS...
After the show, be sure to make your way over to Plush to celebrate the 7inch record release for our dear friends... The Electric Blankets! It's going to be a supergreat night in Tucson, with everyone pressing more vinyl records for your ears to be blessed with! Can't wait to pick up The Electric Blankets on wax! Here is more information about their show... Don't miss it!:
http://www.facebook.com/events/296567900394907/

See you all at the shows!

HELP US SELL 1,000 RECORDS + GIVE $20,000 TO CHARITY

There is $20,000 sitting in our warehouse that belongs to the Tucson Together Fund.  Please help us given them their money.

Translation: We still have 1,000 copies of Luz de Vida available for $20.00 per copy.  Please help us sell these records so we can give the money directly to the Tucson Together Fund, the only officially sanctioned fund established to assist victims, families, and witnesses of the January 8th tragedy.


Learn more about the Luz de Vida project and the Tucson Together Fund here:



Thank you!
Fort Lowell Records + Music Against Violence