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

TODAY WE REMEMBER...

At exactly 10:11am, January 8, 2011, life in Tucson changed forever for all of us, but especially for nineteen individuals, six of which lost their lives. This tragic event presented an opportunity for the people of Tucson to pull together and show the world our true colors and how beautiful our community is. It also presented an opportunity for individuals like Congresswoman Gabrielle "Gabby" Giffords to demonstrate her strength and determination to survive in this world. January 8th will always be a day we will remember those that lost their lives and suffered from the Tucson Tragedy, but it will also be a day to remember why we are Tucsonans and what makes Tucson home for all of us.

As you may know, Music Against Violence + Fort Lowell Records partnered together to provide the world an opportunity to help out those affected by the Tucson Tragedy. Luz de Vida is a compilation record that was put together to raise money to help the victims and families.  Thanks to the many sponsors that provided funding to pay for all manufacturing costs, 100% of the money raise from all sales of Luz de Vida goes to the Tucson Together Fund.  In turn, the money will go direct to those in need to help reimburse lost wages, pay for doctor bills, and provide the long term support required for the years to come. 

We are asking for you to donate $20.00 to the cause, and in exchange we will mail you a vinyl copy of Luz de Vida.  You can also show support by purchasing a digital copy of Luz de Vida from iTunes or Amazon for only $10.00.  Either way, the victims and families will receive 100% of your contributions.  In exchange for your support, you will receive an amazing record featuring some of the greatest artists from Tucson, and others that hold a special place for Tucson in their hearts.  You can learn more about Luz de Vida on the Music Against Violence website.

Luz de Vida is available direct from this website, as well as in many stores in Tucson and Phoenix, AZ.  Please review the column on the right side of this page for more information to purchase.

Thank you.
Fort Lowell Records

ANDREW COLLBERG RINGS IN THE NEW YEAR

We are UBERexcited to be releasing Andrew Collberg's follow up record to his amazing 2010 release On The Wreath (Le Pop Musik)! Andrew's 7inch will feature two amazing new tracks...
"Dirty Wind" and "Back On The Shore!"

Check out the A-Side track here as an MP3 webstream...
Andrew Collberg "Dirty Wind" by FortLowellRecords

...and the video for the B-Side track!


The Pre-Order link is up on our website now... over there---> (on the right side). Order your copy now! You do not want to miss out on this awesome 7inch!

TRACY SHEDD | WINTER TOUR: NOV 23 - DEC 23

31 days on the road playing 26 shows in 24 different cities!

It has been seven years since Tracy Shedd has been on a proper US Tour; seven years too long.  Since Tracy Shedd's last days spent on the road, she has released some of her greatest recordings: Cigarettes & Smoke Machines (Teen-Beat Records 2008), EP88 (Eskimo Kiss Records 2010), and her split 7inch with Wet & Reckless (via our very own Fort Lowell Records 2010), as well as her contribution to the Luz de Vida benefit compilation (Fort Lowell Records 2011).  The world is ready to hear these songs live, and that they will!  Armed, this time not with her Avocado Green Microfrets guitar but instead, with what has become her signature Red Fender Telecaster, and now a piano along side, Tracy Shedd will be performing tracks from these recordings, and perhaps a new one or two!

Follow Tracy Shedd on her tour via her Facebook + Twitter posts!

Tracy Shedd | Winter Tour 2011
11.23.11 | Marfa, TX | Padre's
11.24.11 | day off
11.25.11 | Dallas, TX | Good Records In-Store | w/ Graceful Exit at 6:00pm
11.25.11 | Dallas, TX | The Kessler Theater | w/ Carolyn Wonderland and Daphne Willis at 7:00pm
11.26.11 | day off
11.27.11 | Austin, TX | Mohawk | w/ Follow That Bird, She Sir, and Quin Galavis
11.28.11 | Houston, TX | Rudyard's Pub | w/ The Mathletes
11.29.11 | New Orleans, LA | Siberia | w/ Au Ras Au Ras and Whom Do You Work For?
11.30.11 | Jacksonville, FL | Club TSI | w/ Moyamoya, AC Deathstrike, and DJ Cash
12.01.11 | Fernandina Beach, FL | The Green Turtle | w/ The Fornicorns
12.02.11 | Tampa, FL | Micro Groove Records In-Store | w/ Jennifer O'Connor - afternoon
12.02.11 | Tampa, FL | New World Brewery | w/ Rec Center - evening
12.03.11 | Atlanta, GA | 529 | w/ The Good Graces, Virginia Plane, and Book Club
12.04.11 | Raleigh, NC | Slim's | w/ Schooner and Miami Jetski
12.05.11 | Arlington, VA | The Galaxy Hut | w/ Talk It (Teen-Beat Showcase)
12.06.11 | Brooklyn, NY | The Rock Shop | w/ Tristen and Ravens And Chimes
12.07.11 | Pawtucket, RI | The News Cafe | w/ The Invisible Hours and Gertrude Atherton
12.08.11 | Philadelphia, PA | The Fire | w/ Lauryn Peacock
12.09.11 | Cleveland, OH | Cleveland Renaissance Hotel
12.10.11 | Chicago, IL | Red Line Tap | w/ Michael Alexander, Cassandra Henwood, Alejandra Oleary
12.11.11 | day off
12.12.11 | day off
12.13.11 | day off
12.14.11 | Seattle, WA | Columbia City Theater | w/ Howe Gelb, Maggie Bjorklund, and Sweet Secrets
12.15.11 | Portland, OR | Doug Fir Lounge | w/ Howe Gelb and Jesse Sykes & The Sweet Hereafter
12.16.11 | day off
12.17.11 | Oakland, CA | The New Parish | w/ Howe Gelb
12.18.11 | day off
12.19.11 | Sacramento, CA | Bows & Arrows | w/ Desario and Allen Clapp & His Orchestra
12.20.11 | San Francisco, CA | Hemlock Tavern | w/ Desario and Allen Clapp & His Orchestra
12.21.11 | Los Angeles, CA | Bootleg Theater | w/ Flora & Fauna and Harriet
12.22.11 | San Diego, CA | The Tin Can | w/ Skyline Union, Carmen Caserta, and Saba
12.23.11 | Palm Springs, CA | Amigo Room at Ace Hotel | w/ Young Mothers and JP Houston

NEW VIDEO: TRACY SHEDD "ENCOURAGE ME" - LUZ DE VIDA

Tracy Shedd has partnered with Canadian filmmaker Jesse Ewles (who has made videos for Grizzly Bear, Of Montreal, and Tokyo Police Club, to name a few) to make her latest video for her song "Encourage Me" from the Luz de Vida benefit compilation.

Enjoy!
~ Team FLR

HAPPY RELEASE DAY LUZ DE VIDA!

In case you have not been on the up-and-up the past few months, Fort Lowell Records' latest release is a partnership with Music Against Violence, a team of music professionals in Tucson that have come together to release a compilation record made up of local Tucson and national artists that will be sold to benefit those affects by the shootings in Tucson on January 8, 2011, otherwise known as The Tucson Tragedy.  The compilation record is called Luz de Vida and today, Tuesday, October 18, is the official release date for this record.  Luz de Vida is available in two formats: a 12inch vinyl record that features 12 Tucson bands with exclusive tracks to this project, and a 37-track digital download that includes the 12 from the vinyl, additional Tucson artist, as well as many great national artists.  The vinyl record does include the download card with all 37 songs.  This project was funding 100% by local and regional businesses, so all of the money made from Luz de Vida will be given to the Tucson Together Fund to help those in need.

If you would like to help support this project, you can purchase the vinyl record directly from Fort Lowell Records by clicking "Add to Cart" from the right column of this website.  Luz de Vida will also be available from all of the retail outlets in Tucson and Phoenix that carry all of our other releases.  If you do not live in Arizona, you can request your local record store to order a copy from our distributor, StickFigure Distribution.  Otherwise, if you are interested in purchasing the digital download for Luz de Vida, you can do so from sites like iTunes and Amazon, amongst many other digital outlets that will populate very soon.  There is one track that is exclusive the vinyl record, so please note that when purchasing the digital download via websites, there will only be 36 tracks.

If you are looking for additional ways to help the families affected from that tragic day last January, please spread the word about Luz de Vida.  It is a very simple, cheap, easy way for anyone in the world to help make a difference.  The added bonus is all of the amazing music one will receive for purchasing Luz de Vida.  It is a simply stunning compilation.  The Arizona Daily Star recently claimed Luz de Vida "one of the finest showcases of Tucson's music community ever presented."

Here are links to many of the great reviews Luz de Vida has received:
- Arizona Daily Star
- Arizona Daily Wildcat
- The Bay Bridged
- Blabber 'N' Smoke
- Blurt Magazine - News
- Blurt Magazine - Review
- The Caliente
- Here Comes The Flood
- Ick Music
- Merge Records
- Phoenix New Times
- 7 I N C H E S
- Tucson Lifestyle Magazine
- Tucson Sentinel
- Tucson Weekly - Cover Story
- Tucson Weekly - The Range
- Turntable Kitchen
- Zocalo Magazine

Thank you in advance for the support!
We, the people of Tucson, truly appreciate it.
~ FLR

PRE-ORDER LUZ DE VIDA NOW

Click the "Add to Cart" link in the right-side column, right over there--->

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22nd, THE RIALTO THEATRE

HOWE GELB + TRACY SHEDD TAKE THE NORTHEAST!

Hot off the press...
Howe Gelb + Tracy Shedd have added three more US dates for this upcoming winter season:

Tuesday, December 6th - Cambridge MA - The Brattle Theater
Wednesday, December 7th - Brooklyn NY - Littlefield w/ Ani Cordero
Saturday, December 10th - Chicago IL - The Volcano Room at The Bottom Lounge

Looks like the holiday season is going to get started early this year!
- Team FLR

OCT 22: LUZ DE VIDA RECORD RELEASE BENEFIT AT RIALTO

It's official folks... the Record Release Benefit for Luz de Vida is going to be held at The Rialto Theatre in Tucson AZ on Saturday, October 22. All proceeds from ticket + record sales for this night will go to the Tucson Together Fund, helping those affected from the Tucson Tragedy (January 8, 2011).

Confirmed Artists to Perform (in no particular order):
- Kiss & The Tells
- Reno del Mar
- Mariachi Luz de Luna
- HAIRSPRAYFIREANDGIRLS
- Tracy Shedd
- La Cerca
- Golden Boots
- Silverbell
- Rich Hopkins
- Tom Walbank
+ more artists to be announced

Ticket / Pricing:
- $5.00 for Entry
- $10.00 Free Entry + Digital Download of Luz de Vida
- $20.00 Free Entry + Digital Download + Limited 12inch Vinyl of Luz de Vida

Mark your calendars now! Times for event and performances are still to be determined, but will be posted soon!

Thank you for all of the support!
See you October 22nd at The Rialto!

~ Fort Lowell Records + Music Against Violence

HOWE GELB + TRACY SHEDD KILL THE WEST COAST

Mr. Howe Gelb and Ms. Tracy Shedd are hitting the West Coast together this coming Winter Season...

Wednesday, December 14th - Seattle WA - Columbia City Theater
Thursday, December 15th - Portland OR - Doug Fir Lounge
Saturday, December 17th - Oakland CA - The Parish

Tracy Shedd will be out on her own full US Winter Tour (more dates to come), while Howe Gelb will be flying in to play these exclusive US dates!

This.
Is.
Going.
To.
Be.
Beautiful.

More to come on a wonderful winter season from Fort Lowell Records!
Enjoy!


~ FLR Executive Committee

HEY MOM!

In just one month, Luz de Vida (FLR007) will be available for everyone to enjoy!  100% of all sales will go to the Tucson Together Fund and will help those affected by the Tucson Tragedy (January 8, 2011).

FLR IN THE UK

Our friend Mary P from Zia Records (here in Arizona) recently went on a trip to the UK and ran across this at Piccadilly Records. Sweet!

TUCSON HIP-HOP DON'T STOP UNTIL THE BREAK OF DAWN

I'm just curious if there is anyone else out there other than my friends Jonny and Wax, and the whole New Tribe crew (obviously), that realize how much seriously great hip-hop is coming out of Tucson AZ right now.  I freakin' woke up this morning singing (do you sign rap?) my friend Manny's (Black Sai) tunes, from Stone Ninjaz.  Local DJ and PR-guru Carl Hanni was quite intrigued himself to hear about what's going on with this scene in the Old Barrio.  After sending him a few links to sample, he agreed about the quality and slickness.  That led me to posting this article for all of you to read.  Here is a track from each of my favorite Tucson hip-hop groups that I've been listening to recently...

STONE NINJAZ:
No Way by STONE NINJAZ

JIVIN SCIENTISTS:
15 Style by Jivin Scientists

Enjoy!
FLR