Common Threads

Common Thread; photo by Jody McFarland

[Repost from Folio Weekly; by Amiyah Golden, November 1, 2023]

With the emergence of new sounds being birthed from the inspiration of musical innovators every day, it would be a disservice to not pay homage to the artists who have paved the way by experimenting with and tinkering the sounds we appreciate today.

Jacksonville is the birthplace of so many reputable names in the music industry but one band in particular has escaped much of the mainstream recognition they deserve. So I decided to “throw-it-back” for this month’s Local Artist Spotlight and feature the ’90s band, Common Thread, who originally hail from Orange Park.

Common Thread was formed by two friends, Joe Parker and Travis Taylor. The two skateboarders found an interest in guitar — on their own, originally — but one day, Taylor suggested the two come together to form a band.

“It seemed far-fetched to me that anyone would be willing to play with us as neither of us demonstrated a tremendous facility for the instrument,” said Parker, “We had enthusiasm and tastes, though, that proved to be enough to get the ball rolling.”

Although doubt factored into Parker’s mind initially it didn’t stop the duo from expanding to a full-fledged group by Christmas of 1989. The pair recruited bass guitarist Joey Zimmerman and drummer Donald Kilpatrick.

Now a solidified band, the group was determined to break through into the world of music.

By the following year, Common Thread had enough music to record, and with the help of aspiring engineer Scott Whitter, the band made it happen resulting in the birth of their album, “Six Marbles and a Bowl of Mud.” Whitter is also credited for engineering and helping produce their praised project, “Fountain,” which will soon be available on vinyl and all streaming platforms.

I inquired about the song-making process for the band and Parker shared that much of it sparked from the organic jam sessions between himself and Taylor. With one of the two usually sharing a new guitar riff that may be accompanied with cool lyrics, it served as the first layer to the final production of a song. Parker shared with me some of the inspiration for his writing in particular: “If I liked a turn of phrase. If I wanted to relay a shred of a dream. If I wanted to take a shot at someone, If I wanted to seduce a love, I did it there as well as I could.” 

With the two perfecting their songs by sorting out the structure and arrangement, it was a necessary process that resulted in the stellar songs they created.

The band prioritized their practice sessions with the group practicing two to three times a week to allow their songs to feel like “second nature” They wanted to be well-equipped to share their original music.

I was curious about how their new band got along with more established groups at the time, but Parker assured me that so many other local bands like Lysergic Garage Party, Crowsdell, Rein Sanction shared their support. Common Thread played beside many fellow bands at venues such as Einstein A Go-Go, Metropolis and Dockside.

“The music scene was small but vital,” said Parker, “And wildly varied. None of the bands sounded alike.”

With music from the ’90s still having so much influence today, many bands bridged into their very own sound with the subgenre of “shoegaze” music rising at the time and now having its full circle moment today with its new found popularity, many people credit Common Thread for contributing a big part to the sound.

While Common Thread serves as inspiration today, they also credit bands such as,The Smiths, Echo & the Bunnymen, Sonic Youth, Nirvana and Screaming Trees, as examples of inspiration. The band reside in their own unique sound, but the variances of musical tastes and inspiration served as a “weird blend that we reflected weirdly,” as Parker put it.

James Tritten of Fort Lowell Records — an online forum documenting music — serves as a great example of the impact that Common Thread has had on listeners.

With Tritten knowing Parker and Taylor personally before they embarked on a music career, he can speak to them as people, as well as musicians.

A musician himself, Tritten was a part of the band Sella, recalling their very first show being with Common Thread at the Doctors Inlet Civic Center in Orange Park.

Tritten recognizes Common Thread as being an inspiration in the past, as well as in the present for him as well as his wife, Tracy, who is also a part of Fort Lowell Records.

“They introduced me to new sounds and textures I had never experienced before, which led me down a path to learn about the musicians and bands who were influencing Common Thread,” Tritten said. They also helped me discover new instruments, effects or musical techniques to use myself as a musician. They pushed boundaries and opened doors I was unaware of.”

With Lowell being a huge supporter of the band, as well as the 30th anniversary of Common Thread’s album,”‘Fountain,” it became his mission to make the project available for everyone to hear.

“To hear people who were not even born in 1993 have the same reaction to them that we had ourselves 30 years ago is beyond awesome, and it’s why we are doing this,” he added.

With apps like TikTok and Instagram being a great way to share music, Tritten beams at the ability to use Common Thread’s songs like “Lydia Elle” and “Smoldering Black” on these platforms that did not even exist 30 years ago. It feels very full circle and is the perfect way to carry on the memory of former bandmates Zimmerman and Kilpatrick, who unfortunately passed away.

Tritten reflects on the memories he had with the two:

“I loved going to watch [Joey] race his car up at Jax Raceways, or just talk about cars in general.  I remember his laid-back style and approach to skateboarding, always with a cigarette hanging off his lips barely holding on, and with his blond hair always covering his face just like when he played bass guitar; how the heck could he see the ramp?” recalled Tritten. “Unfortunately for me, I never had the opportunity to get to know Donald to the same degree. I always thought Donald was an excellent drummer, and glad his contributions were documented on ‘Six Marbles and a Bowl of Mud.’ [But] Donald and Joey will always hold a very special place in our hearts.”

While we might not be able to see Common Thread in person, we now have the ability to listen to the band on various subscription-based streaming sites. And if you’re like me and love collecting vinyl, you have the ability to do so as well. So go check out “Fountain” and become transported into the soundwaves or grab inspiration for your next project. Whatever you choose to do, enjoy the legacy of Common Thread.

VINYL PRE-ORDER

DIGITAL PRE-SAVE

‘Camouflage’ by Summer Set | New Self-Titled Album

[Repost from It's Psychedelic Baby Magazine; by Klemen Breznikar, October 23, 2023]

Exclusive track premiere of ‘Camouflage’ by Summer Set, taken from their upcoming self-titled album, out November 3rd, 2023 via Fort Lowell Records.

Summer Set’s first official release is a timeless collection of mostly down-tempo captivating indie rock. Frontman Brian Weeks (Reverse, The Rosebuds) is a master at musical production and songwriting. His lyrical content and delivery, backed by an indisputable knack for melody and rhythm, provide an immediate sense of comfort, ease, and familiarity. The group’s self-titled album, Summer Set, is chock full of pop gems that will have you singing along before the record is over.

Hailing from Wilmington, North Carolina, Summer Set originally formed at the start of the third millennium with Weeks joined by musical partner Robert Rogan and a revolving cast of friends — Jeff Reardon (Rodeo Boy), Seth Moody (The NoSeRiDeRs), Jonathan Bass (The Rosebuds), Tripp Cox (Onward, Soldier). In those early years, various recording sessions and self-produced releases would document the band’s incarnation. But eventually Summer Set would evolve to become a more-or-less two-man operation in its second decade, foreshadowing what was to come from Weeks and Rogan years later as De La Noche; an Indie RnB project featuring long time friend Ivan Howard from The Rosebuds on vocals. Now, more than twenty years later, this first proper album from Summer Set is a formal testimony chronicling their sheer brilliance.

“The band has been through long spells of inactivity, but it’s still an active band”

How much time and preparation went into making your album?

Brian Weeks: It took over 20 years to make this record. The songs had been recorded and shared online and through CDrs, but were never officially released. Some of the songs were written while I was living in San Francisco in 2001-2002, and most were recorded through home recording methods over the last 15 years or so. Two songs on the record are part of a recording session we did with Michael Swart. The record features songs from three different line-ups of musicians that have played in the Summer Set.

Can you share some further words about the making of the record?

A few years ago, I was fortunate to befriend James Tritten and Tracy Shedd from Fort Lowell Records, and they were interested in putting out a Summer Set record. James and Tracy went through my old recordings and liked what they heard. They were surprised that the songs hadn’t had a proper release. Due to their enthusiasm, I let them pick the songs and sequence for the record. I’m so happy that these songs will finally be available. It’s always been a life-long dream to have a vinyl record of my music.

How did you originally get together and what was the overall vision of the band?

Summer Set started as a 4-track project, a way to keep in touch with my friends back in NC when I had moved away. We would send tapes back and forth of new music and I started sending my own goofy songs. I would title the tapes based on the seasons. I sent a tape called Summer Set because the songs were written in the summer and the name stuck for me. When I moved back to NC, I started a band called Summer Set. Looking back, I’d say that we always wanted to write catchy songs with memorable melodies and lots of guitars. The band has been through long spells of inactivity, but it’s still an active band.

What’s next for you?

The band has begun playing live shows again and we are writing and recording new songs. The current line-up is Dustin Codair on drums, John Manning on guitar, Robert Rogan on bass and me on guitar and vocal. We will be putting out an album of recently written songs in the future.

Doggy Daycare - "acid walk"

[Repost from If It's Too Loud; by Ken Sears, November 9, 2023]

After hearing Doggy Daycare's "(forgetting) sarah marshall" back in July, we said we couldn't wait to hear what they did next. The wait is officially over with the release of a second single, "acid walk." The southern shoegaze band really takes that genre to new levels with this one. The song has all the fuzz required with shoegaze, but the guitars have a distinct if odd twang to them. It's almost like if Archers of Loaf decided to switch up genres a bit. "acid walk" has a fuzzed out laid back vibe you just couldn't get anywhere else but the south. Doggy Daycare have created a new sound that is truly all theirs, and once again, we're dying to hear what comes next.

You can listen to "acid walk" below. I Love My Friends will be released via Fort Lowell Records. For more on Doggy Daycare, check out the band on Instagram and Twitter.

New album: Summer Set || Summer Set

[Repost from Add to Wantlist; by Dennis, November 6, 2023]

Wilmington, North Carolina-based indie pop band Summer Set originally was founded over twenty years ago by Brian Weeks and Robert Rogan, then joined by a revolving cast of friends including Jeff Reardon, Seth Moody, Jonathan Bass and Tripp Cox. Although they released some self-produced work in their early years, we can consider this self-titled overview of ten previous highlights as their first proper album. We are taken on a pleasant journey through time along almost-perfect guitar songs full of hooks and evocative lyrics (from uptempo standout track Favorite Places: “Then we went to the park, tried to get there before dark // Hand on my knee sipping Japanese tea, yeah you”). That Weeks and Rogan have taken a more electronic path in between with their contemporary R&B project De La Noche is reflected in the synth-driven tracks Red Wine (in which Toto’s Africa is sampled) and An Invitation, which shows how versatile they are. All in all, this is a melancholic, atmospheric and dreamy retrospective that leaves us wanting more, and reportedly we don’t even have to wait that long for new tunes.

Summer Set’s self-titled album is out now digitally and on vinyl LP through Fort Lowell Records.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Fort Lowell

Jon Rauhouse & Blaine Long - "Nothing Lasts Forever"

[Repost from If It's Too Loud; by Ken Sears, October 30, 2023]

The duo of Jon Rauhouse and Blaine Long have had different paths in music. Rauhouse has been Neko Case's longtime guitarist, released a duets album with Eric Bachmann, and has been a member of Grievous Angels. Blaine Long came to prominence as a contestant on The Voice. The two have paired together on an upcoming album, and just released a new single. "Nothing Lasts Forever" has that perfect mainstream neo-folk sound. It's not quite folk-pop since it's rooted to much in traditional folk, but this is just about as pop as traditional folk can be. It's a little bit ramblin', and just has that laid back warm sound that sucks you in. In particular, the slide guitar on "Nothing Lasts Forever" is one of the warmest around and nearly hypnotic.

You can listen to "Nothing Lasts Forever" below. One Day Will Never Come Back is due out November 17 on Fort Lowell Records, and is available for pre-order through Bandcamp. For more on Jon Rauhouse & Blaine Long, check out Jon Rauhouse's website here, and Blaine Long's website here.

OUT NOW: New Singles from both Sheme of Gold + cydaddy

This Water is Life is a self-sustained and ongoing series of split EPs with two express purposes: to highlight new hip-hop / indie rock music from Southeastern North Carolina, as well as to provide a platform for Cape Fear River Watch and Coastal Plain Conservation Group to deliver up-to-date authoritative reports on the health of the Cape Fear River Basin for both human beings and wildlife.

Volume III features Sheme of Gold and cydaddy. Today, November 10th, one song from each artists has been released into the world as a digital single for your enjoyment ahead of the full EP's release, which is set for December 1st. Click the links below to listen to Sheme of Gold "Rap Game Tan Sanders (Remix)", ft. D$5, as well as cydaddy "Cheers (Water Mix)".

LISTEN TO DIGITAL SINGLES:

• Sheme of Gold "Rap Game Tan Sanders (Remix)", ft. D$5
  
• cydaddy "Cheers (Water Mix)"

PRE-ORDER VINYL RECORD

Hip-Hop: Sheme of Gold

Sheme of Gold is an artist born and raised in Goldsboro, North Carolina, who relocated to Wilmington to attend culinary school in 2019, six months before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. His unique style of hip hop is nostalgic and psychedelic, which grabs the listeners attention right away. His stories shed light on the struggles he’s endured and the confidence and braggadocio it takes to make a man of this stature. 

Indie Rock: cydaddy

cydaddy is a solo recording project for singer-songwriter / multi-instrumentalist Cyrus Goudarzi. Cyrus’s musical journey started in high school exploring home recording and sneaking around local shows in Wilmington, North Carolina. After an album release in 2010, his musical journey continued to Chicago, Illinois, where he would fill in rotating lineups for the next several years. Following, cydaddy was a leading member of local salt rock outfit Reef Blower.  Unquestionably, cydaddy is a product of his environment in the wildlife of the southeastern coast and has a heavy heart for the natural habitats that have shaped his years.

OUT NOW: Doggy Daycare "acid walk" [Digital Single]

Written in the haze of a blooming romance, “acid walk” is a paean to the power of love & research chemicals. Continuing the new legacy of Doggy Daycare with its dilated fuzz tones and spacious soundscapes, the song swims in the ethereal vibes of its own unique blend of raucous shoegaze and pleasantly haunted psychedelia. Best enjoyed in a new environment with no cell service.

Doggy Daycare started as a bedroom coping mechanism by Adam Bastug. In the process of creating the first batch of songs, lead guitarist Joshua Sullivan, drummer Connor Simpson, and bassist Ethan Jenkins came along to contribute different parts. That solitary project then bloomed into something new. Their signature blend of southern shoegaze, 90s angular indie rock, and unexpected humor quickly established the band as torchbearers of melodic, guitar-driven indie rock.

LISTEN TO DIGITAL SINGLE

OUT NOW: Summer Set 'Summer Set' [12inch LP]

Summer Set’s first official release is a timeless collection of mostly down-tempo captivating indie rock. Frontman Brian Weeks (Reverse, The Rosebuds) is a master at musical production and songwriting. His lyrical content and delivery, backed by an indisputable knack for melody and rhythm, provide an immediate sense of comfort, ease, and familiarity. The group’s self-titled album, Summer Set, is chock full of pop gems that will have you singing along before the record is over.

Hailing from Wilmington, North Carolina, Summer Set originally formed at the start of the third millennium with Weeks joined by musical partner Robert Rogan and a revolving cast of friends — Jeff Reardon (Rodeo Boy), Seth Moody (The NoSeRiDeRs), Jonathan Bass (The Rosebuds), Tripp Cox (Onward, Soldier).  In those early years, various recording sessions and self-produced releases would document the band’s incarnation. But eventually Summer Set would evolve to become a more-or-less two-man operation  in its second decade, foreshadowing what was to come from Weeks and Rogan years later as De La Noche; an Indie RnB project featuring long time friend Ivan Howard from The Rosebuds on vocals. Now, more than twenty years later, this first proper album from Summer Set is a formal testimony chronicling their sheer brilliance.

Roll-along rocker “Favorite Places” demonstrates Weeks’ poetic flair combined with intelligent phrasing, as he sings “We drove up to the coast, it’s cold and you needed a coat / Stopped by my house, picked something out for you”, and “Then we went to the park, tried to get there before dark / Hand on my knee sipping Japanese tea, yeah you.” Opener “Center of Attention”, loaded with infectiously twangy hooks, establishes itself as an instant classic within the first line, while closing track “Coast to Coast” (previously titled “West Coast”) is a melancholic ballad of heartache. “Financial District” poses a gritty tonality with the hypnotic simplicity of indie rock greatness. The record also includes the seductively introspective number “Camouflage” which is as smooth as they come, and “Red Wine” serves up a reflection on the mother of mankind.

After a hiatus, Weeks once declared “We just wanted to focus on recording,” foretelling  the musical path that followed. “What you find as you get older is that playing music - playing music with guys you like, your friends - in and of itself, that's your reward,” his comrade Rogan added regarding Summer Set’s intentions. By their own standard, Summer Set has had a very successful career to date, and like a photo album — this debut record is a gift that allows the band the opportunity to share their story, as well as establishing a foundation for new Summer Set tunes (coming soon) to build upon.

LISTEN TO FULL ALBUM // ORDER VINYL RECORD

Tracy Shedd Red (on Red Vinyl) Limited LP Pressing

[Repost from Teen-Beat; by Mark Robinson, October 25, 2023]

One of our favorite songwriters and singers of all time, Tracy Shedd! Red is her 2004 follow-up album to her smash debut album, Blue. A stunningly beautiful collection of 14 songs fleshed out with a full guitar/bass/drums line up of Cash Carter and Richard Dudley. Tracy plays not only the guitar, but piano and Taro Hanaka guests on violin. Mixed by Trevor Kampmann from hollAnd/Party Milk and produced by Mark Robinson.

On vinyl for the first time every, this 20th anniversary edition will be pressed on transparent red vinyl and will be limited to only 100 copies. Pre-order now and records will ship to you at some point early next year— or whenever they're ready. Whichever comes first.

PRE-ORDER VINYL NOW

Summer Set - "Center of Attention"

[Repost from If It's Too Loud; by Ken Sears, October 24, 2023]

Last month we gushed all over "Favorite Places," the latest single from Summer Set. They're back with a new single, and it's going to appeal to a lot of our readers. I compared the previous single to Pavement, The Dandy Warhols, and Wilco, and "Center of Attention" will also fit that sound. However, this new single sounds a bit more like Built to Spill playing around with alt-country. It still has that chilled out sound with country twang with some 90's slacker vibes, and who doesn't want those sounds mixed together, especially when it's done as well as Summer Set are?

You can listen to "Center of Attention" below. Summer Set's self-titled album is due out November 3 on Fort Lowell Records, and is available for pre-order through Bandcamp. For more on Summer Set, check out the band's Bandcamp.

OUT NOW: Jon Rauhouse & Blaine Long "Nothing Lasts Forever" [Digital Single]

The second single from their new album One Day Will Never Come Back is out today on all digital music platforms.  Check out Jon Rauhouse & Blaine Long "Nothing Lasts Forever" now!

LISTEN TO DIGITAL SINGLE

Common Thread - "Lydia Elle"

Common Thread; photo by Jody McFarland, circa early 1990s

[Repost by If It's Too Loud; by Ken Sears, October 13, 2023]

We don't cover a ton of reissues here, but sometimes an artist being reissued is new to us and absolutely thrilling to discover. That's the case with Common Thread. Based out of Jacksonville, FL, their second album, Fountain, was released in 1993 only on cassette, and to celebrate its thirtieth anniversary it's being released on vinyl and streaming services for the first time. Right now we can hear "Lydia Elle" from the reissue, and holy hell... this would have been life changing for me in 1993. "Lydia Elle" is a beast of a song that combines the noise and coolness of indie rockers like Sonic Youth, the sheer power and near metal side of The Jesus Lizard, the wave of shoegaze noise of The Jesus and Mary Chain, and the dark post-punk groove of Joy Division. Hearing Common Thread in 2023 is nearly life changing, so I can't imagine hearing this as a teenager. 

You can listen to "Lydia Elle" below. The reissue of Fountain is due out December 8 on Fort Lowell Records, and is available for pre-order here. For more on Common Thread, check out Fort Lowell Records' website.

“Lydia Elle” by Common Thread: A Glimmer Through the Looking Glass of Nostalgia

Common Thread; photo by Jody McFarland, circa early 1990s

[Repost from Blood Makes Noise; by Taylor John Salvetti, October 13, 2023]

Who doesn’t want a thrashy, fuzzed-out bass, sixty-two-second intro? I’ll never know. Neither did Common Thread. With their 30th Anniversary release of Fountain, and lead single, “Lydia Elle,” listeners can come to expect this mentality of pre-Y2K angst, raw crunch, desperate pleas for a brighter future.

“Lydia Elle” is youth on display, not only sonically, but an earnestness of adolescence that is yearning to be seen, heard, validated. Thirty years is a long time, and Common Thread has shared stages with some formidable acts like Agent Orange, The Smithereens, and The Veldt, but I’d say this release can hold its own against the new names of the genre.

When asked about the resurfacing of this sound trend and the changed DIY landscape, frontman Joe Parker said, “It’s tempting to think we were on the cutting edge…more of a result of having similar musical exposure…We would regularly perform with 8-10 effects pedals apiece and be the only band I saw doing this.”

Indie labels have been moving forward with more archival work and releasing somewhat forgotten music to a new audience. Regarding Fort Lowell’s re-release of Fountain, Parker said, “In a way, these are modern field recordings. It gives the music another chance to be discovered and audiences get a richer picture of a bygone scene.”

This moment feels like a direct response to the day and age we find ourselves, when things are easily accessible, full albums made with a single microphone and stock DAWs. But Common Thread recorded Fountain and “Lydia Elle” on a cassette tape back in 1993, a time when music production was accessible but still a considerable effort. The nuances are not lost in this re-release thirty years later. The fuzz and near disintegration, the warble, the echo: all of it feels sincere, even until the last few seconds of soaring vocals and phased distortion. This music has come from a  deep moment in these young people’s lives and brought to light so many years later, and it shows that some things might still be timeless.

“Lydia Elle” is streaming on all platforms. Enjoy and reminisce.

OUT NOW: Summer Set "Center of Attention" [Digital Single]

The second single from the long awaited self-titled first official release from Wilmington, North Carolina indie rock celebs Summer Set is out now on all music platforms.  Titled "Center of Attention", click the link below to listen now -- and click here to pre-order the album on vinyl record!

LISTEN TO DIGITAL SINGLE

‘Fountain,’ Beloved Album By Duval Indie Rockers Common Thread Gets 30th Anniversary Reissue

Common Thread performing in Five Points [Jacksonville FL], circa early '90s; photo by Jody McFarland

[Repost from Jacksonville Music Experience; by Daniel A. Brown, October 6, 2023]

Thirty years ago, the Northeast Florida independent music community was many things and, even devoid of nostalgia from any surviving participants, boasted its own kind of low magick.

Like much of America, Jacksonville and the surrounding environs benefited from the 1970s punk rock scene that tore down the walls of popular music. Most crucially, in the 1980s, underground musicians made short work of digging through that very same rubble and musicians forged scenes across the country, brick by brick.

Locally, and specifically from 1985-1995, Northeast Florida had a fairly diverse underground music scene. Hardcore punk, ‘77-style punk, jangly R.E.M.-style rock, death-thrash metal and emerging glimmers of area hip-hop provided a decent and even at-times supportive environment for a diverse scene of local musicians. These artists found support through clubs like Einstein A Go-Go, Metropolis and scads of self-booked gigs at any rental meeting halls willing to allow wild punk rockers into their Elks’ Lodges or wedding-reception spaces.

In 1993, Common Thread self-released their sophomore record: Fountain. The band (vocalist-guitarists Joe Parker and Travis Taylor, Joey Zimmerman on bass, and Craig Parlet on drums) was indicative of the shared elements and principles that seemed to coalesce a Jacksonville-locals mentality: no-nonsense vibes, a tenacity to play any gig that would come their way and a desire to also document their music. The nine songs of Fountain were the sound of the band’s admitted influences like Sonic Youth and Flaming Lips but more in a style of shoegaze not afraid to stomp through the local sand and cryptic marshlands.

In December, Fort Lowell Records is releasing the 30th-anniversary reissue of Fountain as both a download and vinyl version. Fort Lowell provided the Jacksonville Music Experience an exclusive preview of the record’s first single, “Lydia Elle,” which will be officially released on October 13. Listen above.

JME tracked down Common Thread vocalist-guitarist Joe Parker, from his longtime home in Oregon, where he’s enjoying a parallel life as a guitar luthier. Parker gave us the history of Common Thread and his thoughts on the anniversary edition of Fountains.

What year did Common Thread actually begin? 

Common Thread began officially in the fall of 1989. The first show we played was opening for Schrödinger’s Cat at the Metropolis in downtown Jacksonville. We were tuning up with pitch pipes. Halfway through our fifteen-minute set, Henry Wagner of Wag’s Record Hound approached the stage and told us to check our tuning. We were wholly incapable of complying and just plowed on. I remember seeing Arvid Smith play there with a semi-circle of pedals surrounding him. I definitely liked that. Our first drummer was Donald Kilpatrick, who played with us until the summer of 1992, when we played in New York City for the first time. We had a show scheduled at CBGB’s but ran out of cash. We stayed in a parking lot in Hoboken overnight and woke up suffocating and sweating to death in the van. Don and I got in an argument about staying or heading home. We had a couple days to kill before the show. Don was threatening to leave so we split since we couldn’t play without a drummer. I was so pissed. I had actually called Steve Shelley of Sonic Youth to invite him to the show — got his number out of the phone book. So cringy.

The mid-to-late ‘80s-early ‘90s of Northeast Florida were pretty vibrant as far as the actually ability to see live shows by then-underground bands—most famously at Einstein A Go-Go. What were some memorable shows that you saw at EAGG?

Coming up in Jacksonville, there was an assumption that we lived in a cultural backwater: “Surely every city has an Einstein A Go-Go, if not several bigger, better, cooler places.” It turned out that was not the case at all which gives EAGG an added luster. There was nothing like it anywhere but thank god it was where we were. I saw Fetchin’ Bones, Robyn Hitchcock, They Might Be Giants, the Feelies, Flaming Lips, Nirvana, Luna, th’ Faith Healers, Jane Siberry, Soundgarden, Primus, etc. These are just some shows that bubble to the surface.

Could you describe some of your memories and takeaways on that era of Jacksonville’s music scene before the grunge explosion hit?

I was not really a part of the music scene prior to the explosion. It all occurred right as Common Thread came online. That said, I began to know some older musicians (Thommy Berlin, Greg Wright, Ed Cotton, Stevie Stiletto, Arvid Smith) and became aware of the continuum of underground music in Jacksonville. It was good to feel part of that lineage even if we ran counter to most of it. There were bands that were further along, like Beggar Weeds and Rein Sanction, who we admired. We were in a cohort with bands like Crowsdell, Lysergic Garage Party, Fin Fang Foom and Gizzard among many others. In the period after Fountain (mid-‘90s,) we would rent out the Orange Park Lion’s Club and other suburban community centers to hold rock shows. We were amazed at the turnouts. We played at the Milk Bar and the Moto Lounge. When both of those venues were alive, downtown was electric. Club 5 in Riverside (now Sun-Ray Cinema,) was a great stage to play. We got the attention of a producer, Dave Hauser, at that time. He got us recording at the Warehouse Studio where we did an album plus worth of material (circa 1995-96.) It all felt purposeful and possible.

How many shows do you think Common Thread played in total; what are some memorable gigs?

We played hundreds of shows to tens of people. Not really but close. We would play anywhere we could. We had no merch and would go out of town to play a handful of shows in North Carolina. We once drove to Cleveland to play a festival that turned out to be all local bands. They were aghast that we drove that far for this?! We did a string of shows with the Veldt, culminating in a show at the Cat’s Cradle. They had a direct connection to the English bands we loved and it was eye opening to see what they did live. It was the first time we saw a drummer using a trigger to set off backing tracks and it sounded amazing. In the summer of ‘96 we hosted and opened for Sonic Boom of Spacemen 3 for a few shows. He was touring as E.A.R. I think we got the gig from Jason Lewis because we were the only band in town that knew who Spacemen 3 were. Even still, we were not on his level of cool. He did introduce us to spliffs, which we smoked until we got tired of mixing our weed with tobacco. We were in it for the adventure as much as anything else. Our gang mentality was in full effect. We were running strong for a good seven years (thirteen if you count the stragglers,) so I would say we did a couple hundred shows in that time.

How has this experience been of Fountain finding a second life of sorts? Have you considered any sort of reunion shows to promote the rerelease of the album?

When [Fort Lowell Records owner James Tritten] brought up the idea of releasing Fountain on vinyl I was immediately on board. It had been a small regret to have never pressed it even though it had never been a viable option. As an album, I feel it was our most cohesive. The music and art all came together. We were hitting our stride and loving it. If I still lived in Jacksonville, I think Travis and I would be able to pull something together and play some shows for the release, maybe even lure Craig out. As it is, it would be a pretty heavy lift.

OUT NOW: Common Thread "Lydia Elle" [Digital Single]

Common Thread’s sophomore album Fountain is a holy grail of northeastern Florida indie rock. Originally released in 1993 on cassette tape, Fountain breaks sonic barriers. Melding influences from Echo & The Bunnymen to The Flaming Lips to Ride to Sonic Youth, Common Thread delivers a wall of dazzling dissonance unto their own. “Lydia Elle” and “Smoldering Black” convey astute lyrical poetry backed by extraordinary melodic hooks that set in deep. Fountain is a time capsule that has preserved nine incredible audible gifts, commemorating Common Thread’s ability and authority.

Today "Lydia Elle" has been made available as the first Digital Single from Fountain on all music platforms. Check it out now, and be sure to reserve your copy of Common Thread Fountain on vinyl record before they are sold out!

LISTEN TO DIGITAL SINGLE

La Cerca | October Tour Dates

• Wednesday October 18 - Albuquerque NM - Sister - with infinitikiss
• Thursday October 19 - Denver CO - Skylark Lounge
• Friday October 20 - Kansas City MO - miniBar
• Saturday October 21 - Tulsa OK - The Soundpony

OUT NOW: Jon Rauhouse & Blaine Long "Hey Babe" [Digital Single]

The first single from their new album One Day Will Never Come Back is out today on all digital music platforms.  Check out Jon Rauhouse & Blaine Long "Hey Babe" now!

LISTEN TO DIGITAL SINGLE

Summer Set - "Favorite Places"

[Repost from If It's Too Loud; by Ken Sears, September 27, 2023]

Summer Set have one of the most familiar and most unique sounds in all of indie rock. Their new single, "Favorite Places," has this laid back mix of 90's indie rock meets 00's indie sleaze. It's almost impossibly groovy and noisy, but totally chill. There's also a nearly shocking amount of twang for an indie rock song. It's kind of like the laid back slacker indie rock of Pavement, the psychedelic groove of The Dandy Warhols, and the period just as Wilco was moving from alt-country to a more indie rock sound. "Favorite Places" is cool as hell, and you're going to want to jump right on the Summer Set bandwagon with us.

You can listen to "Favorite Places" below. Summer Set's self-titled album is due out November 3 on Fort Lowell Records, and is available for pre-order through Bandcamp. For more on Summer Set, check out the band on Bandcamp.

Three New Vinyl Records For You!

Okay, so technically we have four new records being released before the end of the year:

1. Summer Set Summer Set — Release Date: November 3rd
2. Jon Rauhouse & Blaine Long One Day Will Never Come Back — Release Date: November 17th
3. This Water is Life, Vol. III ft. Sheme of Gold + cydaddy — Release Date: December 1st
4. Common Thread Fountain | 30th Anniversary Vinyl Edition — Release Date: December 8th

However, our Jon Rauhouse & Blaine Long LP sold out before we even launched our first press release for the album. 😁

So, officially we have three new vinyl records to offer you this Fall / Winter / Holiday Season ahead that you can pre-order right now: 

1. Summer Set — PRE-ORDER VINYL RECORD
2. This Water is Life, Vol. III — PRE-ORDER VINYL RECORD
3. Common Thread — PRE-ORDER VINYL RECORD

Reserve your copy of each record today before these sell-out as well!  You've been warned!

Summer Set Summer Set

*SOLD OUT* — Jon Rauhouse & Blaine Long One Day Will Never Come Back — *SOLD OUT*

This Water is Life, Vol. III ft. Sheme of Gold + cydaddy

Common Thread Fountain | 30th Anniversary Vinyl Edition