Suburban Home signs In the Red

Suburban Home is really excited to share with the world that we have signed Carpinteria, California’s In the Red. In the Red features Mike Hale on Guitar/Vocals and Matt Glasgow on Drums. We had earlier announced that we would be working with Mike on his next solo album. It is really exciting for us that in addition to his solo material, we will be also working with his rock band.

As I got to know Mike we had quite a few discussions about In the Red. Our friends at Kiss of Death released their debut album, Volume 1, and everyone at Suburban Home just loved the record. We also all really like Mike and honestly, it is very important that we have a good relationship with our acts. There was a little hesitation on behalf of Mike because many of the records we had released this year were singer/songwriter and/or Alt-country/Folk, but I reminded him that we have worked with a lot of rock bands including Ghost Buffalo, Stereotyperider, Love Me Destroyer, LaGrecia, and more and that with Vinyl Collective, we had released a lot of heavier acts. Luckily I convinced him to give us a shot and in 2009, we will be releasing their new album.

For those of you unfamiliar, Mike Hale had spent a lot of time in the No Idea Recording artist, Gunmoll. When Gunmoll disbanded, Mike moved to California where he started In the Red. If I had to compare In the Red’s sound with a few bands, I would say that they would fit in nicely on a bill with Hot Water Music and Leatherface. They are an incredible band and I am so excited to be working with them.

In the Red are currently working on Volume 1.5 which will be their entire Volume 1 release recorded acoustically. And by year’s end, they will begin recording the new album, Volume 2. Until then, please make sure you pick up their first album and check out a few songs on their myspace page.

Suburban Home signs the Takers

Thursday, November 13th, 2008 – I am really excited to share with you the latest member of the Suburban Home family, the Takers. The Takers are a 6 piece Outlaw Country band from Gainesville, Florida. I had the opportunity to meet the guys at this year’s Fest and not only did their live performances blow me away, I really connected with them as people (the most important aspect to me).

Coody from Ninja Gun first told me about the Takers. He had mentioned that they were a really great band from Gainesville and that I would like them. He had said that both Peanut and Ronnie from Whiskey & Co were also in the band and I had already become friends with Peanut since he runs Barracuda Sound who we coreleased “Restless Rubes” vinyl with. Our friend and favorite photographer, Jana Miller, too spoke highly of the Takers. This lead to some email and phone conversations with the Taker’s singer, Devon. Over the phone, we hit if off really well and after going back and forth, we agreed to put out the “Curse of a Drunk” single. We both agreed that before we make a decision to do anything further, we should hang out and make sure we got along.

From the very first night out at the Fest, I knew that we would get along famously. Devon went out drinking with us nearly every night. After one particular night, I get the following text from Devon, “Last Night, I Went to Take a Shit and I was so drunk, I Puked”. We all had a big laugh and I thought for him to share that with us after only knowing each other for such a short time, this was a guy after my own heart. I went and saw Devon play a solo set on Saturday night and he has such a powerful voice. He kept playing new songs and each one was better than the previous one. He also did a John Prine cover which was is always a plus.

That next night, I saw the entire band play at Common Grounds, a show that also featured Suburban Home acts, Austin Lucas, Josh Small, Two Cow Garage, and Drag the River. They absolutely rocked it, their live show definitely brings the thunder and I would like go on record as saying that they are one of the heaviest Country bands out there. I got to meet pretty much all of the guys in the band and they are all really good folks.

I am really excited. I love this band. I think they fit in perfectly in between Drag the River, Two Cow Garage, and Tim Barry. I mentioned before that they would have fit in well with Waylon and Willie and I stand by that. The band will soon be entering the studio to record their debut album. Expect that to drop in early 2009.

Check out the following:

“Curse of a Drunk” mp3
The Takers MySpace Page
Youtube video of Devon
Youtube video of The Takers
Stream the “Delucious Vinyl Fest LP” w/ the Takers’ track, “Drift”
Buy the Takers’ debut 7″

Suburban Home signs Austin Lucas

Suburban Home records could not be more excited about signing Austin Lucas. I had first heard of him when I picked up a split 7” with him and Chuck Ragan. The split inspired me to pick up his latest album, “Putting the Hammer Down” released by Magic Bullet/Hometown Caravan and I just fell in love. I had emailed Austin asking him to be a part of our Under the Influence spilt 7” series and was happy to hear that he was interested in contributing. Assuming I was waiting on his next correspondence, I hadn’t written him back for some months and then one day while talking to Mike Hale, Mike had mentioned that Austin had recently relocated to Portland, Oregon, from Praha, Czech Republic. I did not know this at the time, but Mike and Austin are good friends. Mike told me that I should give Austin a call and talk. I did just that and right away, Austin and I hit it off. Our conversation led to a few emails, which lead to a discussion of us possibly releasing his next album. Not being one to stop on someone’s toes, especially a great label like Magic Bullet, we both asked for the label’s blessing in putting out Austin’s next album and today, I am excited to say that Austin Lucas is the latest artist to join the Suburban Home family.

Austin will be rounding out the year by joining Chuck Ragan, Tim Barry, and Ben Nichols on a few dates of the Revival Tour as well as a performance at this year’s Fest. He has been writing what will be his debut for Suburban Home which he plans to record in Ohio employing his family to play and record. We hope to have this album out in March of 2009.

We are so excited to have Austin a part of our family. He has one of the greatest voices in roots music and his lyrics really cut to the core.

Suburban Home to release Joey Cape’s album, “Bridge”

Coming off the very exciting news that we will be putting out Useless I.D.’s next album which I announced last week, I have even more great news. After a phone call with Mr. Joey Cape last night, we have agreed to release his first solo album, “Bridge” in North America. I have no hesitation saying that Joey Cape is one of the greatest songwriters on the planet and I feel like someone should pinch me because I could not dream up a more incredible piece of news to share with you.

For those of you who don’t know, Joey Cape is the front man of Lagwagon, Bad Astronaut, and one of the singer/songwriters of the Suburban Home act, the Playing Favorites. I first met Joey through his label, My Records. Besides being an amazing musician, Joey ran one of my favorite labels in the late 90’s. He put out the first albums by both Nerf Herder and Adventures of Jet and put out a few releases for Armchair Martian, all bands I love. He has remained relevant over 20 plus years of writing and recording music and he is recording some of his greatest music now.

Suburban Home will release “Bridge” in North America on Vinyl, CD, and digital formats. Joey had mentioned the possibility of a bonus track not available on the European and Japanese versions, but I can’t completely confirm that. We are aiming to release the album in October which could possibly be the same month we new release albums from Useless I.D., Drag the River, Tim Barry, and Two Cow Garage! Joey has gone on record as saying the following about his first solo offering, The strange part of all this is, now that it is done, I’m not sure how to feel. It is my first attempt at making a solo record, something I am totally unfamiliar with. I know this, I will never make a record this way again. From now on, no second guessing or obsessing. Ultimately, I am proud of this record. I made something I like and it’s time to move on. I hope most of you will appreciate it. I have decided to call it “Bridge”. I think the musical metaphor is appropriate because it is something new for me and it will lead me to another place as a songwriter, whether it be a better appreciation of my craft or the butt of another songwriter’s joke. Either way, I’m on my way

We will soon be posting an mp3 and as Joey completes the mixing and mastering, we will have a release date nailed down. Know that I could not be more excited about all our recent signings and releases. This is an exciting chapter in our 13th year of doing Suburban Home.

One side note – I could not resist posting this photo of Joey with a mustache. I can only think of the brilliant movie, Safe Men which had the line, “Sweet Stache Bro”, “Thanks Man”. If you haven’t seen the movie, do so immediately and get ready for an unbelievable fall release schedule.

Suburban Home signs Useless I.D.

We are really excited to announce that we have worked out an arrangement with Useless I.D. to release their upcoming album, “The Lost Broken Bones” in North America. We will be putting out the album on vinyl, CD, and digitally and could not be more stoked. I have been listening to the album quite a bit and even this early on, I have no problem saying that this is the greatest recording of their career.

I first met Useless I.D. when I was out on the Warped tour with the Gamits back in the day. We ended up having our tent next to theirs and we quickly became friends. I remember on at least a one occasion getting really drunk around those guys when the Gamits had called it quits in the middle of Warped and they were there for moral support. Chris from the Gamits even sang on a track on their last album, Redemption.

I ran into Ishay and Guy from Useless I.D. earlier this year in Ft Collins (of all places) while the band were recording their album at the Blasting Room. I was in the middle of the Drag the River reunion weekend and they had come out to the show after a day of recording. They had mentioned that they were looking for a label in the states to release their new album and I was way into the idea. We have been talking on and off since then and today, we have come to an agreement.

Suburban Home will release the Israeli band’s newest album, “The Lost Broken Bones” October of 2008.