NINEBULLETS PREMIER: ARLISS NANCY – ST. FORGOT

Today, our friends at Nine Bullets have posted a brand new song from Suburban Home recording artist, Arliss Nancy. The song, “St Forgot” is the first track on their upcoming album, “Simple Machines” due out in March 2012. You will notice that the track features 3 amazing guest vocals (by Micah Schnabel, Lizzie Huffman, and Jon Snodgrass).

Please head over to Nine Bullets, check out the track, and let us know what you think. If you want to hear more New Arliss Nancy, download the latest Mostly Harmless Podcast which is an interview with me and features another incredible song. Then tune into Nine Bullets Radio tonight to hear a 3rd brand new song from the album. This record is unbelievable.

We’ll be leaking more tunes soon, posting a pre-order, and announcing tour dates (with Michael Dean Damron and Micah Schabel). You are going to be hearing a lot about Arliss Nancy in 2012.

Suburban Home has adopted Minneapolis, Minnesota band, The Evening Rig. We will be helping The Evening Rig to release their new album, “Nothin’ to Hear Here” which will be released in late 2011/early 2012. Until then, we ask you to please enjoy the 11 song sampler which compiles a number of tracks from the band’s first 2 albums, “Never Been’er”, and “Is Doin’ Stuff”.

The Evening Rig 11 Song Sampler by Suburban Home Records

The Evening Rig started when members of The Cardinal Sin and the Crush got together to start writing music. After releasing their first album, “Never Been’er”, Peter Jesperson (Manager of the Replacements, A&R of New West) had this to say: “The Evening Rig are one of those rare rock groups that seem to turn up out of nowhere, holding all of the goods. Their debut album, Never Been’er, is astonishingly strong, well written and played, confident, powerful, melodic … the singer in particular just kills me. They’re the best new band I’ve heard out of Minneapolis in eons.” This pretty much sums up how I feel about the band’s first 2 albums and throughout the years, I’ve gotten to know them very well. I’ve actually known Rebecca “Becky” Hanten since her days in the Cardinal Sin. Early this year, I went out to visit an old buddy who lives in Minneapolis. During this time, I got to hang out with the members of the Evening Rig quite a bit and it became pretty clear that we see eye to eye with regards to music, touring, and putting out albums. When I booked a few shows for the Evening Rig in Colorado, we again hung out and the conversation came up that we should figure out some way to work together. They mentioned that they were planning on recording and self-releasing their upcoming album, “Nothin’ to Hear Here”, and I just threw out the possibility of helping them promote and distribute the album. I’m very happy to say that they were into this idea and as such, we will help release the record in early 2012. The Evening Rig carry the torch that Midwest acts like Husker Du and The Replacements helped to light. They have played with Lucero, Two Cow Garage, The Hold Steady, and more. They will fit in nicely with the Suburban Home Family.

The Evening Rig is Jason Miller, Eric Reyers, Josh Lynch, Rebecca Hanten. Please Like Them on Facebook, Please Follow Them on Twitter, See their videos on Youtube, and be prepared to see them play at Suburban Home’s 16th Anniversary party.

Suburban Home has adopted Ohio band, Alone at 3AM. We will be helping Alone at 3AM to release their new album, “Midwest Mess” which will be released in January/February 2012. Until then, we ask you to please enjoy the 3 tracks from their upcoming 7″ release, “From An Ohio Basement”, a collection of B-sides from the band’s past decade of recordings.

Alone at 3AM – From An Ohio Basement by Suburban Home Records

I was first contacted by Alone at 3AM’s manager, Brian Penick, at the Counter Rhythm Group. He said that Alone at 3AM was planning to make it out to this year’s Denver UMS festival and that we should meet. He sent over some music (roughs from the upcoming album) and mentioned their interest in working with Suburban Home. The band played an incredible set at 3 Kings Tavern and the next day, we had lunch at Watercourse Foods. We had a great conversation about things, it was funny how many of the same people we all knew. Later that night, they stuck around in Denver and Brian and 2 of the members of Alone at 3AM came out drinking with me. We all got pretty rowdy, saw lots of music, and just had the best time. I’ve said it countless times, but I’ll say it again. Obviously, the music is an important element of who I choose to work with at Suburban Home, but the personalities of the band members and how well I get along with them is equally as important. I can say without hesitation that Alone at 3AM embody everything I look for in a band on Suburban Home. I’m excited to be working with them. I hope you give these 3 songs a listen and know that the songs from the new album is blow these songs away (even though these songs are great).

Please Like Them on Facebook, Please Follow Them on Twitter, See their videos on Youtube, and be prepared to see them play at Suburban Home’s 16th Anniversary party.

I’m really excited to share with you the news that Suburban Home will be working with Have Gun Will Travel and will be releasing their new album, “Mergers & Acquisitions”. I first heard Have Gun Will Travel after the Takers played a few shows with them. Bryan from Nine Bullets also sung their praises and sent me a copy of their last album. We adopted the band when they self-released “Postcards from a Friendly City”, an album I just fell in love with. I first met all the guys when they played Nine Bullets Anniversary Party last year and invited them to play some shows in Colorado after South by Southwest. We had a really great time and during that Colorado stretch, we discussed the possibility of putting out their next album. The band recorded much of “Mergers & Acquisitions” at their practice space. Other parts of the album were recorded with Andy Feldman who co-produced the album with Have Gun Will Travel. Scott Anderson (of HGWT) mixed the album. Steve Connelly mastered the record. The artwork for the album will be done by Janell Francois with photography by Kelley Jackson. Devon Stuart of the Takers makes a guest appearance on the record on the song, “Thirteen Miles to Empty”. Having had some time to spend with the record, I can easily say that fans of “Postcards” are going to love this album.

Suburban Home will release “Mergers & Acquisitions” this Fall on LP, CD, and Digitally. Have Gun Will Travel will be joining us for Suburban Home’s 16th Anniversary and when they come to town, they should have copies of their new record with them. Know that I am very excited to be able to work with this very talented band. Expect us to post an mp3 shortly and announce a pre-order soon.

If you haven’t heard “Postcards From a Friendly City”, please stream it here.

The Lusitania “Rain and Rivers” CD
The Lusitania “Rain and Rivers” Digitally (through Bandcamp, pay your own price)

The Lusitania are the latest act to be adopted by Suburban Home Records (past acts include Two Cow Garage and Have Gun Will Travel). I hope that you will consider giving this record a listen and when the Lusitania are touring with and backing Jim Ward this summer, I really hope you come out and see them play.

Suburban Home is proud to have adopted El Paso Americana/Alt-Country act, The Lusitania. I first heard about the band when good friend and promoter of the Triple Nickel, Damian Burford, told me about this band that I had to check out. He even went so far as to pass me a copy of their self-released EP and I found myself spinning the record quite a bit. Fast forward a year later and Jim Ward (of Sleepercar, At The Drive In, Sparta) was telling me that he was working with this really great band from his home town called The Lusitania and that if I was interested, I should consider working with him and the band to help get their debut album out and about. Already being a fan of the first EP, I was really excited to hear the new album, a record recorded at Jim Ward’s studio, Clap of Thunder Studios. After spending some time with the new album which was released on Jim Ward’s label, Civil Defense League Records, I fell in love and worked things out with Jim and the Band to offer my assistance in spreading the word.

The album, “Rain and Rivers”, won’t be in stores until late March, but the CD and the digital versions are available now through the Suburban Home store and the Suburban Home Bandcamp page.

Bio:
The Lusitania was formed in 2005 by brothers Michael and Blake Duncan. The band went through a few line up changes before coming to their current cast of Charles Berry, Adi Kanlic, and the latest member, Will Daugherty, along with the brothers. An auxiliary horn section containing two trumpets and an alto saxophone has been added to the live performance on occasion.

The band has toured the Southwest consistently since 2008 Covering the region from Phoenix to Houston and as far north as Ft. Collins Colorado. Many times hitting the same cities up to 3 times a year. They have shared the road with bands such as Lucero, Sleepercar, the Thriftstore Cowboys, and the Royalty. The Lusitania has shared the stage with Deer Tick, Jim Ward, Crystal Antlers, Mason Jennings, Lucero, the Thriftstore Cowboys, the Royalty, Zech’s Marquise, the Orbans, and Drag
the River in the past year to name a few.

As far as releases, the guys have put out an eight song self-titled ep on their own along with a 7” vinyl split with Buckeye (another El Paso Native) on the indie label Leatherfist Records. The band has just released their first full length professional studio album (Clap of Thunder Studios, El Paso, TX) in early October, 2010. The album is titled, “Rain and Rivers” and was released on Civil Defense League Records.

This latest release is the one the band hopes to push in order to build a loyal following across the US. The record has the support of Jim Ward in both the label and production aspect, and involved groups such as Tembloroso Creative Lab, and Viva Creative Group. They are determined to tour tirelessly the remainder of 2010 and into 2011 with the plan to record a follow up record.

MEMBERS:
Michael Duncan (vocals, rhythm guitar)
Blake Duncan (bass guitar)
Will Daugherty (lead guitar)
Adi Kanlic (keyboard)
Charles Berry (drums)

www.facebook.com/thelusitania (tracks and live videos available)
www.myspace.com/lusitaniarock (tracks and live videos available)

Friends, I could not be more excited to announce that in June 2010, we will be releasing “The Sounds of Dying” by I Can Lick Any Sonofabitch In the House. This will be their first album in over 3 years. For those of you who aren’t familiar with this band, I have been a huge fan of the Portland, Oregon, band for years. I actually didn’t start listening to them until after they had broken up and was bummed when I found out they weren’t really playing anymore. When the band were active, they shared the stage with Two Cow Garage, Drag the River, and a number of great acts touring pretty much everywhere. While it has been over 3 years since the band were active, the guys recently put the finishing touches on “The Sounds of Dying” which includes a number of songs that were recorded but never released along with a few brand new songs and a Two Cow Garage cover to boot. I still can’t believe that years after becoming a fan of the band, I will get the opportunity to release their first album back. While the band are not likely to be as active as they once were, they are planning dates to support the album including a possible appearance at Suburban Home’s 15th Anniversary Party in September.

If I had to describe the band’s sound, I would say that it is tough as nails Americana/Country featuring the gravelly voice of Michael Dean Damron and a thunderous rhythm section; while I have not yet seen them live, Two Cow Garage frontman, Micah Schnabel, said that they bring the thunder live and always forced Two Cow Garage to step up their own performances. Let’s just say that if you are a fan of Two Cow Garage and Drag the River, it is very likely that I Can Lick Any Sonofabitch In the House will be one of your new favorite bands.

I highly recommend everything they have put out on In Music We Trust. I recommend checking out the few tunes on the band’s myspace page. And if you picked up Suburban Home Records’ Mixtape Volume 2, check out track 9 which is a track from the upcoming album.

We will be releasing “The Sounds of Dying” digitally, on vinyl, and on CD this summer in time for a number of dates they have planned in June. Until then, if you find yourself going out to any of the Chad Price/Micah Schnabel/Michael Dean Damron shows, go and give Michael Dean Damron a hi-five and welcome him into our little family.

We are so damned excited to bring you news of Look Mexico’s first single from their upcoming album, “To Bed to Battle”. The single, “You Stay. I Go. No Following” is an incredible song in its own right, but they enlisted the help of  their good friend, Frank Turner, who sings the bridge on the song that takes the track to a whole other level. The 2 song single features the b-side, an acoustic version of “They Only Take the Back Roads” which is exclusive to this release. The single will be available as a 7″ with digital download, T-shirt with digital download, and digitally. The release date is February 23rd, 2010, but we will send the 7″s and shirts out as soon as they come in. Test pressings will arrive on Tuesday and once approved, we should have records in hand by the first week of February, if not sooner.

The 7″ will be pressed in a very, very limited run. We are pressing 300 on transparent blue vinyl with silk-screened cover (being printed by our friend Dustin Garret) and those 300 will also be hand-numbered. We are pressing an additional 300 copies on black vinyl with printed fold-over covers. 7″s will come with a digital download coupon. Once this pressing is sold out, it will be history.

We will soon be announcing details for Look Mexico’s upcoming album, “To Bed To Battle” which should be out around the end of March. Expect tour dates soon as the band will be supporting “To Bed to Battle” for all of 2010. We could not be more excited about working with such an incredible band who are about to release their greatest work to date.

Pre-order for the 7″ will happen on Thursday, January 21st so long as the test pressing is approved.

HAVE GUN WILL TRAVEL “Postcards from the Friendly City” CD

Much like we did with Two Cow Garage when they self-released III, we have decided to adopt Have Gun Will Travel with release of “Postcards from the Friendly City”, their 2nd album. We first heard about Have Gun Will Travel from our friends at NineBullets.net who sent us a copy of the record. I quickly fell in love with the album and the band’s ability to mix rootsy Country music with indie pop vocals (Think of a mix of the Shins, Avett Brothers, and maybe Slobberbone). The Takers did a run of dates with Have Gun Will Travel and they too were touting the band as the best thing since PBR. I loved the album so much I put it in my top albums of 2009 (as did Autopsy from Nine Bullets who put it as #3). I spoke with the band about their plans and it sounds like the summer of 2010 will see the band hitting the road and having a go at it. I figured we should do our part and tell the world about a band we just think the world of. We will be carrying Have Gun Will Travel’s CD, will be helping them with distribution, and we are talking about co-releasing their vinyl.

If you are a fan of what we do, I recommend you give the album a listen (I have posted a full album stream at the bottom of this post). I think it will be right up your alley. I put “Salad Days” on my mix tape “Raising Hell and Living Cheap”; it is track 14 if you have the mix at home. Please listen to Have Gun Will Travel and if you like what you hear, pick up a copy and share the stream with others. I have 60 copies of their album being shipped today to us which we should have in by late next week. The band is repressing the CD for the official street date of 2/9/2010. Let us know what you think.

Although we have been planning to work with Lizzie Huffman for some time now, we are excited to say that it is official; we will be releasing Lizzie Huffman’s debut 10″ on Suburban Home Records and Vinyl Collective. Lizzie Huffman is the sister of Kirk Huffman, Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground’s lead singer and primary songwriter (yes that family is blessed with an incredible genetic code). Kirk and Phil from Kay Kay first played me songs by Lizzie when they came through town with Rx Bandits and Portugal the Man and I was instantly hooked. Lizzie has such a beautiful voice and her songs just grab you. When Kirk and Phil also told me that they played on the recording, I knew that this was something I had to be involved with. The 6 songs that will make up this debut 10″ can all be heard on LIzzie’s Myspace page.

Lizzie recently moved back to Seattle from San Francisco where she was attending school. She has been playing shows around Washington and Oregon gearing up for this first release. If you book shows, reach out to her. She is planning on playing around a bunch in support of the 10″. Besides her own music, she has lent vocals to Forgive Durden and shared the stage with Andrew from Danger Radio. Stop by her Myspace page and listen to the songs and check out the videos. She is unbelievable.

We are so excited to be releasing this 10″. We haven’t yet set a release date, but expect more news in the near future. Please listen to the songs on her Myspace. You will love them!

LIZZIE HUFFMAN’s Mypsace page

Today, I am excited to announce to the world that we have just “signed” Look Mexico. The Tallahassee, Floridians started writing music in mid 2004 having released a full length (“This is Animal Music”), a collection album (“The Crucial Collection”), and a number of EPs including a song on the first ever Under the Influence 7″ with Fake Problems and one of my favorite 7″s of 2009, the Gasp Asp EP. We became fans of the band when we first spun “This is Animal Music” and was absolutely delighted that Fake Problems wanted to do their Under the Influence with them. We later met the band at the past year’s Fest and have since been discussing the possibility of us working together. It is important for us to be able to get along with our bands, maybe even more important than any other factor, and Look Mexico are family. I realized it when the band were in Denver (while on tour with Frank Turner) as we shared more than a few drinks together, up front singing along to Frank Turner’s set. Musically, Look Mexico are one of the few bands that everyone in our office enjoys. Their sound recalls, at least to me, early Minus the Bear mixed with some Get up Kids, 2 bands I absolutely love. They mix melody and technical precision in a way that just grabs us.

The band are currently recording what will become their Suburban Home Records’ debut. They will again be working with Phil Martin and August Hansen who will be engineering and producing the recording out of a rented out basement (underneath a pizza joint). We hope to release the album in the Fall of 2009 with a 7″ single prior to the album’s release. Expect the band to tour like crazy throughout the UK, Europe, Japan, Canada, and the United States after the release of their new albu. Stay tuned for further details and know that we here at Suburban Home are absolutely positively excited to be able to work with such a talented band.

Right now through the weekend, you can listen to 2 demo recordings of songs (“Just Like Old Times” and “” that will be featured on Look Mexico’s upcoming album. Just visit their Myspace page to listen to the songs.

While waiting for their Suburban Home Records’ debut, I recommend you check out the following sites:

Look Mexico’s Blog (they are always updating the blog with studio updates, tour diaries and more)
Look Mexico’s Myspace page 2 DEMOS UP RIGHT NOW, but only through the weekend.
Look Mexico’s Facebook page
Purchase Look Mexico vinyl (Through this really cool webstore called Vinyl Collective)
Lujo Records (Great Label responsible for most of Look Mexico’s back-catalog)