Blogs

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Weirdo Wednesday Supper Club @ Davey's Uptown, KC (4-18/23-12)

April 18th: Diamond Dan, Victor and Penny, Ryan Donegan
Weirdo Wednesday is a weekly supper club hosted by local personality/multi-instrumentalist Amy Ferrand at Davey's Uptown in Kansas City, MO. The vibe at Weirdo Wednesdays is probably the closest I've come to the cabaret/ "anything goes" type atmosphere that I grew to love at places like the Sidewalk Cafe's Open Stage and Show & Tell at the Bowery Poetry Club in NYC. Davey's Uptown is a Kansas City Institution. You can smell the history as soon as you walk in the place. The wood paneling and vintage pinball machines make it an ideal spot for happy hour locals. The other half of the bar (formerly Jimmy & Mary's Steakhouse) opens onto a sizable performance space with a back bar and a nice PA and stage. Read more »

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Elastic No-No Band as a real live band and not just a pseudonym for yours truly (Justin Remer) came into being some time in 2005. I had started attending the Anti-hoot at Sidewalk, and had started scooping up talented performers to play with me. In 2007, we were really starting to cook. Doug Johnson joined us from outside the Sidewalk crowd, and became known as smiliest drummer on the scene (he has also gone onto be an occasional session drummer for the likes of Thomas Patrick Maguire and Brook Pridemore).

And now, five short years later, we're all washed-up. The release of BLACK NO-NO'S, a CD consisting of new studio recordings, live material, and some outtakes, marks the end of an obscure band I sure as shit enjoyed leading.

To celebrate -- because you should celebrate this type of thing -- I'm having a house show at my apartment featuring solo sets by 3 members of Elastic No-No Band: me, Preston Spurlock, and John Mulcahy (also the leader of The Telethons). PLUS Thomas Patrick Maguire, Debe Dalton, Dan and Rachel, and Joe Crow Ryan.

Saturday, April 28, 2012
no cover, but bring tip money
BYOB, but we'll have some B and some homemade food -- first come, first served
Copies of BLACK NO-NO'S will be given away free Read more »

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Hi, everyone,

You are all invited to the New York Society of Etchers' 2nd National Exhibition of Intaglio Prints where I have won the honour of exhibiting one of my etchings, Mano Curando #14 a piece about my hands, work, and the history of printmaking in Guatemala which I did with the help of Guatemalan children and their cultural ancestors while living and working there in 2009-10.
The exhibition was juried by David Kiehl, Curator of Prints, Whitney Museum of American Art.

The exhibition runs only for FIVE days so keep that in mind when planning to see it!

Opening Reception: Monday, April 23, 6-9pm
Show Dates: April 22-27, 2012
Location: National Arts Club

15 Grammercy Park South
(Bet. Irving Pl. and Union Sq. E.)

New York, NY

More info:
my News page: http://marybluestocking.com/NEWS.aspx
NYSE's event page: https://nysetchers.org/events_120422_2national.php

I'm looking forward to seeing many of you there, if you stop in during the week, please drop me a line and let me know you did so!

Regards,

Mary Bluestocking (aka Mary Sloan)

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This Is My Condition, Folkicide, Holly Hunt & Scraping Teeth at the Percolator Art Space in Lawrence, KS (4-13-12)
I lived in Lawrence, Kansas for 5 years from 1988 to 1993. I saw a lot of good live music in that 5 years. At various times I saw: Nirvana, The Pixies and Urge Overkill at the KU Student Union...Fugazi, Jesus Lizard, and Helmet at the Outhouse....I saw: Sonic Youth, Henry Rollins, and Tool at Liberty Hall. I saw The Butthole Surfers, SWANS and even Bo Diddly at the Bottleneck. I saw countless other great shows at house parties and pop-up venues that have come and gone. I don't remember the last show I saw in Lawrence, Kansas but it was probably during this time. I could never have predicted that it would be nearly 19 years before I saw another show in Lawrence, Kansas. I could never have predicted that I'd be driving a rented Chevy Sonic with my girlfriend of 13 years to the next show I would see in Lawrence, Kansas. I could never have predicted that the next show I would see in Lawrence, Kansas would include 2 old friends from back in the day, sharing a bill with a band that was voted 1998's "Worst band in America" by SPIN magazine, in a back alley Art Space. I could never had predicted that I would be enjoying a delicious bowl of Tunisian Chickpea Breakfast Soup and sipping a local Kansas City Boulevard Pilsner beer as I watched said bands. I never could have predicted any of this but I sure did have a great time. Read more »

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Joe Crow Ryan just did some recording with Michael David Campbell (A Fermata, Felt Light Strikes), who produced all the studio tracks on Joe's first two CDs at the Brooklyn Tea Party.

Now, Michael has a studio set up in a space in DUMBO, and he invited Joe to try it out. Joe and Michael have been working on a couple dozen tracks that will end up on Joe's upcoming album, tentatively titled This Machine Kills Purists Part III: Trolling For Purists, or No More Ironing, or What You Will. (...heck, they've been working so fast, there might be enough for a fourth CD too...)

Joe and Michael let me into the space to videotape the sessions on their first day. I'm going to put up a series of videos over the next few weeks.

The first video that I put up today, features Joe Crow's cover of the Soft Black song "Did You Put A Spell On Me?" by Vincent Cacchione (also of the band Caged Animals).

Check it out on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0h9N5JL7Gk Read more »

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NYC to KC Week 1 (April 4/5/6, 2012)
It was a nice sunny day when we finally arrived in Kansas City. We didn't quite make our 2 day goal. After spending the first night in Western Pennsylvania we were going to try and push through but we ran into a nasty rainstorm just outside of St. Louis. After a bit of a crisis trying to figure out how to turn on the U-haul window defoggers, we decided to grab a hotel and drive the remaining 4 hours the next morning. We figured it would be nicer for Nan's first look at KC to be during the day after a good night's sleep vs. two o'clock in the morning after 12 hours of driving.

As we rounded downtown KC and headed into the suburb of Shawnee (where we will be living for at least the next 3 months), I couldn't help but notice what a job the "strip mall" has done on the landscape here. I'm not saying that Shawnee was ever anything like Mayberry or that the concept of the strip mall had not already been introduced to the neighborhood well before I left. But the thing that seems so disturbing, aside from the illusion that all the buildings along Shawnee Mission Parkway (the "Main Street" of Shawnee) appear to be more or less part of one very long building no more than 2 stories high, is that now they are all bathed in the same bland tan or neutral earth tone color as well. I gotta say it makes a real, lack of, impression on someone just driving through. And if I hadn't planned on living here I would probably have completely forgotten the experience by the time I'd reached the edge of town. I really don't understand this trend of light neutral earthy tones- don't get me started on the waiters in khaki pants and white tennis shoes look- but it feels like the entire city Shawnee has been modeled after a retirement community. Read more »

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I have a bit of an oddball sense of humor, which comes out in my music and in the movies and videos I direct. However, even my oddest projects come out of a fairly conventional approach to storytelling.

Well, Thomas Patrick Maguire recently asked me to post a video for his recently released song, "How To Fight (Maspeth Buzz)" online. I decided to go really experimental and abstract with it. I admit to being a little fearful with releasing a video like this online now. It's not quick or quick-to-please like a lot of viral-type videos.

But I like it.

Thomas Patrick Maguire - How To Fight (Maspeth Buzz) on Youtube.

Thomas Patrick Maguire - How To Fight (Maspeth Buzz) on Vimeo.

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Dog Got Your Cat Tongue is the sixth song to be released from Schwervon!'s Memphis sessions with Doug Easley (Pavement, Sonic Youth, Cat Power). Urban life informed this tune, especially the 2003 NYC blackout and the frequent circling of NYPD helicopters over Nan & Matt's rooftop in the LES. This is the last song to be released before Schwervon!'s move to Kansas City in April 2012. Stay tuned for more Schwervon! song news later in the spring!
http://www.schwervon.com/

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Schwervon!'s Send Off show!
(from NYC to Kansas!)

THURSDAY MARCH 22nd
@ Big Snow Buffalo Lodge
89 varet street
(btwn humboldt & graham)
Brooklyn, NY
$8, doors at 8pm, Nite starts 8:30!

8:30 Julie DeLano (of The Leader) and "Gold"
9:15 Silence Kid (from Baltimore)
10:00 Purple Organ
10:45 Schwervon!

(Some of the proceeds of the night will go towards Schwervon's moving expenses!)
http://bigsnowbk.tumblr.com/

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Cougar Pride is the fifth song to be released from Schwervon!'s Memphis sessions with Doug Easley (Pavement, Sonic Youth, Cat Power). The Cougar was Matt's High School mascot. Though the Cougar is a fierce predator of the animal kingdom, "Cougar" also has another meaning in American Pop Culture. A Cougar is defined as "A woman ages 40 years or older who preys on younger men." Nan's High School Mascot was the Bearcat. The question still remains: How can a Bear be a Cat?

(Schwervon! plans to digitally stream a new track every other Friday for the months of January, February and March of 2012. As if that wasn’t exciting enough, each new song will be offered as a free download for the first week of its release.)

http://www.schwervon.com/

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The Sidewalk Cafe (MMM show poem 3/7/12 @ Sidewalk Cafe, NYC)

It was never my intention, growing up in Kansas, to live in New York. I remember just one time, as a kid, drawing a picture of me in the future. I was wearing black boots and long black trench coat. It was something like a cross between Robert Smith and The Crow. I had long stringy hair and pictured myself walking through some dark rainy alley in a city that I imagined was New York City. That’s when I made the decision that I was more of dark vs. light kind of guy. This had nothing to do with morals mind you. It was kind of more of an aesthetic decision. It’s made all the difference in a way. But other than this memory, for 24 years I don’t recall a particular attraction towards New York aside from the girl that I followed here. Read more »

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Tonight.
Sidewalk.
Bliss at 730pm (Bring ear plugs.)
Nan Turner at 830pm
Prewar Yardsale at 9pm
Toby Goodshank at 930pm
Major Matt Mason USA at 1030pm

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OJ would like to thank all of you who supported us on the last days of the Distro. We hope you all enjoy the music. A number of the artists dedicated the proceeds from their last sales towards maintaining this site. An extra special big THANK YOU goes out to them! It is with your love and support that we can continue to spread the word about all this great music. If any of the artists on this site interest you and you would like to learn more about hearing or purchasing their music we ask that you contact them directly through their website.
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The final NYC Olive Juice Music "Juice Box" event will take place Wed. March 7th at the Sidewalk Cafe.
07:30 - Bliss (metal versions of Barry Bliss songs)
08:30 - Nan Turner
09:00 - Prewar Yardsale Read more »

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(MMM show poem 2/26/12 @ Goodbye Blue Monday, NYC)
Goodbye blue Monday.
Food bye glue run day.
Glue fry cow Hundi.
Blue die Al Bundy
I try to have fun day.
Blue Monday on Sunday.
Best buy, fruit fly, fry guy, big sky
Don’t be shy
Say, Hi.
Nice tie.
Superfly hood Sunday
Hooper guy good gun day
Kiss this guy and run day
Play date, date play, plate day
Day break, plate bake, date rape
Grape ape

Goodbye Blue Monday
Good guy no one day
Die hard begun day
Day play, say play, play play
say say
say Read more »

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Cyclone is the fourth song to be released from Schwervon!’s Memphis sessions with Doug Easley (Pavement, Sonic Youth, Cat Power). On Nan & Matt’s second date, they went to Coney Island and rode the Cyclone. Unbeknownst to Matt at the time, Nan is scared of roller coasters. She has not gone on one since. This song was inspired by summertime in NYC and confronting your own personal cyclone.
http://schwervon.bandcamp.com/track/cyclone

(Schwervon! plans to digitally stream a new track every other Friday for the months of January, February and March of 2012. As if that wasn’t exciting enough, each new song will be offered as a free download for the first week of its release.)
http://www.schwervon.com/ Read more »

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Houston & Delancey (MMM show poem 2/16/12 @ Sidewalk Cafe, NYC)
I was walking home last night and a delivery guy stopped me and asked if I knew were Houston and Delancey was. I looked at him kind of weird. I’m sorry my friend but that’s impossible, I said. Anyone who has lived in the city long enough knows that these 2 streets run parallel to each other. He showed me a receipt and it was printed right there: Houston and Delancey. What a mean trick someone must have played on this guy. It seemed like he couldn't speak much English. I had to just walk away saying, "Sorry, I can't help you." I thought a little bit more about it. I flashed my high school geometry class lesson about 2 parallel lines that never intersect. I imagined this poor guy riding his bike down a Houstan street that stretched around the globe, for the rest of his life, forever searching for it’s never intersecting Delancey street. I started to think of how different the things used to be on either sides of these two streets throughout history, separated by a mere 3 blocks. And how each coming year the lines that they used to represent, like many neighborhoods around the world, are being blurred and redrawn. Read more »

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Daydream Ration is the third song to be released from Schwervon!’s Memphis sessions with Doug Easley (Pavement, Sonic Youth, Cat Power). Matt says his original inspiration for the duo taking the trip down south was listening to old Grifters albums, and specifically reading a very conspicuous advertisement for Easley-McCain Studios on the inside fold of the Grifters’ first Sub Pop Release “Ain’t My Lookout”. Everything came full circle when Dave Shouse (Grifters, Those Bastard Souls, The New Mary Jane) agreed to appear as a guest vocalist for this track.

Schwervon! are going to digitally stream a new track every other Friday for the months of January, February and March of 2012. As if that wasn’t exciting enough, each new song will be offered as a free download for the first week of it’s release.

www.schwervon.com Read more »

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We got it on the first take! Thanks, Matt and OJ Music. U rock!

Click here for your FREE Download of HUNTED - by Major Matt (covered by Linda Draper).

Cheers,
Linda

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Round 4
On March 1st the OJ distro is closing up shop. Don't worry everything else on the OJ music site and forum will stay but that means you've got just 3 weeks to order some of the world's most interesting and eclectic independent music, here. Receive a full set of buttons from OJ ALL DAY 1, 2, and 3 with every purchase over 10 dollars. Read more »

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Round 3
On March 1st the OJ distro is closing up shop. Don't worry everything else on the OJ music site and forum will stay but that means you've got about one month to order some of the world's most interesting and eclectic independent music. Receive a full set of buttons from OJ ALL DAY 1, 2, and 3 with every purchase over 10 dollars. Scroll down to see more discounted items.

Barry Bliss: Volume 1 - CDR $1

Barry Bliss: Volume 2 - CDR $1

Barry Bliss: Volume 3 - CDR $1

Barry Bliss: Truths Put Into Rhyme - CDR $1

Phoebe Kreutz: Bemusement Park - CD $5

Phoebe Kreutz: Big Lousy Moon - CDR $5 Read more »

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Round 2
On March 1st the OJ distro is closing up shop. Don't worry everything else on the OJ music site and forum will stay but that means you've got one month to order some of the world's most interesting and eclectic independent music. Receive a full set of buttons from OJ ALL DAY 1, 2, and 3 with every purchase over 10 dollars.

Diane Cluck: Countless Times - CD $3

Diane Cluck: Monarcana - CD $3

Diane Cluck: Macy's Day Bird / Black with Green Leaves - Double CD $5

The Wigg Report: Flexi Slacks - CDR $1

The Wigg Report: Seltzer - CDR $1

The Wigg Report: The Wigg Report - 5 song EP - CDR $1

Dan Fishback: Calendar Boys - CDR $1 Read more »

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Round 1 Check out our latest OJ distro going out of business specials. You've got until March 1st to order some of the world's most interesting and eclectic independent music. Receive a full set of buttons from OJ ALL DAY 1, 2, and 3 with every purchase over 10 dollars or when you order Call It What You Want: This Is Antifolk (while Supplies last)! Stay tuned for more amazing discounts and specials.

Berlin Song Vol. 2: CD $1

Berlin Song Vol. 3: CD $1

Knot Pinebox - Suspended Particulation: CDR $1

Breadfoot - Breadfoot: CDR $1

Breadfoot - I'm OK Yer UK: Live in the UK 2003-04: CDR $1

Cy and Caito - Lottery Lye: Cassette $1

Elastic No No Band - Charmingly Shambolic and Mostly Live: Cassette 1$ Read more »

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We've got one month until the Olive Juice Music Distro/Store section closes for good. Don't worry everything else on the OJ music site and forum will stay, but as of March 1st there will no longer be a Distribution section at Olive Juice Music. To help commemorate its passing we are offering a discounted version of the Call It What You Want: This Is Antifolk CD. For just $5.00 you can pick up one of these limited edition CD's that includes a lot of the key players of the early 2000's NYC Antifolk Scene including: Hyperjinx Tircycle featuring Daniel Johnston, Jeff Lewis, Kimya Dawson, Adam Green, Paleface, Seth ov Dufus, Schwervon!, Prewar Yardsale and more! All songs were recorded at Olive Juice Music studios in NYC by Major Matt. Vibrant cover art by Toby Goodhsank. Each order comes with a set of 3 badges from the 3 OJ All Day Festivals. Stay tuned for more discounted items in the coming weeks and thank you all for supporting real independent music. Read more »

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American Idle is the second song to be released from Schwervon!'s Memphis sessions with Doug Easley (Pavement, Sonic Youth, Cat Power). The song was originally called American Idol. While in the studio, Easley half-jokingly suggested changing the spelling from "Idol" to "Idle" to avoid any future copyright infringements from the popular TV Show. Legal issues aside, Nan and Matt liked the alternate spelling better anyway.

You can check out American Idle as well as their previously released track (Truth Teller) at the Schwervon! website here: http://www.schwervon.com/

Schwervon! are digitally streaming a new track every other Friday for the months of January, February and March of 2012. As if that wasn’t exciting enough, each new song will be offered as a free download for the first week of it’s release.

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Spreading the good news all across the land
Nan kind of put it pretty well on her blog already. But I figured I'd spread the word that we will be moving to Shawnee, Kansas on April 2nd. As of that date, this will be our new home base and the home of Olive Juice Music. It's going to be quite a change and I'll try as hard as I can to keep people updated about our progress. One of the main reasons for this move is to enable our band (Schwervon!) better access to touring other parts of the US. Of course we will miss all of our good friends in New York but we are also a bit excited about discovering new parts of the country and seeing a few more stars. Needless to say it would be very difficult for me to maintain the "Distro" part of Olive Juice Music. As you may or may not know, aside from some summer intern help from my friend Soléna 2 years ago, the distro part of OJ has been pretty much a one person operation. I've contacted Dibs, our unofficial OJ site manager, and asked him if there is a way to only shut down the store section. He's on the case. I'm sure I'll talk more about this in future blogs but the idea is to keep the store open until March 1st. This should allow time to sort out the warehouse before we hit the road in April. Of course I'd love to be able to bring the store back some day, maybe even with more cool bands that we meet from other parts of the country. But for now this is how things will be. The OJ Open Blog, Calendar, and Forum will stay and hopefully continue to keep us connected to all our friends around the globe. I've started a thread on the forum about this and I invite people to comment and share any thoughts and/or ideas in reference to the news. Read more »

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Comedy, New Schwervon! Stats., WTF
My friend Soce asked me to perform for a "First Timers" comedy hour this Monday night. I will be performing 5 minutes of original comedy material. It should be interesting. I've always been fascinated with Comedians. I have a lot of respect for them. I've been doing these "day of" poems at my Major Matt shows so in a way I feel like I've been feeling myself moving in that direction. I'm not saying that I'm going to be making any career changes anytime soon but I feel like preparing to entertain a room full of people for 5 minutes with nothing but your brain has been kind of therapeutic (and kind of terrifying). Should be interesting to watch at the very least. There will be a handful of others performing. It's at: Bedlam
40 Ave C, New York, NY 10009. Here are the FB details: http://www.facebook.com/events/274809825914868/
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Toby Goodshank & Phoebe Kreutz are going on tour in Spain, Germany, Switzerland, and France soon! Phoebe will also play a couple of shows in Italy in March. Please spread the word about the tour and invite your friends.

Tour dates:

02.02. Granollers - Anònims
03.02. Barcelona - Luchador Records (daytime in-store, 1pm)
03.02. Vic - Jazz Cava
04.02. Torelló - L'Eclèctic
05.02. Castellón - Tanned Tin Festival
06.02. Figueres - secret show*
07.02. Sant Feliu de Guíxols - Punt Jove
08.02. Palafrugell - Mediterrània Espai Fòrum
09.02. Deggingen - house show*
10.02. Tobel-Tägerschen - Komturei (w/ MoreEats)
11.02. Genève - Le Cabinet
12.02. Lyon - Le Périscope
13.02. Paris - Pop In (w/ Frozy)
14.02. Köln - Die hängenden Gärten von Ehrenfeld
15.02. Mainz - Ventil Verlag (w/ Boo Hoo)
16.02. Darmstadt - Gute Stube/Hoffart-Theater
17.02. Marburg - Café Trauma
18.02. Berlin - Weserstr. 58 in Neukölln (8pm sharp!)
19.02. Potsdam - Nachtboulevard @Hans-Otto-Theater
22.02. Hamburg - Aalhaus
23.02. Hannover - house show*
24.02. Leipzig - Kaffee Schwarz
25.02. Magdeburg - Nachtschicht @Theater Magdeburg Read more »

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Fishermen 3, A Brief View of the Hudson, Red Gretchen
Simon (of the Wowz) solo project Fishermen 3 has just released the song "Up Here" on a split 7" with the awesome band the Black Swans of Columbus, OH. To celebrate the release of the 7", they're going on tour later this month on the west coast with The Black Swans.

1.20.12 - Sacramento, CA: Fox and Goose Pub
1.21.12 - San Francisco, CA: Hemlock Tavern
1.24.12 - Oakland, CA: Stork Club
1.26.12 - Olympia, WA: Guest House
1.27.12 - Seattle, WA: Spin Cycle (afternoon in-store show)
1.27.12 - Seattle, WA: Josephine
1.28.12 - Portland, OR: Kenton Club

THE CITY DARK, with music by The Fishermen Three + Ben Fries + Raphi Gottesman, gets its theatrical premiere at New York's IFC Center on January 18 and runs through January 24! The more folks we can get to come out, the more likely the run will be extended. This beautiful film was awarded best documentary score at the 2011 SXSW Film Festival.

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Last summer, Schwervon! took a break from the hustle and bustle of their home headquarters in New York City and headed south to the land of Elvis and Stax Records (Memphis, TN). Their mission was to record with legendary indie rock engineer Doug Easley (Pavement, Sonic Youth, Cat Power). Truth Teller is an early taste of Schwervon!’s summer session with Easley.

Truth Teller by Schwervon!

Additional chorus vocals are by Frances McKee, of legendary Glaswegian band The Vaselines. Schwervon! befriended McKee after opening for The Vaselines on their European tour in 2011.

We are going to digitally stream a new track every other Friday for the months of January, February and March of 2012. As if that wasn’t exciting enough, each new song will be offered as a free download for the first week of it’s release. Read more »

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Here's a list of our recently added distro items!

Goodbye Southern Death Swing - (CDR) by Major Matt Mason USA
Catalog #: OJD-0321
List Price: $5.00
Lofi bootleg recordings from 2011. Recorded by Mike Rechner (Prewar Yardsale). Mastered by Nick Nace (A Brief View Of the Hudson). (Yardsale Records)

Fuff #0 (Come To My Show) - Comic by Jeffrey Lewis
Catalog #: OJM-0064
List Price: $5.00
A 72-page square-bound giant comic book written and drawn by Jeffrey Lewis, color cover and b & w interior (on glossy paper). Cover price $5. Each one includes an individual fortune-cookie fortune!

This special edition collects all of the 4-page concert-announcement minicomix stories (and cassette-art minicomix) that Jeffrey created in his early performing days (1998-2001) plus brand new comic book explanations of the who/where/what/why/when/how behind all of this crazy stuff. Packed with divine insanity, rhyming doggerel, surreal adventure, and more than a couple characters who will be familiar to readers of Fuff, this is a Jeffrey Lewis magnum opus featuring material which has been long out of print (old edition original copies have gone for nearly $40 on ebay). Read more »