I was walking out of CB’s when Adam Hesed was walking in one day. He said that Tower Groove was looking to maybe put something like this together and asked if ECR would be interested. I met up with them on a Monday and we got a plan together pretty quickly. It started off with just three labels, but it seemed like every time we talked, we realized we were leaving someone out, people like Mustard Rob, Matt Harnish’s Bert Dax Records, Blip Blap!, and more.

It was kind of a no-brainer to decide to combine forces. These are all projects of people I really like and whose work I’m already a fan of, so why wouldn’t I want to line up with them for something like this?

What should we expect at the show? It’s an all-day thing, right?

Pretty much. Beth Bombara is kicking the whole thing off at 2:30 and the music will be mostly non-stop ‘til midnight.  We’re adding a stage outside so that we can double up on bands for the day. We’ll also have several tables set up with each label’s merchandise, so you might want to bring a little cash if you’re looking for some new music to take home.

Mainly we’re trying to make it as easy as possible for people check out our wares and hear what kind of music we have to offer in a live setting.  We’re going to have some great food available, meat and vegetarian options, to help make it a little easier to hang around for a longer stretch if you like. \ Kids 12 and under get in free, so bring ‘em if you’ve got ‘em (and maybe some kid headphones).

What are the advantages of a St. Louis band joining a small label like the ones being showcased on the 1st?

Making records, promoting, touring, all the little gear tweaks and various other maintenance can use up a lot of time and money. While everyone’s monetary contribution is pretty limited, we do all have our own experiences with what’s worked and what hasn’t. Contacts, venue information, promotional ideas, tour info, and even press contacts can all be a kind of currency. I look at the idea of a label as a union of sorts. Having a common interest, like a label, can make it a little easier to pool resources which helps both the individual group as well as the collective.

Keeping it local, or switching over to a local label, seems like the most logical thing to do right now, for me at least. It’s more likely that I’m going to split a bill with a label mate from around here than one from our label in California. It’s easier to help each other if we already know one another and work within a similar circle. That idea is extended further with this whole Label Day thing. I love the fact that I can just run into somebody in a bar and he says, “Hey I have this idea…” and we just go with it. That is the local advantage to me.

Are any of the labels accepting new artists on their roster(s)?

I’m sure most labels out there are always open to a new thing as long as it’s a good fit.

 

I’ve been getting conflicting reports about how much it actually costs to attend Label Day; I’ve heard $10 ahead and $12 at the door. I’ve also heard $10 at the door, with a $3 minor surcharge (but that’s standard). Do the smart thing and give your ten spot to the above Bandcamp compilation, composed mostly of artists performing that evening. You’ll get 19 luscious, local tracks and you’ll get an entry to the show. 

Finally, check out the LD lineup below…

Outdoor Stage:

2:30 Beth Bombara

3:30 Franco-Hill

4:30 Town Cars

Mustard Rob Break

6:00 The Defeated County

6:40 Bruiser Queen

Indoor Stage:

3:00 Popular Mechanics

4:00 Hearzska-Z

5:00 Thelonious Kryptonite

5:30 Scrub

7:00 BUNNYGRUNT

7:50 Bug Chaser

8:30 Middle Class Fashion

9:10 Scripts N Screwz

9:50 The Union Electric

10:30 The Jungle Fire

11:10 MME