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(12/08/05 update)
As this calendar year draws to a close, I've been feeling a bit reflective; which is strange for me, I hardly ever feel reflective. Mostly because I'm too busy working. Anyway, since I've gotten most of my year end musings out already via the c14 editorial I had to write for the new issue, and you can read a whole year's worth of SCR & SCR related activities by scrolling through past updates below, I've decided to skip all that and mention a couple of other things that we can't reflect on today, as they haven't happened yet.
First up on the calendar is the JUKEBOX ZEROS' appearance tonight night on Pat Duncan's radio show on WFMU. (Which airs every Thursday night from 11pm - 2 AM EST.) For those of you non-East Coasters in the audience, or anyone else who doesn't live within earshot of the station's signal, you can listen to WFMU on your computer (or so I've been told) and I think they even archive the live sets on the site as well. So even if you're reading this tomorrow, you'll still be able to listen to their set. Isn't technology grand? The guys also have two record release shows on tap over the next two weekends, one in New York City and one right here in Hostile City with Sugar Skulls & Son Of A Gun; visit the shows page for more info. or scroll down to see all of the details for the Philly show in poster form, in the form of a poster for the show designed, with love, by yours truly.
Rounding out this year's calendar - and, depending on what time of day we're talking about, kicking off next year's calendar - will be RANCID VAT's 25th Anniversary Show & CD Release Extravaganza on New Year's Eve (aka December 31st) in San Marcos, Texas with Before I Hang, Hammercocks & all sorts of other surprises. Info. on that show is available on the shows page as well, but those of you planning on attending that auspicious event should check out the Rancid Vat site for all sorts of hotel information, directions, things to do in the San Marcos area before you're dead hungover, etc. And, yes, I made a poster for that show too. (See, I told you I've been busy.) Keep scrolling a little past the JZ's poster to see that.
And I guess that's about it for today. I think this will probably be the last update of 2005 (unless there's a particularly exciting piece of SCR related news to report in the next few weeks; in which case you'll be among the first to know) so on that note, I wish you all a merry whatever holiday it is that you celebrate in December and a Happy New Year.
'til next update,
xo
leslie
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(11/15/05 update)
Welcome one and all to our final new release Tuesday for this calendar year; and, while we're in the welcoming mood, let's take this opportunity to welcome the JUKEBOX ZEROS' debut full-length CD, Four On The Floor to our humble roster. Technically it's simultaneously our last release of 2005 (on the local release schedule) and our first release of 2006 (on the RedEyeUSA / national / international release schedule) but that's another story for another update. Or not. Anywhoo, for those of you unfamiliar with the band, they are a Philly based soopergroop featuring members of way more local bands than I can remember at the moment. But there are at least three SCR related bands among them: the 440s, Sickidz and Stuntmen. To get back to the CD though, you can get more info. by clicking on the title above or by visiting the catalog page. Currently there are three CD release shows in the works to celebrate this most auspicious occasion - one in Jersey, one in New York and one here in their hometown with fellow Hostile City dwellers, and fellow new release havers, Sugar Skulls. (A band that features yet another ex-member of the 440s.) As always, you can check out the shows page for detailed details of these shows and any other Steel Cage related events that I am aware of.
'til next update,
xo
leslie
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(10/31/05 update)
Happy Halloween everybody! As you celebrate this fabulously Pagan holiday, please join us in celebrating the release of the newest, most devilish RANCID VAT CD to grace our catalog, Rancid Vat vs. The Rest Of The World; a swanky double CD set featuring over 100 minutes of rulebreaking rock and roll spanning the band's first two and a half decades of existence. Huss! For more info. on this fine release, I cordially invite you to click on the CD title above or head over to the catalog page. In other Rancid Vat news, the band will commerate their 25th Anniversary with a blow-out New Year's Eve extravaganza in their current hometown of San Marcos, TX - interested parties can visit the shows page and / or www.RancidVat.com for futher details.
'til next update,
xo
leslie
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(09/29/05 update)
If I may revisit a topic from our last update, JOHNNY CASINO'S EASY ACTION's East Coast invasion officially kicks off tonight at Trash Bar (located somewhere in Brooklyn) and continues pretty much right up until the day they leave for their European tour. Included in this traveling rock and roll whirlwind will be no less than two separate CD release shows for We've Forgotten More Than You'll Ever Know, both here in Philly; interested parties can visit the freshly updated shows page for further details.
'til next update,
xo
leslie
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(09/12/05 update)
Just wanted to jump in and let you all know that this coming Saturday night (aka September 17th) Thee Minks will be celebrating the release of their recently released Steel Cage CD, Are You Ready Now?, with an evening of loud and lusty rock and roll at the Fire featuring fellow Filthadelphia rockers Beretta 76 & The Blow Goes and, all the way from Beantown, The Downbeat 5; on belalf of all parties involved I invite you to kindly be there or be square. Mr. & Mrs. Steel Cage will be doing both. Further details, as always, can be found on the shows page.
'til next update,
xo
leslie
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(08/16/05 update)
Every new release Tuesday is a special day at the SCR compound - and today is no different as we officially welcome the first official Intercontinental Supergroup to grace our roster, the one and only JOHNNY CASINO'S EASY ACTION, and declare the US release of their brilliant CD We've Forgotten More Than You'll Ever Know officially released. (AKA available for sale on this site. Click on the CD title or head over to the catalog page for more info.) Our fantabulous distributor Red Eye USA should have the CD in stores everywhere on / or around September 6th, and hot on the heels of that, you will be able to breathe in the intoxicating aroma of JCEA yourself as the boys circle the globe, delivering their special brand of 100 proof rock and roll to the masses. OK - they're not going to completely circle the globe but they are gonna do a couple weeks of touring on the East Coast, a couple weeks of touring on the West Coast and a whole bunch of assorted dates in various places in Europe over September and October - which is close enough for our purposes here. Keep your eyes on the shows page for further information & updates that are as accurate and timely as humanly possible.
'til next update,
xo
leslie
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(08/04/05 update)
As mentioned in the last update, our good friends Hammerlock are invading the East Coast this weekend, as well as parts of the South next week - and we're totally excited! Check out the shows page for more details on where, when and with who. If you don't live anywhere near the places they're playing you can still get your live Hammerlock fix tonight when the band plays live on Pat Duncan's radio show on WFMU. (I'm pretty sure you can listen to it live on your computer, and they archive the shows on the website too; click on the link above for more info.) Pat's show airs Thursday nights from 11pm - 2 AM EST; I'm not sure exactly what time the band's set will be but he plays three hours of great music each and every week so just listen to the whole thing.
'til next update,
xo
leslie
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(07/12/05 update)
Not that much news to report today but I figured this was as good a place as any to let everyone know that the SCR mail order department - aka me - will be taking a much needed vacation during the last two weeks of July, and of course Mr. Steel Cage is coming with me. This means all orders placed before 12PM EST on Friday July 15th will be sent out on Friday July 15th; but orders placed after 12PM EST on Friday July 15th will be mailed out Monday August 1st. K? So don't say I didn't warn you.
Our vacation won't be taking us in the direction of Arizona this year, but if we were going to be in the Phoenix area on Saturday July 23rd we would certainly be heading to the Hollywood Alley in Mesa to celebrate Jeff Dahl's 50th birthday with a spectacular night of loud and lusty trash rock featuring the birthday boy himself and the Jeff Dahl Band w/ special guest Texas Terri Bomb, the Slash City Daggers, Hell On Heels, Whiskey Bitch and of course some stuff that won't be announced ahead of time. And it is sure to be quite the par-tay! Visit www.jeffdahlrocks.com for more info; and if you run into Dahl that night, give him a kiss for me. As always, info. on any and all SCR related shows that I know about over the next couple months is also available on our shows page - including details on Hammerlock's upcoming East Coast tour and the freshly booked CD release show for Thee Minks.
'til next update,
xo
leslie
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(06/21/05 update)
I don't know about you, but I love summer. Almost as much as I love a new release Tuesday. And today I get to salute the arrival of summer along with the arrival of the latest addition to our catalog; although, technically the CDs arrived here on Friday. But I digress. Without any further ado, I hereby decalre THEE MINKS' first full length CD, Are You Ready Now?, ready… now! Further details can be found by clicking on the title or visiting the catalog page. I think the details on the record release party for the aforementioned CD are still being detailed but the band is playing Thursday night at the Tritone here in Philly with The Misteriosos and that's a good a time as any to come out and congratulate them, drool over them, buy them a drink, purchase one of these fine CDs, or any combination of the above.
'til next update,
xo
leslie
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(05/24/05 update)
I was just reading over last update's news and I noticed that, while our last new release Tuesday was a warm and sunny day, on this new release Tuesday as I sit here typing this in I see an ominously dark sky outside my office window. What does this weather-ly forecast fortell? Don't know. Just thought I'd mention it. Anyway… today we are pleased to add All The Right Ways To Do You Wrong, the latest release by Hostile City's most hostile (yet very much lovable) band, THE BAD VIBES to our humble catalog. As always, you can click on the title or visit the catalog page for further info. The boys (they're men actually but, for some reason, boys sounds better) will be having a little throwdown - not literally this time - at Philly's beloved Khyber to celebrate this joyous occasion; it's not until next month though, so you have plenty of time to make arrangements. Check out the shows page for details on this and many other joyous rock and roll occasions.
'til next update,
xo
leslie
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(04/19/05 update)
I don't know what the weather is like where you live but here in Philly it is a beautiful, warm, sunny spring day. Perhaps the perfect day to welcome the release of the debut CD by LA's BLARE BITCH PROJECT, Double Distortion Burger. Not that if you played it you'd hear a bunch of Brian Wilson-esque numbers about stuffing wild bikinis or anything - the nine tracks on the disc are much more comparable to Blare's work with Betty Blowtorch than the Beach Boys; but you don't have to take my word for it, click on the title or visit the catalog page for further info.
While we're here I would also like to draw your attention away from our humble record company for a second, if I may, and towards the skies. Have you all gotten hip to this satellite radio thing? It's all very new to me and I will admit, Mr Steel Cage and I have yet to plunk our money down to explore this technology. If we did have a satellite radio hook-up though, we would mostly use it to experience the mind bending psychotic splendor of The Cosmic Commander's Sonic Reduction, airing on Sirius Satellite Radio's Left of Center station (channel 26 on your radio dial, assuming these contraptions that let you listen to satellite radio have a dial) Sundays at 9pm eastern / 6pm pacific. In the immortal words of Thee Cosmic One himself: what your ears will get is an education without a graduation! I don't know what that means exactly, but even if he just went on the air and said stuff like that, and ranted & raved, and threw out nuggets of wisdom for a couple hours a week, I would totally listen to it faithfully. And I recommend you do the same.
'til next update,
xo
leslie
(04/11/05 update)
Each and every time I update the site I forget to mention something that I wanted to mention - and last week's update was, unfortunately, no exception. Therefore I'd like to once again direct your attention to the shows page where you can find, obviously, many various and assorted show/tour dates as well as newly added information about this weekend's IWR Brawl At The Hall event where SCR's beloved Bump-N-Uglies - the tag team (as opposed to the band, which is made up of four people) - will be debuting their new "Lucha" look. I haven't actually seen the outfits or even a photographic rendering of said new look but from what I understand, it consists of some sorta red, white & blue mask and cape ensemble and, no doubt, will be supremely fabulous.
Again, just thought you'd wanna know.
xo
leslie
(04/05/05 update)
This Thursday - April 7th, 2005 - at midnight PST (depending on your outlook, you may also refer to this time as very early Friday morning) The Leaving Trains will be performing live on Robert Douglas & Eric Stringer's Livation program on KXLU. (88.9 FM on the radio dial for those of you in Los Angeles area; or click on the station name to visit their website.) This in itself would be worthy of inclusion on the news page but I'd like to additionally point out that this will a whole different affair from the last time the band graced the KXLU airwaves (as heard on their most recent SCR release Amplified Pillows) because this appearance will mark the reunion of the original Trains lineup - Manfred Hofer, Tom Hofer, Hunter Crowley and Falling James - performing together for the first time in 19 years. (PS - That's a long time!) Fortunately for those of us who do not live in Los Angeles, or can't stay up that late, Livation has their own website where they archive the live performances. (I'd imagine the archiving part won't happen until sometime after Friday April 8th though.)
Just thought you'd wanna know,
xo
leslie
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(03/22/05 update)
I know this update has missed the first official day of Spring by two days but as I've mentioned in previous updates, all my years of retail record store experience (combined with my years of working in the "music industry") have brainwashed me into thinking that records need to be released on a Tuesday—and only on a Tuesday. Not at 11:59 PM on a Monday; hell no! That CD or piece of vinyl can't ripen into a new release pumkin until Tuesday at midnight and that's just the way it is. But I digress. Therefore, we're officially kicking off of our spring release schedule today - a Tuesday; as oppossed to the actual first day of spring, which this year fell on a Sunday - with the addition of the second full-length CD by THE EARACHES, Get The Revolution Out Of Your Head, to our roster. Click on the title or visit the catalog page for further info. The fellas will be having a little shindig in their hometown of Seattle to celebrate next month and then embarking on a well-timed West Coast tour with fellow Pacific Northwesterners The Valley; and they'd love to see you there. (Normally I don't speak for the band but I think I can get away with it in this instance.) Check out the shows page for details.
'til next update,
xo
leslie
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(03/15/05 update)
The Kommandant & I are pleased to announce that Steel Cage Records has officially joined forces with Red Eye Distribution, distro hub of many other fine labels and the only company to be awarded Distributor of the Year (Small Division) by NARM, aka the National Association of Recording Merchandisers, in 2000, 2002, 2003 and 2004. OK, I'll be honest with you - I've never heard of this award (nor do I have a complete understanding of what NARM is) but, clearly, it means they're doing something right so we're excited to be working with them. It's not an entirely exclusive deal, we'll be continuing to work with our current distributors (well, most of them) and doing our own mail order and all. In some ways, nothing will change; but what will change is the label will now have much, much better distribution. Yay!
In other news, we've had a new addition to the release schedule since last update. For those of you unfamiliar with the band in question, Johnny Casino's Easy Action (not to be confused with John Brannon's band, Easy Action) are a trans-continental supergroup of the first order featuring - obviously, because the band name would be kinda silly without him - Australia's Johnny Casino and his literal & figurative brother, Brother Grahame Deluxe; they are joined by Hostile City's own Cosmic Commander, John "The Kid" Ilisco, Stylin' Steve McCarthy and Kevin "The Big Gee" McCarthy. As is fitting of a band of this magnitude their first official full length CD, We've Forgotten More Than You'll Ever Know, will be released by no less than four labels. There's a version out right now on Australia's Off The Hip Records, to coincide with their Aussie tour that starts on March 18th; then Italy's Scary Records & Nicotine Records are co-releasing a repackaged version sometime over the summer (I think); and in August we will also be releasing a version of this fine CD, with some of the same songs, some songs that are so new they haven't actually been recorded yet, different packaging and who knows what the hell else. When they tell me, I'll tell you; that's how it works. Of course, interested parties can check the shows page for the list of aforementioned tour dates and tour / show dates from many other assorted SCR affiliated bands.
'til next update,
xo
leslie
(02/08/05 update)
Welcome to the first update of 2005! Sorry I didn't update sooner, January was kind of a slow month; not a lot of news to report. I do have something to add to the news page now though, and since that's why we're here, let's get to it - we're pleased to herald the arrival of the newest addition to our humble catalog, JEFF DAHL's Cursed, Poisoned, Condemned… CD; and if you have to wonder how he came up with this title… what can I say except shame, shame on you. Anywhoo, as the Kommandant likes to say "this disc is kinda like his last disc except the punk stuff is even punker, the trashy stuff is even trashier, and the glammy stuff is even glammier." For further info. click on the title above or visit the catalog page.
In other SCR news, as is the case every Spring, with the thawing of the winter frost comes the thawing of many band's touring schedules. Mr. Steel Cage has been hard at work on a West Coast jaunt for The Earaches (who will be hitting the road with fellow Seattle-iters The Valley) and an East Coast mini-tour for the Blare Bitch Project (I think a bunch of their shows will be with Bantam); I'll post confirmed dates for each as they are given to me. There are some other great one-off shows coming up over the next few months too - the Bump-N-Uglies are having a huge bash in Detroit in March to celebrate their 10 year anniversary and, as I have just learned by visiting the ANTiSEEN website, they are going to Miami to play with Blowfly later this month. (Blowfly! How great is that.) More info can, of course, be found on the shows page.
'til next update,
xo
leslie
For anyone who wishes to read some even older news - 2004's collected news page is archived here.
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