BEHIND THE SCENES AT

ANTENNA FARM RECORDS

Started in Fall 2003 by three KALX DJs, Paul Koehler, Ian Hetzner and Jill Karjian, after a momentous trip to SXSW where spotlight-stealing sets by East Bay acts got their label wheels turning, Antenna Farm Records has become an East Bay institution and reliable source of diverse and exciting new music. Starting with Bart Davenport’s Game Preserve, the label has released 16 full-length albums, four EPs and three 7-inches over the last five years, including the latest from Bart Davenport, Palaces, on vinyl.

Q: How have your previous experiences at KALX informed your approach to running the label?

Koehler: One thing that we really love about KALX is its focus on musical diversity; unlike other college radio stations that have blocks of programming, KALX requires every DJ to play several distinct genres during their programs. It builds a really healthy respect for ‘musics’ of all kinds and forces people to learn about stuff outside of their comfort zones. It’s no exaggeration to say that this has strongly guided our approach to releasing records. We released an a cappella folk record and an electro record just months apart (Chicken on a Raft and Sugar and Gold). It’s hell on trying to establish some kind of a ‘brand’ for ourselves, but we’re pretty happy with the records we’ve released.

Hetzner: Another thing was learning, after years of opening promo packages, the many mistakes that labels and promoters can make. We’ve made our own for sure, but I can happily report that we’ve never wasted money on glossy band photos, which inevitably end up with sharpie mustaches, or customized sweatbands.

Q: What are the main goals and guiding principles behind Antenna Farm?

Koehler: Above all, we’re looking to release good records. And between the three of us, we have some pretty different ideas of what we like. If we all can agree that a record handed to us is really good, we know it’s passed some kind of a test.

Karjian: We’ve also learned that we have to work with artists that are really committed to making things happen. We’re a small DIY label and we rely upon our releases being true partnerships between the artist and label. I can’t stress enough that an artist’s work doesn’t stop in the recording studio. It takes a real team effort.

Q: Favorite thing about the East Bay music community?

Hetzner: I think artists really push themselves here. There is a high bar set by the East Bay music community and a lot of healthy peer pressure to make good, well informed music. I am continually amazed when I meet musicians and see their record collections and the totally diverse music they are listening to and drawing influence from. It really comes through in the music being made here.

Q: Do you accept music submissions?

Karjian: This is a hard one. We get a lot of submissions, which is really flattering and also a bit stressful. We really strive to listen to everything that comes through, but there are only so many hours in the day. And we might be a bit old fashioned, but we still like getting CDs in the mail. What we don’t like is big bloated packages or submissions that clearly tell us you didn’t research our label before sending. The best thing to do is reach out to us and start a dialogue – the more personal your approach, the better.

Q: Fun fact about Antenna Farm?

Karjian: The name struck me as Paul and I were navigating to RCA Beach in Bolinas, known for its seclusion and friendliness to the nudies (we went for the seclusion). Barring any named streets or clear signs, the directions told us to make a turn at the ‘Antenna Farm’ and I thought it was a perfect name for the label, harkening back to our roots in radio.

www.antennafarmrecords.com

1949 MOVIE THEATER TRANSFORMS INTO ONE OF THE WEST COAST’S FINEST VENUES

Converting a B-movie theater into a multi-purpose venue is no small task; putting it on the map as one of the West Coast’s premier performance spaces is just downright daunting – and evidently, a job for Laurence Bedford. Purchasing the Rio Theatre from United Artists in 2000 with the goal of establishing a venue on par with San Francisco’s Bimbo’s 365 Club in the progressive coastal city of Santa Cruz, Bedford describes the Rio’s metamorphosis as being a process of slow growth – “you give respect, you get respect back”– and full of many memorable milestones.

The first of these milestones was undoubtedly when Joan Jett performed in 2001, not only catching the attention of all eyes in the city but really amping the venue up on the booking circuit. “She opened up the entire salvo for us,” Bedford told Performer. “And it was kind of amazing for the town too – no one believed [Jett] was playing in Santa Cruz.” In the years since, the venue has hosted the likes of Conor Oberst, Joanna Newsom, Henry Rollins, Keller Williams, They Might Be Giants and Jenny Lewis, who just performed at the Rio last month in support of her new release, Acid Tongue. When it’s not live music, it’s an always eclectic and rather inventive range of events, including book tours, film festivals and lecturers. In fact, The Puppetry of the Penis may have been the Rio’s most infamous show to date. According to Bedford, “It’s a ‘you better keep your eyes on it because you never know what you’re going to miss’ type of club.” Located right in the heart of downtown Branciforte, or Midtown Santa Cruz, at 1205 Soquel Avenue, the Rio Theatre has a very vibrant history. It dates back to June 12, 1949, when a 938-seat Rio opened as a Golden State/T&D Theaters state-of-the-art Cycloramic screen with a double feature of Song of India and Law of the Barbary Coast. For many years, the Rio would have the largest screen in the county; now it has one of the best stages in the state.

As one of the foremost venues between San Francisco and Los Angeles, the Rio catches many national touring bands on their way between cities. Some artists, like The Residents, have even made the Rio their only West Coast stop. The venue also draws a regular crowd from San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, Sacramento and Monterey, as well as the greater Santa Cruz County. For artists, it’s the same caliber venue they would get in other major cities, but in a smaller town where audiences are more enthusiastic, warm and receptive. For concertgoers, it’s a more intimate opportunity to enjoy their favorite artist.

The 700-foot venue still retains much of its “ocean liner” charm and features approximately 600 fixed seats with a large open-floor space in front of the thrust 24-foot by 16-foot stage, perfect for dancing. There are also 24- to 30-track recording capabilities. And it’s still being improved upon. This summer, they completely refurbished all of the seats, painted the inside and installed a large new movie screen, intelligent lights for live shows and top-of-the-line sound equipment. More than ever, she is looking like a 1950s gem, with all of her original curves, while still keeping her fingers on the pulse of today’s music, film and literary communities, and an eye to the future.

The Rio Theatre has reached another important junction – it has come into its own as a highly unique, versatile and recognized part of the West Coast music and arts community. In Bedford’s words, “The old lady is getting her respect.”

www.riotheatre.com

In the News

Bart Davenport will conclude his North American tour

in support of Palaces on November 14 at Bottom of the Hill with Danielson and Cryptacize. The Bay Area

songwriter has been touring with a full electric band and shared dates with WHY?. The Autumn Defense, The Wolfkings and The Foxx.

www.bartdavenport.com

After a Midwest/East Coast tour and appearance at CMJ last month, Loquat will celebrate the belated hometown release of its new album, Secrets of the Sea, on November 8 at Bottom of the Hill. The Frail and Mist and Mast will join the local five-piece in the celebration.

www.loquatmusic.com

Hot off the heels of a late summer US tour, a trip down Under for the Parklife festival, a handful of UK dates and the Halloween release of his fan-created download album, Remix Projection, Hawnay Troof will team up with Deerhoof this month for two Texas shows, then venture back

to Europe to round out the month in Germany and Austria. The Bay Area artist has been touring in support of his recent

release on Retard Disco, Islands of Ayle.

www.hawnaytroof.com

Axton Kincaid released a new album titled Silver Dollars late last month on Free Dirt Records, the label that released the band’s debut full length, Songs from the Pine Room, last year. Now split between Portland and the Bay Area, the roots rockers will celebrate with two CD release shows in each of

their hometowns, the first in San Francisco on November 1 at The Make-Out Room, the second in Portland on November 20 at LaurelThirst Pub.

www.axtonkincaid.com

Master Slash Slave will see the release of their new album, SCANDAL, on November 18 via Free News Projects. The band will perform with Portland’s Starfucker and Man/Miracle

at The Hemlock Tavern on November 7.

www.masterslashslave.com

Following 36 days at Tiny Telephone recording their debut full-length album with producer Bill Racine, LoveLikeFire hit the road for a national tour that’s taken them into the South, through the Midwest and along the East Coast. They will return to San Francisco for a homecoming show at the Rickshaw Stop on November 7.

www.lovelikefire.com

Von Iva have a new EP out, Girls on Film, and fittingly appear in the upcoming film Yes Man with Jim Carrey and Zooey Deschanel. Following last month’s stint with Girl In a Coma, Von Iva will continue touring the US in support of their new EP this month, with a hometown show scheduled for December 5 at Café du Nord. Girls on Film is the follow-up to last year’s Our Own Island.

www.voniva.com

New and Used Records, “San Francisco’s Youngest Indie Label,” has been busy this fall with new releases from L.A.’s Shiloe, ...And Now the Screaming Starts, and L.A.’s Tigers Can Bite You, Steve Ward Hears Voices.

www.newandusedrecords.com

After a lengthy Europe/UK tour, Oakland’s Port O’Brien will pair up with Crooked Fingers for a West Coast tour, which runs from November 6-14, and continue touring along the California coast for the remainder of the month. They will then return to Europe and join Get Well Soon and Herman Dune on a December tour of Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

www.portobrien.com

Following their performance at the inaugural Frisco Freakout

Psychfest last month, Wooden Shjips linked up with the Release the Bats fest in the UK, performing three dates with OM, Lightning Bolt, Shellac and Pissed Jeans. They will spend the rest of this month touring Europe and return home in time for two Bay Area shows supporting Mudhoney next month.

www.woodenshjips.com

Emily Jane White is in the midst of an extensive fall European tour herself, concentrated mostly in France, Italy and Spain. It will continue through the month of November and conclude with a week residency in Bordeaux, France from December 1-7.

www.emilyjanewhite.com