JUSTIN GAGE

THE MAN BEHIND AQUARIUM DRUNKARD

One of L.A.’s most influential and supportive independent music blogs, Aquarium Drunkard does not miss a beat. Since it began in 2005, AD has spun off various ancillary projects like its SIRIUS radio show on Left of the Center 26, which airs every Friday from noon to 2 p.m. and reflects the blog’s content over the past week (it’s not odd to hear Deerhunter and Besnard Lakes next to Harry Nilsson and Robyn Hitchcock). Founder Justin Gage has also launched a record label, Autumn Tone Records, releasing albums from Daniel Hutchens, Travel by Sea, J. Tillman and most recently, Le Switch and The Henry Clay People.

Q: Tell us about yourself and what motivated you to start Aquarium Drunkard.

A: Originally from Atlanta, I’ve been in L.A. for seven years. Aquarium Drunkard was just another way to share what I was presently listening to, reading and watching, with a close circle of friends.

Q: How do you prefer submissions?

A: I personally prefer CDs as I live in L.A. and find myself stuck in traffic more than I would like. CDs are easy.

Q: How have you embraced the current trends in the industry and designed your own strategy with Autumn Tone that actually works in that context instead of being at odds with it?

A: By now, it’s obvious that the file sharing networks, bittorrent sites, blogs, etc., aren’t going anywhere. I‘ve seen firsthand Autumn Tone albums downloaded hundreds of times ‘illegally.’ But instead of seeing that at as a lost sale, I see it as possibly gaining a fan who will in turn buy the next record, purchase some back catalog, go to a show, tell a friend or blog about it. Obviously, I would rather said downloader buy the album physically, or digitally, but you have to exist and adapt to the environment you’re doing business in. One of the most exciting things I have seen lately is the vinyl trend that includes a download coupon for the counterpart MP3s. It is the best of both worlds: physical product and album art with the portability of an MP3 player.

Q: When did Autumn Tone Records come into the picture?

A: The seeds of the label were planted several months after Aquarium Drunkard had picked up some momentum. Initially, I was interested in getting some of Daniel Hutchens’ solo work out there. It worked – his 2006 LP, Lovesongs for Losers, was our first release, followed by Travel by Sea’s Shadows Rise. The label has really picked up steam during the past 12 months, bringing on a business partner, Scott Simoneaux, and the addition of few amazing local bands to our roster. We want to act as an incubator for bands we believe in. The major label system is broken and has been for a long time; there is an essential need for a minor league.

Q: As blogs are gaining more and more influential sway in the music industry, what advice can you give to musicians about utilizing them as resources?

A: For artists, I think blogs are a great way to really fine-tune who they are trying to reach. When Aquarium Drunkard began, there were maybe 25 to 30 music blogs total; at present, I would guess that number to be closer to 6,000. In 2008, there are music blogs that cover everything from Cambodian garage rock to super obscure electro and soul. The width and breadth of the music being covered in the blogosphere gives artists an opportunity to target a specific audience. So find a blogger that covers your particular genre niche and reach out to them.

www.aquariumdrunkard.com

www.autumntone.com

STEPHEN MARSH MASTERING

RELOCATES TO THE HEART OF HOLLYWOOD

FORMER RCA/RADIO RECORDERS BUILDING TO BE DEMOLISHED

Stephen Marsh of Stephen Marsh Mastering recently announced the opening of his new custom-mastering suite at 1617 Cosmo Street in the heart of Hollywood. His previous studio in the RCA/Radio Recorders building on Santa Monica Boulevard was sold to developers who plan to demolish some or all of the building in order to make way for a restaurant.

Marsh commented in a recent press release, “We lucked out with our new location in that we found an existing acoustic space we could simply treat for sound as opposed to needing a full build out.” Thus, the company made a smooth transition and has been busy at work in the new facility.

Such recent activity includes Marsh’s completion of Jon B’s new album, Helpless Romantic, released late last month on Arsenal Records/Vibezelect, a digital double-album for rock band Seether on Windup Records, an EP titled Closer for Christian rockers Jars Of Clay, and an album for Maria Taylor. Recent mastering projects in with staff engineer Stephanie Villa include a remix album for West Indian Girl, and The Sound Of Animals Fighting’s The Ocean and the Sun for Epitaph Records.

SMM’s mastering room still centers on a custom analog console, built in conjunction with Steve Firlotte of Inward Connections, and features tube and discrete processing from Inward, EAR, GML, Maselec, Avalon, Weiss, Waves and Dangerous. Other features of the room include modified Apogee clocking and conversion, Sound Blade and Pro Tools hardware feeding Bryston powered PMC mains in a balanced listening environment.

Please note new contact info:

Stephen Marsh Mastering

1617 Cosmo Street, Loft 106

Hollywood, CA 90028

(310) 598-6038

www.StephenMarshMastering.com

IN THE NEWS

Late last month, The Whispertown 2000 (formerly Whispertown 2000) released its second full-length album, Swim,

celebrating with an in-store performance at

Amoeba Music in L.A. An all-ages album release show is scheduled for November 2 at The Echo, followed by a San Francisco show at Bottom of the Hill on November 6 and a stop in San Diego at The Loft on November 23. The band, fronted by Morgan Nagler, is the first signing on Gillian Welch and David Rawlings’ Acony Records.

www.thewhispertown

2000.com

The Airborne Toxic Event is in the UK this month on a “30 Shows in 30 Days”

tour, which will take them to big cities and small towns alike, including a four-show residency at the Dublin Castle in London. Before they left, ATE invited fans on a seven-mile late-night bike ride around Silver Lake, Glendale and Los Feliz, to be filmed for the band’s “Gasoline” music video. When ATE returns to the States, they will support Franz Ferdinand at the

Orpheum Theatre in Boston on December 6.

www.theairbornetoxice

vent.com

Jesca Hoop recently released Kismet Acoustic, an acoustic EP featuring acoustic versions of five songs from her debut CD as well as one new track. Hoop has been in Europe supporting UK band Elbow on tour and promoting the UK release of Kismet Acoustic. After their final show together in Brussels on November 11, Hoop will swiftly return to Los Angeles for a homecoming show at Hotel Café on

November 13.

www.jescahoop.com

Eulogies recently released a new EP, Tempted To Do Nothing, and have been

touring the East Coast with The Dears in its support. The four-song EP is available digitally and on VinylDisc, a medium that plays like a CD in any CD player and features working vinyl grooves on the art side. “Two Can Play” off of the EP features Nikki Monninger of Dangerbird Records labelmates, Silversun Pickups. A fulllength record, entitled Here Anonymous, is due out in Spring 2009.

www.myspace.com/eu

logiesmusic

On November 18, L.A.’s wait.think. fast. will celebrate the release of Vuelve Al Mar at The Echo with The Hectors and Fol Chen. The EP was released digitally by Origami Music.

www.myspace.com/w

aitthinkfast

After signing to Neil Young’s Vapor

Records for the release of their Ghost Notes debut, Los Angeles quintet Everest were invited to support Young on his North American fall tour. The tour kicked off in St. Paul, Minn. last month with Death Cab for Cutie and will break after an Omaha, Neb. performance on November 5, resuming again with Wilco in Halifax, Nova Scotia on November 29. The tour will conclude with two backto- back NYC shows at Madison Square Garden on December 15 and 16.

www.everestband.com

L.A.’s The 88 has signed to Island Records, releasing its third full length and major label debut, Not Only...But

Also, late last month. A West Coast tour in its support will kick off at The

Troubadour on November 1 and conclude back in Southern California on November 13 at the Detroit Bar in Costa Mesa.

www.the88.net

After a performance at the Fun Fun Fun Fest in Austin on November 8, Dengue Fever will jet to Europe for a fall tour that kicks off in London with an appearance on the BBC2’s Later... with Jools Holland. Following this, the L.A.-based Cambodian garage rock group willplay a show in Istanbul, Turkey, then finish out the month gigging around the UK.

www.denguefevermus

ic.com

The Parson Red Heads team up with Blitzen Trapper late this month for a Western US tour. Since releasing their EP Owl & Timber in May, the Red Heads have completed West Coast tours with Earlimart and, most recently, Everest.This will be their first tour off the West Coast, however, with dates starting in Denton, Texas on November 24 and moving up to Vancouver, BC, where the tour will conclude on December 6.

www.theparsonredheads.com

L.A.’s Spindrift will release its first official full-length album, The West, through The Dandy Warhols’ Beat The World Records on November 11. After an album release show at The Roxy that night,Spindrift will embark on a West Coast tour.

www.spindriftwest.com

Light FM has a new full-length album out on Devil in the Woods Records, titled Black Magic Marker. Recorded at Kingsize Soundlabs and the band’s rehearsal space, the album marks the follow-up to Light FM’s 2007 EP, Save the Drama.

www.myspace.com/lightfm