Bloodshot Records

Ah, Springtime in Chicago.  Time for Baseball, flowers and.....unlicensed tree-trimming!

Several of us just spent an amusing/horrifying half hour looking out the window of our little warehouse.  Next to us, between the vacant lot and the Ecuadorian restaurant, there was a large, mostly dead tree surrounded by all manner of wires, fences and US.

We couldn't believe it as they leaned ladders against the very tree they were cutting down, the puny ropes used for "stability" giving us little comfort.  We half expected it all to come crashing down on us, obliterating the warehouse and those of us unable to tear our eyes away, reducing our little empire to a footnote in the next Pitchfork posting.

After some Three Stooges-level sawing and pointing and kibbitzing, the tree made a stomach curdling cracking noise, pulled down some wires, made the telephone poles wobble drunkenly, and crashed down AWAY from us, into the solid brick wall of the auto parts store.

Just another day in the life of a little label.  It's not all fun, you know.  It can be dangerous.

We just wanted to share.

A few weeks ago, Nan and Rob appeared on Chicago's own talk show The Interview Show in front of, as they say in the TV biz, a LIVE STUDIO AUDIENCE (or, in this case, The Hideout).

Now it's been edited and posted on the Huffington Post.  Have a gander at Nan's silver space lady boots and purple hair.  Marvel at the oddly placed microphone that hides most of Rob's face, but not his dry wit.  Listen as they talk of the cruel vicissitudes of the music racket and check out the Blacks performance

See it HERE.

Ahhh, the end of the year.  Time for lists and resolutions.  Resolutions and lists.  The busy staffers at Bloodshot are no different, so I when I stood creepily over their desks and demanded some thoughts from them on the end of year, they obliged with the following:

Yes, it's that time of year.  You're all running out the clocks at work, waiting for the few precious days off that the holidays bring.  Or, you are so sick of those damn dogs barking "Jingle Bells" or hearing "Grandma Got Run Over by a Rainbow" that you wonder what's it all about?

Thus, we thought we'd answer the burning questions you have regarding what do those folks at Bloodshot love/hate about Christmas music?  Hopefully it'll add some levity and/or insight to your day, and pass a few more minutes until the boss lets you go home for the day...

JP:

Favorite: Anything off "A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector"
Most Hated: "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus"
Sez JP: "Totally scarring if Santa Claus isn't your daddy. It's creepy. And weird."

Scott:

Favorite: "Have a Holly Jolly Christmas" Burl Ives
Most Hated: "Sleigh Ride"  Johnny Mathis

Pete:

Favorites:

Elvis-"Blue Christmas"
Bing Crosby- "Mele Kalikimaka"
Jose Feliciano- "Feliz Navidad"
Fear- "Fuck Christmas"
Mystery Science Theater 3000- "Have a Patrick Swayze Christmas"

Most Hated: "Santa Baby"
Sez Pete: "How creepy is that song? It's about a woman seducing Santa so he'll bring her more presents. Any song that even bares the potential of giving the listener a mental image of someone having sex with Santa gets an automatic, enthusiastic thumbs down." (Boss's editorial note:  Pete is wrong.  If Eartha Kitt's version of this song doesn't put, ahem, a candy cane in your stocking, then you're kinda dead...)

Marah:

Favorites: Above all else I think I like "Christmas Wrapping" by The Waitresses, however, I also like:
"All I want for Christmas is you" by Mariah Carey
the part of "Christmas don't be late" by Alvin & the Chipmunks where they sing about just wanting a hula hoop
"Just like Christmas" by Low (best Christmas record, as a whole)
"Christmas in Hollis" by Run DMC
(Boss's editorial note:  While Marah gets major points for the Run DMC, she needs a stern talking to regarding Mariah Carey.)

Most Hated: "My LEAST favorite Christmas song (w/ a bullet this year) is the new Bob Dylan version of "Must be Santa." It makes me want to die. "

Swank:

Favorites:
“Christmas Card From A Hooker In Minneapolis” - Tom Waits
“Hard Candy Christmas” - Dolly Parton
“Holly & Her Mistletoe” - Jim Lauderdale
“Jesus On The Couch” - Otis Gibbs
“Oh It's Christmas” - Rosebuds
“Just Like Christmas” - Low

Most Hated:
“Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer” – Elmo & Patsy

Rob (Bossman):

Favorites:

"I'm Mr Heat/Snow Miser"   That's a helluva groove.

"Merry Christmas Baby"  Ike and Tina Turner (just HOLDING that record is an aphrodisiac)

"Daddy's Drinking Up Our Christmas" Commander Cody

"You're All I Want For Christmas"  Anita Ellis  (will melt the coldest of hearts)

"Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer"  Gene Autry.   Seriously, if this just doesn't make you smile and singalong, go live in your cave already...

Most Hated:

Like I said, those damn barking dogs.

"Feliz Navidad" Jose Feliciano   You know, it wasn't too bad the FIRST 9,000 times I heard it.....

"Having A Wonderful Christmas Time"  I don't who does it, but that jaunty, shitty synth pop evokes an almost primal anger in me.

Nan:

Nan does not partake in Holiday music.

Announcing the Bloodshot Records iPhone / iPod Touch application! Click here to download, or just log into the App Store and search "Bloodshot" to find it (it's free)! The application will feature a different Bloodshot artist each month, connecting you to new (and sometimes unreleased) music, tour dates and news! Listen and buy with one click!

Since we're rookies to the AppStore, there may be some kinks to work out -- consider this Version 0.1. So, let us know if you have any suggestions on how we can make the it better!

Get the Bloodshot App now!

Today marks third annual Record Store Day -- the celebration of independently-owned record stores which continue to thrive amongst Bit Torrents and Big Box retailers. To honor them, here's some of our favorite indie record stores as picked by Bloodshot staff and artists. Thank you to all the independent records stores that have supported our artists throughout the years -- it's impossible to list all the stores (still thriving and dearly departed) that have made it possible to celebrate our 15th anniversary. Feel free to tell us about your favorite record store in the comments below. And be sure to visit your favorite record store today (Bloodshot's also got a few goodies at these participating retailers).

Keep up with us while we're in Austin this week! We'll be posting SXSW pictures, updates and more to our Twitter feed:

We've got a whole heckuva lot of bands headed to SXSW this year (in fact, SXSW informed us we have the most bands showcasing this year of any indie label). Here's the low-down on our Friday Day Party and our official showcase on Saturday:

COME CELEBRATE BLOODSHOT RECORDS' UNLIKELY 15TH ANNIVERSARY
Bloodshot Records SXSW Day Party at Yard Dog (1510 S Congress)
Friday, March 20 / starts at the crack of noon
No invite or badge required!
12:15 Walter Salas-Humara / I'm Not Jim
12:45 Andre Williams
1:15 Charlie Pickett
1:45 Dex Romweber Duo
2:15 Ha Ha Tonka
2:45 Exene Cervenka
3:30 Deadstring Brothers
4:15 The Meat Purveyors
4:45 Justin Townes Earle
5:15 Scotland Yard Gospel Choir
5:45 Waco Brothers w/ Rosie Flores
Sponsored by: Shiner, Blurt, Busy Beaver, HearYa and Beer Nuts

Bloodshot Records SXSW showcase
Red Eyed Fly (715 Red River by 7th Street)
Saturday, March 21
8p Exene Cervenka
9p Deadstring Brothers
10p Ha Ha Tonka
11p Dex Romweber Duo
Mid Justin Townes Earle
1am Waco Brothers
Sponsored by: Time Out Chicago

For a FULL-LIST of our bands' appearances at SXSW, please go here:
http://www.bloodshotrecords.com/bloodshot-sxsw-schedule