News:

Good hearted peoples,

So, every year I do the Letters to Santa charity thru the Chicago Sun-Times. I get a few letters from kids asking for Bratz dolls, Barbies, trucks, cars, Hot Wheels and the like. I make a harrowing run to Toys R Us or wherever, wrap them up, and send them away.

In 2008 (remember that year?  When the economy was cratering?) I got a letter from a girl who asked for a warm hat. She was SIX and was asking for A HAT. A toy or a stuffed animal didn't even make her radar. Since then, shopping for toys for a couple of Santa letters hasn't seemed like enough.  Even in these tough times, most of us are doing pretty ok comparatively. I find it unconscionable that any child in this country, a country of so much, should be wanting for something so basic as a stuffed animal at this time of year (or any time, really).

Thus, we are once again reaching out to you all, our friends and fans in Chicago, to perhaps spend some time going thru back closets, or overloaded toy boxes and shelves for gently used stuffed animals.

The recipient will be Nicholson Technology Academy. NTA is pre-school thru 8th grade school in the Englewood neighborhood of Chicago where Hideout co-owner Katie Tuten works.

Last year, we collected enough so that EVERY child in the kindergarten program received their own stuffed animal.

This year, we're doing the same and are hoping to gather enough stuffies to cover more than just one grade.

We'll be collecting at the Hideout Craft Fair on December 13th.

If you can't make it, you can drop off at Bloodshot Records, 3039 W Irving Park Road, our office hours are M-F, 10a-6P---a lot of the time we are here later, so call to check (773-604-5300) .

Either way, in exchange, we'll give you a little goodie in the form of a Bloodshot sampler or t shirt.

We'd like to have the donations in our mitts by Friday, December 15th so they can be distributed in a timely manner

PLEASE HELP

Thanks
Rob
Bloodshot Records

Here are the general guidelines for stuffed animals,
PLEASE PAY ATTENTION AND DONATE ONLY ITEMS THAT FIT THE BILL.  
THIS ISN'T A GARAGE SALE.

NOTE:  
We are ONLY accepting stuffed animals.  No toys, games, clothing or other items.  Gotta stay focused...

a) New or very gently used and in excellent, unsoiled, condition;
b) Must be soft and cuddly, not stiff;
c) Not smaller than 6'' or bigger than 18'' tall (they can be a little
taller if they are squishy-soft and can pack down;
d) No Beanie Babies;
e) Not animated or talking (battery operated);
f) No TV cartoon characters (i.e.: Sponge Bob, Sesame Street characters, Action Characters, etc.) Exceptions: soft classic Disney characters like Mickey & Minnie Mouse, Winnie the Pooh, Eeyore; Snoopy, etc.;
g) No sea animals, bugs, or reptiles;
h) Holiday-styled animals with seasonal trimmings removed are OK (snip off Santa hats, Valentine hearts, etc.).

If you've ever been to the Hideout on a cold winter Wednesday to partake in the Soup and Bread series, you know the vibe it's created.  And how soup can foster community and warm the belly.

The Soup & Bread Cookbook was just released and we are happy to be carrying it (it's even got a venison chili recipe from Bloodshot Rob).  Proceeds go to the Greater Chicago Food Depository.

There is also a Soup & Bread "Tour"

11/16: Soup & Bread: Philadelphia, at Kung Fu Necktie
11/17: Soup & Bread: Brooklyn, at Littlefield
11/22: Bookstore talk at MindFair Books, in Oberlin, OH
11/29: Book signing at Green Grocer Chicago
11/30: Soup & Bread: Madison, at the High Noon Saloon
12/1: Soup & Bread: Milwaukee, at the Sugar Maple
12/7: Soup & Bread: Nashville, venue TBD
12/14: Soup & Bread: Detroit, at the Loving Touch

Find out more details on the S&B website HERE

Wow!

Just a quick note to say thanks to everyone who came out to help us celebrate the improbable:  17 years of Bloodshot.
Some 325 folks came by the Hideout over the course of the night (thanks Chris the doorman) to enjoy, imbibe, laugh, cry, high-five and....well, there wasn't any crying and CERTAINLY no high-fiving, but you get the picture.  After the rains cleared out, it was a perfect evening for music, saying hi to so many old friends who we don't get to see enough and enjoy an exquisite mid-September outdoor hang (which, at the Hideout, means that great view of downtown).  The evening went a LITTLE late because we forgot the figure the Tuten Introduction Factor into the schedule.  You'd think we'd know by now.

It seems like only a billion years ago we were seeing the nascent Waco Brothers (pre-name, even) at the Augenblick on Damen Ave and thinking that having a label would be neat hobby.  Then came the shows at the Lounge Ax which were like some sort of fever dream, and then poof! 17 years later I am still entertained and humbled by the whole thing.

Maybe it's just the fact that I've been rather confined to quarters and haven't seen a show for two months (the longest such stretch since i was prolly 15 years old) due to a wrecked ankle, but I personally had one hell of a time.  I still love live music, still get a thrill at being a part of something that brings so many people together for good instead of evil (usually) and, at the Hideout, it's just like the basement rec room I've always wanted.  It was a great reminder of the vibe we've tried to create over the years and of all the folks who have chosen to come along for the ride.

At 2 am, after we paid off all the bands, the soundman and all the production stuff, we were pleased to find out that we made $29 for the night.  As I was working on spending my $14.50 right then and there, the bartenders told me that our fans are always "polite, somewhat sloppy and good tippers."  

Friends, we were made for each other.

Thanks as always for keeping the whole weird and wonderful for me.  I'll keep trying to reciprocate.

Bloodshot Rob

The Soundscan numbers are in for 2010 and we are proud to report that Bloodshot Records accounted for 3/100th of 1% of total US sales!

Hurray!

Bloodshot Records: Taking over American culture one one hundredth of one percent at a time!

Hey, the Grand Canyon wasn't created in a day, you know (unless you believe in creationism...).  Thus, by the year 3216 we shall be the dominant force in popular entertainment...Stay tuned.

Well, spring is in the air and that means baseball, BBQs and some group claiming the end of the world is nigh.

We thought it might be nice to help provide a soundtrack for the day AND (just in case they are wrong) give you a chance to pick up some music on a BUY ONE GET ONE FREE basis

Here's our list (with, cryptically enough, 13 songs):

Judgement Day by Scott H Biram from Something's Wrong/Lost Forever
Ain't Gonna Worry No More by Wayne Hancock from Tulsa
Take Me To The Fires by The Waco Brothers from Waco Express
No Way Out But Down by Graham Lindsay from For A Decade of Sin
Lost Soul by The Handsome Family from For A Decade of Sin
Highway To Hell by Red Star Belgrade from Down to the Promised Land
I'll Never Get Out Of This World Alive by Rosie Flores from Executioner's Last Songs
Forever to Burn by Rex Hobart & the Misery Boys from Executioner's Last Songs Volume 2
God's Eternal Love by Mark Eitzel from Executioner's Last Songs Volume 2
I See the Light by Scott H Biram from Dirty Old One Man Band
We'll Burn Together by Robbie Fulks from Country Love Songs
Get Right With Jesus by the Yayhoos from Fear Not The Obvious
Tomorrow Never Comes by Johnny Bond from Country and Western
You Don’t Knock by Detroit Cobras from Baby

Order ANY of these records before the "end of the world" and pick ANY other record off this list for FREE!!  Just put your choice in the Special Instructions section of your order.

No limit.  Pick 2, get 2 others for free.  We'll ship these out lickety-split so they get there "in time."

If they don't get there in time and the world DOES end, we owe you.....

To ring in 2011, we've lowered the prices on over 50 of our catalog albums on iTunes.

Check out the list HERE and cash in that gift card you got.  C'mon.....

It's been a pretty good year here at BSHQ—we were happy independently release eight records from artists we greatly admire: Graham Parker, Jon Langford, Justin Townes Earle, Ben Weaver, Whitey Morgan and The 78s, Deadstring Brothers, Andre Williams and The Blacks. Here, the Bloodshot worker bees look back on 2010 and what stood out amongst the year in music, TV, film, food, books and more.

A few weeks ago we put out the word that we were gathering stuffed animals and children's books for some local charities.

We're happy to say that over 200 stuffies and almost 300 books were donated.

The recipients were Inner Voice, an organization that does outreach to homeless families, the Chicago Sun-Times Season of Sharing fund (letters to Santa) and Nicholson Technology Academy. NTA is pre-school thru 8th grade school in the Englewood neighborhood of Chicago.  Our friend Katie Tuten of the Hideout works with them and took enough stuffed animals so that EVERY child in the program will be getting one this Christmas.  Here's how she described the drop off:

"They LOVED the stuffed animals. The 8th graders wrapped all the animals for the pre school kids and in that short period of time the 8th graders became very attached to those stuffed animals. Of course the teacher made it a lesson in 'how to properly wrap a gift.' The 8th graders were hugging and playing with the animals before they wrapped them—it was all very sweet."

So thanks to all of you who found some time to help us bring a bit of holiday joy.

Cheers!!

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 Reindeer" 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...

From the desk of Il Capo:

Pardon the potentially mawkish tone of this.

So, every year I do the Letters to Santa charity thru the Sun-Times. I get a few letters from kids asking for Bratz dolls, barbies, trucks, cars, Hot Wheels and the like. I make a harrowing run to Toys R Us or wherever, wrap them up, and send them away.

Two years ago I got a letter from a girl who asked for a warm hat. She was SIX and was asking for A HAT. A toy or a stuffed animal didn't even make her radar. Since then the few letters I do hasn't seemed like enough.  Even in these tough times, most of us are doing pretty ok comparatively. I find it unconscionable that any kid in this country, a country of so much, should be wanting for something so basic as a stuffed animal at this time of year (or any time, really).

Thus, I'm reaching out to you all, our friends and fans in Chicago, to perhaps spend this weekend going thru back closets, or overloaded toy boxes and shelves for gently used stuffed animals or books. Hell, even I have a few too many toys and stuffed animals.