[Remember a few weeks ago, when I told you guys about local band plainclothes? Well, I have some more excellent Edmonton music to tell you about. Samsonow and I have decided that any time I want to try to convince you guys to love something as much as I do, we're going to call it "Welcome to the Beat Laboratory." Thanks for the idea, B-rad!)
If you missed this caveat last time, the difference between this format and other music items we run is that you cannot solicit your way into the Beat Laboratory. I just pick things I think are really cool and tell you about them. As if I know what's cool. IDIOT! So stupid! Who the hell do I think I am anyway?!]
Old Ugly Recording Co.'s The Joe (Photo by Rico Moran)
So, you guys know that we know The Joe. Because we talk about him all the time.
He is, as you have likely gathered by now, a very nice fellow who has helped us out repeatedly over the first half of 2010; first, by tearing up the Artery as the headliner at the League of Extraordinary Media’s #YEG Swap in March, and then later on, by penning several great items about Edmonton’s music scene for us to run on these here INTERNETS.
But! Did you guys know that The Joe (known in his day-to-day life as 23 year old Joe Gurba) is a bit of a mogul? He’s the man behind Edmonton’s Old Ugly Recording Company – home to many of the best musical acts in the city.
The mild-mannered Gurba explains that the concept for Old Ugly was based in part on Olympia, Washington record label K Records.
“They don’t play the game,” he explains. “They just put out really good music. And then people find it.”
“Old Ugly is just me giving form to something that was already there. Old Ugly was already all of our friends who hung out all the time, who weren’t signed.”
And boy oh boy, you guys. Does Old Ugly ever have some great artists. Give these a listen:
The Idols They Will Make: The Joe from Joe’s upcoming release Playfight)
O Death: Caity Fisher from Caity’s upcoming release Only the Wind)
On and on: Mitchmatic from Mitchmatic’s upcoming release Two Weeks Off)
The modest little label, now freshly minted as one year old, is home to 19 musical acts, comprised of about 13 people (Joe’s estimate). Pretty impressive, and something Joe attributes to his interest in community.
“I wanted to combine all these people. Most of the people on the label are people I’ve lived with at some point, too… people that get together and have campfires and house parties and are just really good friends.”
“I know my friends are better musicians than I am, and they deserve more attention,” Joe laughs. “I just know how to get attention!”
If you dig what you hear, then, I HIGHLY suggest you head to the Hydeaway this Saturday for an Old Ugly release party, celebrating new tapes from Mitchmatic and The Joe, and featuring Mikey Maybe and Thesis Sahib.
OR! Visit the Old Ugly store to get your mitts on more of their music.
I like how you say people can solicit their way into us talking about their music, on a regular basis.
p.s. To the artists and musicians: I like waffles.