When we launched Austin Sound nearly 3 years ago, two of the earliest bands to capture our attention were Golden Bear and the Channel. The bands are the backbone of C-Side Records’ roster, a label that represents the certain DIY, communal attitude that has always been the heart and soul of Austin music. Managed by Matt Pittman with help from fellow founders Colby Pennington and Andy McAllister, the label was created with the simple goal of helping get their friends’ music released, an ideal that still largely defines the scope of their ambitions and the close relationship between C-Side bands. With two new releases on the horizon, including their first non-local album courtesy of Wichita, Kansas’ folk-pop quartet Ghostbeard, the label continues to impress with its output and laid-back attitude of cooperative support that brings out the best among their artists and their ever-evolving extensions into the local music community. C-Side will be hosting two big shows this week, first with the local release of Ghostbeard’s new album, What’s the Word Bird, on Wednesday, July 22 at the Mohawk with Minorcan and Anchor in the Valley, and then a free show blowout from Golden Bear this Saturday, July 25 outside at Emo’s with a fantastic local lineup of Low Line Caller, the Always Already, New Roman Times, and Wine & Revolution.
Label Profile: C-Side Records
Year Formed:
2000-ish
Present Artists (*Texas Artist):
*the channel
*golden bear
*no bridges to cross
ghostbeard
*driftin’ luke
*ol’ pioneers
*invisible strings
Recent Releases:
golden bear - everest ep (03/03/09)
ghostbeard - what’s the word bird (07/07/09) cd release show 7/22 @ Mohawk!
Upcoming Releases:
csr-009 invisible strings - sounds like pepper (09/09/09):
this is our old friend matt hosay. he’s unofficially been a part of c-side for years. he lived with us in austin for a while about 8 years ago. he had to go back home to middletown, oh, where he is a part of the Loft Collective, and only recently returned. he’s recorded lots of stuff, and this is a compilation of sorts pulling tracks from a few of his albums he put out with Loft Co. i think matt spent most of his teenage life listening to beatles albums in his room. when he picked up the guitar and started writing songs, he was a natural. pure pop goodness.
csr-010 golden bear - tbd (late ‘09/early ‘10)
anyone who hasn’t seen golden bear in a while needs to come check them out again (how about the free show at Emo’s this saturday?) because they’ve really evolved in the last year. the last ep stayed relatively under the radar for some reason, but this lp is going to give them more of the attention they deserve i’m sure. we’ll be shopping this one around but if nobody else is willing to put it out we’ll try to do it justice. i’d love for this to be our first vinyl release.
What was your impetus for starting the label:
matt: i think we were all edified by the elephant 6 collective and what they were doing at the time. similarly to those folks, some of my friends were making music that i really liked, and swapping tapes and playing together, and i thought more people should hear the stuff than just our little circle of friends. i had also been hanging out some and trying to help matt lacomette and the guys at instincto records as they really started to get things going. i don’t think i was much help, but i got to sit in on some fun meetings and learn a little. matt is a great guy and one of the most creative people i’ve come across in austin. he plays in pataphysics and has his own thing with aunt’s analog (both have numerous instincto releases). and pat and matt were both in oblong boys, which i believe to be nothing short of a universally historic and pioneering band. basically i think me and the guys in the channel were all particularly inspired at the time and thought it would be fun, so we did it.
andy: We wanted to put out our music and not have to deal with the pressure of touring, playing shows, recording to someone else’s schedule. Wanted to do it at our own pace because of school, work, family, kids, etc.
What would you describe as the label’s general aesthetic:
matt: i’m pretty sure at least some people appreciate the lack of pretentiousness.
How do you view the label in relation to Austin’s overall music scene:
matt: i still think very few people are familiar with us. we’ve gotten some good local press and radio play from kind folks like yourself, the chronicle, austinist, KOOP, KVRX, etc., but as far as i know we’re still basically an unknown. we’re just not hip enough i guess. i wouldn’t mind making a bigger splash, but with the limited resources we have, i think we’ve done alright. in the end, i know i’ll look back fondly at what we accomplished and the fun we had doing it. if nothing else i’m pretty sure our kids will be impressed.
Ghostbeard is the first non-local artist y’all have had on the label. How did y’all get hooked up with them, and are looking to expand out anymore?
colby: I think Randall (Ghostbeard) and my sister Rebecca used to date. My wife Kim grew up babysitting Randall and his siblings. My cousin Casey, who also plays in the band, is best friends with him.
matt: randall expressed interest and we all think he’s a great guy. he was willing to pay for stuff (a must if you want to release a record here) and even go on tour, which i thought was really cool. i like his songs, and i think this record really fits nicely with our catalog. we’re never looking to expand really. people send me music sometimes and think we’re like, a legitimate label that can sign their band and put them on tour. that’s just not the case. i always listen to the stuff and let them know that we are not a traditional label.
C-Side seems to be a very close knit family – how has that both helped and hindered the label and releases?
matt: i guess it helps that for the most part everyone gets along really well, and it’s an honest and open environment to work in. i’m sure it’s hindered us in terms of the public’s perception of us, but i’m not really sure what that perception is, so it’s hard to say.
andy: Probably hindered things in that we could use a forceful person to get us going and doing productive stuff (touring, recording, practicing), but we are all too close where it might be weird if anyone took on that role. But, it does make for a relaxed environment which is very comfortable and fun to be involved in.
Given infinite resources, what major band or act would y’all most like to have on the label:
matt: i’d still prefer to keep it somewhat local and friendly. we almost put out the first leatherbag lp, but i had some stuff going on that took my attention away from really doing that any justice. everything randy has done is excellent as far as i’m concerned, and if i had the money i would put out anything he recorded and send him on the road cause i know he’s gonna be a hit. listen!listen! is one of the best bands i have heard in years and if there is any justice in this business they will succeed mightily. i’d also like to add other local acts that i think are doing the more original and fresh sounding stuff like minorcan (ryan anderson), the archibalds, yellow fever, and my most recent local find, way no way. i’d also like to put out the first jonah and the golden elephants album. i’ve always wanted to expand into the visual arts too because i have a lot of friends who are great at that stuff. we’ve always had this pipe dream of some sort of huge c-side compound in austin consisting of a recording studio, art gallery, all ages venue, small theatre, rehearsal space, record shop, cafe, etc.
andy: Dinosaur Jr, Will Oldham, Bob Dylan, Beck
What do you feel are the most important elements for success of an indie label?:
andy: You’re asking us?
matt: no, really, you’re asking us?
What have been your most gratifying and most difficult moments in running the label?
andy: Gratifying - seeing how far the music reaches (people in Europe buying albums) and reading reviews. Not necessarily overwhelmingly positive reviews, but just to see someone is taking notice. Difficult - $$$
matt: i think the dual cd release show we did in august ‘06 at flamingo cantina was the most gratifying moment. it was the channel’s double album along with golden bear’s debut. it was about as busy as i have ever been with the label. we had gotten some great local press and lots of folks showed up. listen!listen! came out from houston and opened it up. i just remember walking out at one point to catch a breath and there was a line out the door. that was cool and i was so happy for the guys.
as for difficulty, i’ve always struggled with the fact that there’s just only so much i can do since i have a full time job, a wife and 3 kids. these guys deserve more than the help i can provide. i’m not even that good at it. besides just having fun and playing music, the objective has always been for the bands to use c-side as a stepping stone, to move on to greater things. i still hope that happens for somebody at least.
What are your thoughts on the current state of the record industry, especially in relation to new technology:
andy: I really like how easily accessible music is and how it is easier to distribute and compete with larger labels. But, the new technology and digital music are not the best “sounding” mediums for listening to music. The quality of sound seems to suffer in digital form but hopefully that will change and technology will catch up.
colby: I think artists should try to make records special enough that people will want a hard copy of it regardless of whether it has the newest technological bonus features or not.
Other than the label’s bands, what’s playing at C-Side headquarters these days?
andy: Dinosaur Jr - Farm, Rolling Stones - Beggar’s Banquet, Cheyenne Mize & Bonnie Prince Billy - Among the Gold
colby: i’m listening to olivia tremor control “singles and beyond”, wilco (the album), My Morning Jacket “Evil Urges”, Dinosaur Jr. “Farm”, BPB “Among the Gold, Lennon “Walls and Bridges”, Johnny Cash “My Mother’s Hymn Book”, Bob Dylan “O Mercy”, Pond “Rock Collection
matt: i just discovered this great british psych band from ‘67 called the factory. they put out 2 singles and there are only like 6 recordings available, but they’re all great. randy sent me an early mix of the upcoming leatherbag LP and it’s more of the same goodness i’ve come to expect from him. the new listen!listen! album “hymns from rhodesia” is just amazing. omar souleyman, phosphorescent’s “to willie”, lots of bonnie billy.
Websites:
www.c-siderecords.com
Myspace
