A Chat with Fastlane Records Head Honcho Shawn C. Lane Part Deux

Part 1 of this interview can be found here.

RRR: I have always felt that the live show was integral to rock and roll, especially in this day of music videos and You Tube. Your thoughts?

SCL: Oh sure, if you can’t make the audience feel their part of a rock and roll spectacle you need to pack-it-up and go home. We approach each recording as if the band is playing live..you can’t fool the fans, they know when there’s no energy and then they get bored and move-on. I always wanted the fans to put a FLR release in their car stereo and get the feeling the band is in the backseat playing live as the kick-drum is thumping up against the drivers seat (laughs)..crowd participation is everything to us, I also want fans to be comfortable with the quality of our releases that they will buy blindly anything we put out because they know it pure quality from the heart. That’s our main mission/goal of our existence.

RRR: What kind of distribution does Fastlane have? Are you playing in the digital space as well and how?

SCL: We have distro all through North America and picking up more all the time. We also cover Europe/Japan, etc. It’s never enough and we’ll never settle on any certain territory as we are always eager to expand all over the country, etc. Small/medium/large we just want to make sure it’s available in storeas abroad and if it isn’t you can go to the counter and order it…it’s all about convienence for the consumer. As for digital we are on iTunes, Yahoo, etc, etc..you can also go to our interactive website (shameless plug) www.fastlanerecords.com and download one song or the whole album or you can be old-fashion and actually (gasp) by the CD in the hard copy version..jewel case and all (laughs)..why someone wouldn’t want the actual hard copy of the release and read through the booklet and listen to the disc at the same time is really beyond me as I waited as a eager kid for the newest Alice Cooper/KISS Record to come out so I could check out the posters/tattoos/decals, etc..I’ll never know, but hey it’s a new era and you have to roll with the changes and we give the audience a choice which I really think they appreciate having choices that suits them and their element.

RRR: I’ve noticed that Fastlane has done some pretty cool tribute projects. For those who may not have been aware, what have you done in the past and what do you have in store for the future?

SCL: As I mentioned the NY Dolls tribute ‘Jetboys Of Babylon’ came out in 2005 all done in HD and features a all-star line-up including David Johansen/The Alarm/Steve Jones/FLIPP and many more…liners written by Dolls biographer Nina Antonia. Also the Rick Springfield tribute ‘Working Class Dogs’ which features members of Rick’s band among others. Don’t be fooled by being a tribute to Rick Springfield, these rock and are done modern to appeal to his fans and their kids as well..also done in HD. We also have on the chopping block the Beatles tribute ‘Beatle-Esque’ and one to The SWEET called ‘Sweetness’ and last but not least the Cheap Trick tribute ‘Tricked Out’. Understand I hate/loathe tributes as their all done tasteless and lackluster and we have no intentions of churning out tribute after tribute. We wanted to take a handful of bands/people and pay homage to, but do it right and for the right reasons, etc. Partial proceeds of our tributes go to the American Cancer Society.

RRR: The Rock and Roll exists to constantly remind people that rock and roll is far from dead and FastLane certainly believes in the power of the amplified guitar! What do you see as rock and roll’s prospects? Do you see it shrinking into a specialized niche like blues while the pop tarts of the American Idol generation monopolizes mainstream media?

SCL: Yes, we think the amped-up guitar is the backbone of rock and roll at it’s best. It signifies rebellion as much as angst and aggression and when used properly with hooks/harmonies galore it’s meant for a escape of everyday life, we here at FLR don’t believe in preaching a message or driving a political message home. Music is a escape from everyday life..if you want a sermon/message then attend church. Were trying to bring a oasis and a wall of sound to relieve aggression/tension. American Idol is nothing but manufactured drivel catered to the masses of young people who actually think that’s all the choices they have for great music..sad, really. I think like any other trend AI will run it’s course and it will go down in the annals of music history of contrived/manufactured pop-stars that have material written for them..not a original/creative bone in their body. Anything that’s not real comes out in the wash.

RRR: What are your thoughts on DRM, podcasting, Internet radio and digital music downloads?

SCL: We embrace/welcome it. Podcasting is taking over radio it seems. When you have a good product it sells itself no matter what it’s played on. Again word-of-mouth will always carry beyond the call of duty. You have to keep up with the ever-changing world of technology or get lost in a cloud of dust. As I stated, we already have digital downloading available on our website as well as the other outlets..visibility is a viable approach as you have to make sure your product is in reach, I don’t care how great your release is, if no one hears it or does not know it even exist, it falls on deaf ears. It has really become a dog eat dog world in the audio realm. You always have to stay a step-ahead or you will be left in back of the line. In closing I think rock and roll fans are smart enough to scour the web and find what suits their musical taste and we here at FLR believe we offer-up enough variety in the rock/pop genre (and everything else in-between) there’s truly something for everyone to enjoy. Feel free to visit our awesome interactive website at www.fastlanerecords.com as well as our my space site at www.myspace.com/fastlanerecords.

We also have a side company in the IRG (Independent Recording Group) www.independentrecordinggroup.com that networks with other quality Indie labels (as we believe in strength in numbers) to help build a strong/viable force to bring high-quality releases to the masses of music fans that are ready for a change. There really is a choice in music, we just have to educate ourselves better and seek-it-out. We feel feel confident that FLR will make a lasting impression on your music buying as we offer variety and high-quality releases to impress the most fickle music fan.

I would like to thank Shawn for taking his time out for speaking to me and I highly recommend you check out the Fastlane Records site and have a listen to what they are doing. Its all pretty amazing and sounds great live!

Later.

Mark

A Chat with Fastlane Records Head Honcho Shawn C. Lane Part 1

Based out of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Fastlane Records is a great indie label which not only pumps out cool, unabashed melodic hard pop to hard rock and roll but they think big. I recently chatted with Fastlane Records owner and CEO Shawn C. Lane on what makes the label tick, what kind of music they are looking for and life in the iTunes generation. Part 1 runs today, Part 2 concludes tomorrow.

RRR: Tell me a bit about the label. How long its been going, what the mission of it is and what kind of music makes the FastLane grade?

SCL: FastLane Records originated in 1994 when I was managing a local band that was starting to take off at the time called Erotic Suicide. There was a buzz from Japan to England on this band as MTV-Europe called them one of America’s brightest hope in music, but remember at this time grunge had really reared it’s ugly head and had taken over the radio and MTV among others and gritty/sleazy rock and roll that we were doing at this time had all but died. We decided in 2000 to bring FastLane Records to fruition 24/7 as an actual Label and open our doors to find the best newcomers and undiscovered/upcoming talent we possibly could in the hard pop to hard rock genre with a guitar edge/crunch.

Our mission from day one is what it still is, which is straight-up, non-apologetic, slap-across-the-face rock and roll with a flair for showmanship as well as great musicianship..’audio for your ears and a visual for your eyes’ we like to say. Gone are the days of what I call ‘Shoegazer’s’..bands that look like the brother’s of a frat house. Anytime you can’t tell the band onstage from the kids in the crowd..it’s a problem (laughs). We stay away from the cookie-cutter approach as other major/indie labels go for which is the flavor-of-the-week, I personally think that’s about as contrived and artificial as you can get. We recieve many demos per week/month and it would be so easy to sign everything that comes across your desk, but I’m to old-school and believe in ‘quality not quanity’.

The kind of music we strive and look for is the kind that gives you that heart-pumping, unadulterated feeling of a ‘real’ rock show when you paid your hard earned money and you got a band that looked and sounds like a rock and roll band. Image is just important as the music to us..it’s actually 50/50 concoction that’s why it’s so hard to scour the globe for the band that meets the criteria. We specialize in hard pop to hard rock, but were a very guitar oriented driven label.

RRR: One of the things you state that you are trying to bring back to rock and roll is showmanship. What do you mean about that and how are you going about achieving it?

SCL: Showmanship is such a lost art form. In the last ten plus years we have been de-sensitised in thinking that everything you see on the video channels look like the neighbor’s kid practicing in the garage, etc. I’m a product/child of the 80’s and weened on Motley/Ratt, etc and I also know the big hair and over-the-top antics, big hair and lipstick will never come back, but it also made Hollywood and the world take notice between 1984-1990 or so. Everyone borrows/steals from someone else and if your going to steal..do it right (laughs). We like to think we borrow from the yesteryear bands (circa 70’s/80’s) and add a modern day twist to the mix. The audience have grown weary of today’s products and with the absence of rock videos on MTV, etc it really has taken away from a lost art that used to move product. I think that’s why all the nostalgia acts from the 80’s do so well on packaged tours because people want to be entertained visually as well as by the music..it really is a univeral language.

We just basically incorporate that mindset into the millinium and set-forth to put out a great product that will sell itself on it’s own strengths and hope it appeals to the masses.

RRR: What are the bands currently signed to the label?

SCL: As of now we have American Anthem (which you may remember toured with Bret Michaels in 2003 as his opening band as well as his band for his set playing the Poison songs). We also have a great band from N.Y. called The Meddling Kids which are great power-pop/edged rockers that are just fantastic. We also have from Nashville the Red Carpet Rats who just are incredible in their songwriting and performance as their finishing up their record with Jim Ebert (Butch Walker fame) and it’s just a mind-blower. We also house Annex from Green Bay, WI..these guys are over-the-top showman with a awesome stage-show as they deliver a fury of anthemic structures songs that stick in your head for days. As of now their first single were releasing (uncensored/censored versions of the audio as well as a video to accompany it) called ‘Brought It On Yourself’ has been a staple on the podcast network for the last few weeks in the top ten world-wide of podcasters and climbing everyday. Radio will be serviced with the radio-edit version this month..this could really be the break-out song of this year indie wise. (Rock and Roll Report Radio has already played the “radio unfriendly” version a few times already! ed.) We also have other bands were finalising as we speak.

We also have some great tributes we have out, such as the NY Dolls tribute ‘Jetboys Of Babylon’ we did in 2005 that features David Johansen himself redoing ‘Babylon’ (at the time we did this the NY Dolls reunion was on the table and I was the one speaking with the late great Arthur Kane about doing something for this tribute, I was also the one to make him aware of the Dolls reunion show in England put together from Morrissey) it also featured FLIPP/Steve Jones/ The Alarm and many more. Right now, we have just finished a Rick Springfield tribute called ‘Working Class Dogs’ and it flat-out rocks and modernizes his hits into the millinium. In the works (on the subject of tributes) we have one to Cheap Trick called ‘Tricked Out’ which we have pictures and liner notes supplied to us by none other than CREEM magazine (for you older readers, CREEM was a major staple in rock magazines throughout the 70’s and part of the early 80’s) and there’s talks about one to the Beatles called ‘Beatle-Esque’ and also the SWEET called ‘Sweetness’..those latter mentioned are still in the planning stages.

RRR: I like the fact that Fastlane artists tend to have great hooks and harmonies, something that almost seems old fashioned in this day and age. Is this a concsious decision?

SCL: Absolutely, 100% on purpose and we stand by it as well as resemble that remark (laughs). Rock and roll has always meant to be fun, tongue-in-cheek, raunchy and full-on debauchery at it’s finest. You take great hooks/harmonies with a soaring, guitar laden crunchiness for the structuring and your not only appealing to the college kids/power-popsters, but also metal fans who appreciate the guitar playing and musicianship as well…really, something for everyone. It’s designed for universal appeal..hate it/love it, but you can’t deny/ignore it.
We feel were onto a formula that is timeless and has a market in every major outlet you can find our releases in the rock/pop section and not the Indie section nor the Alternative (god, I hate that term) section way in the back that know one can find/see.

RRR: With the record industry in such disarray and the sales of CDs declining according to most estimates, how do you see a small indie like FastLane surviving and even thriving in this iTunes world?

SCL: You roll with the punches and keep up with the modern changes in technology as well as anything in cutting-edge. I wouldn’t exactly call FLR a small Indie. Maybe a medium Indie (laughs). We also take pride in our packaging of the CD’s (remember the old Alice Cooper/KISS packaging) we incorporate all the visuals as well as adding props to go inside. We also have taken upon ourselves audio-wise to master all our releases in high-definition which is a huge plus as most Indies do not want that costs it takes for this process..it’s costly, but well worth-it in our book. Only afew Majors have dabbled in the HDCD format. It might change now as the popularity is growing from HDTV’S/HDDVD’S to HD Radio, but we have been doing it since 2004 and will continue to do so..more bang for your buck. iTunes we have totally embraced as well as other knock-off companies..the more the better. Word-of-mouth will always be the best form of advertisement no matter how many thousands of dollars you spend on print ads, etc. If something sucks, it sucks…you can’t shine shit.

Check back tomorrow for part 2 of our interview with Shawn as we talk about everything from podcasting and the power of the amplified guitar. See you then!

Mark

The Rock and Roll Report Record Label Spotlight is on Crusher Records

I originally published this 2 years ago but I am republishing it today because on the next Drastic Plastic Program on CKUT 90.3 FM I will be part of our monthly 3 Amigos spectacular and will be focusing on this very label as well as playing theit latest release from the excellent band The Marahajas (have a listen to "Sometimes I Miss Me ". What is so impressive about Crusher Records is their incredible crafstmanship. They put out vinyl 45 records that are amazing in their high quality. Thick vinyl, sturdy packaging with great artwork on the covers and kick ass garage rock and roll punk that is a perfect combination of vicious guitars, snot nosed vocals and wailing organ that just drips rock and roll attitude. So have a listen on February 26th, 2007 between 10:00 - 11:00 PM at www.ckut.ca and enjoy their stuff.

Established in 2004 in Gothenburg Sweden, Crusher Records is intent on spreading "great psychedelic garage rock and roll sounds all over the world" and with their first batch of releases they are certainly well on their way. Currently with three great bands on their roster- The Mainliners (check out the MP3 of Dead Man’s Hall ), Dead Man (download this MP3 sample of Ship Ahoy ) and The Sacred Sailors (download the MP3 of You My Friend ), Crusher Records is a record label headed in the right direction. Check them out ASAP. They of course have a MySpace page located at: http://www.myspace.com/crusherrecords .

Later.

Yep Roc Records has gone streaming crazy!

Go check out Yep Roc Records home page right now as they have all kinds of full length albums streaming for free for your listening pleasure including:

* The Moaners’ "slow burning" Blackwing Yalobusha
   
* Dolorean’s You Can’t Win (which Amazon says "supplies the soundtrack for life in general")
   
* You Am I’s Convicts ("poppy punk that vibes the Replacements - Rolling Stone)
   
* Kristin Hersh’s Learn To Sing Like A Star ("unsettling in a good way" - Rolling Stone)
   
* Sloan’s Never Hear The End Of It ("power pop majesty" - Village Voice)
   
* and the amazing covers on SCOTS’ Countrypolitan Favorites, "where rural and urban sensibilities meet."

Pretty cool but then Yep Roc is a pretty cool label.

Later.

Smog Veil Records’ Ultra-Cool Green Building

Besides being a very cool indie record label, Chicago-based Smog Veil Records have recently unveiled their plans for a very cool green headquarters. "I really want to be an example of sustainability in our business," Smog Veil Records owner Frank Mauceri recently told a Chicago Tribune reporter (feature ran October 16, 2006). According to a recent press release:

Smog Veil Records will unveil the all green, all sustainable building they have been working on since 2006 in July of this year. The building features a revolutionary design for a green roof with power-generating wind turbines. In order to implement the design Mauceri had to get the City of Chicago to pass an ordinance allowing such a structure on the roof. With the use of sustainable construction, the building is designed with numerous eco-friendly features. This live-work space will be the centerpiece of the company’s efforts to be greener. The building is designed so that about 40 to 45 percent of the structure¹s electrical needs will be wind and solar generated. The building may in fact end up selling electricity back to the cities power grid if these numbers are exceeded. The structure’s Green Strategies include 80% recycling of demolished materials; three Wind Turbines and 30 solar panels on roof; Geothermal Heating and Cooling; Terrazzo floor containing recycled glass and owner supplied (Smog Veil) vinyl albums. The building has been selected to be one of the City of Chicago¹s Green Building Case Studies by the City of Chicago Green Permit Program.

Very cool and similar to efforts that labels such as SubPop are pursuing. Once again the indies are leading the way!

Later.

Little Steven starts little label

Steven Van Zandt has a new project to keep him busy between hosting his nationally syndicated radio show, Underground Garage, playing with Bruce Springsteen¹s E Street Band and acting on The Soprano¹s. Yahoo.com reports Van Zandt has just started his own record label, Wicked Cool Records. Besides putting out records from new bands, one of the label’s staples is a plan to release four compilation albums per year under the title, The Coolest Songs in the World.

Source: 2006 Punmaster’s MusicWire http://www.punmaster.com

The Bomp Store is now live!

I don’t normally like to publicize something like a record label’s brand new online store but Bomp Records holds a special place in my heart. As one of the greatest indie labels of all time and the creation of the late great Greg Shaw, Bomp continues to amaze me and Suzi Shaw has managed to keep the mailorder biz growing to become one of the prime places to buy cool rock and roll. Now Bomp is pleased to announce that their brand new Bomp Store is live and accepting your business. Check it out. There are some incredibly cool records just waiting for a place to be played loud.

Later. 

Norton Records 20th Anniversary Party and the Real Kids live on WFMU!

Just got this from the ultra-cool Norton Records:

THURS. NOV. 9 NORTON RECORDS 20TH ANNIVERSARY RADIO SHOW FEATURING THE REAL
KIDS LIVE! Dave the Spazz hosts a live broadcast featuring THE REAL KIDS at
WFMU with the Norton crew on tap with special guests and tons of call ins! Join
the party as it happens with the miracle of the worldwide internet! Tune in
manually on your Motorola at 91.1 FM or krank ya keyboard over to
http://www.wfmu.org on Nov. 20 from 8-11 PM EST!

Gotta tune in to that!

Later.

Yep Roc joins the podcasting revolution

The very cool Yep Roc Records has hopped onto the podcating bandwagon with their brand new monthly Yepcast. According to their announcement:

Yepcast is our new monthly podcast devoted to giving you the heads up, the downlow, the nod, the nudge, the wink - in other words, the first shot at hearing new Yep Roc music, artist news, interviews, the skinny on exclusive tracks and bonuses from the Yep Roc Web Shop - all of that. But don’t worry, it’s not a big commercial. It’s all about the music.

This month they feature an exclusive interview with Radio Birdman’s Deniz Tek, plus music from the new Yeproc releases by Radio Birdman The Sadies, Spencer Dickinson and a sneak preview of Jim Lauderdale’s two new releases. Sounds cool. Look for a new Yepcast on the first Friday of every month and look for my take on the new Yep Roc releases from said Radio Birdman, the Minus 5 and The Sadies coming up soon on The Rock and Roll Report.

Later.

3000 Records Treats Indie Musicians Right

(PRESS RELEASE) Back in 1996 Terrance Damian started an independent record company called "3000 Records" www.3000records.com as a student at Western Michigan University. Since then, he finished college, got a few corporate jobs, and eventually ended up pursuing the career he enjoys the most, being a Musician. With his debut full length CD "A Simple Life" scheduled for release during fall 2006, and consistent touring, he is establishing his music career. At the same time, he helps other Musicians through the many connections he has made since starting his label "3000 Records" 10 years ago.

A good definition of 3000 Records is "an organization that operates as an independent record label and offers Music Promotion Services to other record labels and serious independent Musicians". At this time 3000 Records mostly releases Co-Op CDs (compilations). The CDs are used as a promotional tool to reach college radio, independent radio, international radio, satellite radio, internet radio, and magazines, film, and T.V. production companies, and A & R staff. The music is also promoted in music retail stores, music conferences, and through other music related events. The services are designed to help Artists with USA music promotion, international music promotion, music retail promotion, online music promotion, radio promotion, and more.
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