Aquarium Drunkard

Last updated

Aquarium Drunkard
Aquarium Drunkard logo.svg
Type of site
Online music magazine
Available in English
Created byJustin Gage
URL aquariumdrunkard.com
Launched2005;20 years ago (2005)
Current statusActive

Aquarium Drunkard is an online music magazine based in Los Angeles, California and launched in 2005 by Justin Gage, [1] who chose the name "Aquarium Drunkard" based on a reference to a lyric written by the band Wilco. Along with its music reviews, Aquarium Drunkard publishes a number of other digital content types on a wide array of musical topics, including podcasts, mixtapes, and artist interviews. Gage continues to write for the site, which now additionally includes articles from contributing writers.

Contents

The website was originally created by Gage with the intention of using it to share music with friends, but the blog quickly gained online traction: by 2006, it had reached a global audience. [2] The wide success of Aquarium Drunkard and its growth in demographic allowed Gage to further pursue various backstage musical endeavors such as promoting specialty concerts, hosting radio and talk shows, and founding a number of production projects designed to give artists a platform to showcase their music.

Influence

Throughout its publication history, a number of notable figures have publicly outlined the magazine; in 2009, English author Nick Hornby stated in an essay for The Observer's Music Monthly supplement that he listed Aquarium Drunkard among his six favorite music blogs. [9] The Daily Beast included Aquarium Drunkard on a 2014 list titled "The Best Music Blogs," [10] and Refinery29 has listed it in its 2017 article "19 Best Music Blogs That Aren't Pitchfork." [11]

According to Rolling Stone , publicity gained from a post shared on the site popularizing a demo reel recorded by the band Alabama Shakes allowed them to sign on their first record deal. [12]

Awards

References

  1. "RUNNER, NOT ONLY". Satisfy Running. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
  2. 1 2 Bergen, Molly (September 4, 2009). "Meet Justin Gage - Founder of Aquarium Drunkard and Autumn Tone Records". LAist. Archived from the original on May 14, 2016. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
  3. "We Interviewed Justin Gage of Aquarium Drunkard About 'Sidecar' Transmissions". Vice. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
  4. "V/A - Lagniappe Sessions, Volume 1". Light in the Attic Records. Retrieved July 18, 2019.
  5. Gage, Justin (November 10, 2010). "The Strange Tale of Jim Sullivan's U.F.O." Aquarium Drunkard. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
  6. "Radio Free Aquarium Drunkard - dublab". dublab. July 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
  7. Pescovitz, David (March 31, 2020). "Outstanding, free, and far-out music stream from Aquarium Drunkard". Boing Boing. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  8. "The Aquarium Drunkard Picture Show Archives".
  9. Horby, Nick (September 5, 2009). "The Thrill of it All". Observer Music Monthly. The Guardian. Retrieved January 8, 2017.
  10. Wilson, Howard (January 26, 2014). "The Best Music Blogs". The Daily Beast. Retrieved January 8, 2017.
  11. "The 19 Best Music Blogs That Aren't Pitchfork". Refinery29. November 22, 2017.
  12. Hermes, Will (February 28, 2013). "Alabama Shakes Unlikely Triumph". Rolling Stone. Jan Wenner. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
  13. Broadley, Erin. "Who has the best web presence in LA? Winners announced for LA web awards!". LA Weekly. Retrieved January 15, 2010.
  14. "O MUSIC AWARDS: AQUARIUM DRUNKARD WINS BEST INDEPENDENT MUSIC BLOG". MTV. Viacom. April 26, 2011. Archived from the original on March 16, 2016. Retrieved January 7, 2017.