Thick Records

Last updated

Thick Records
Thick Records.jpg
Founded1994;27 years ago (1994)
FounderZak Einstein
Status
  • Active
GenrePunk, ska-punk
Country of origin United States
Location Chicago, Los Angeles
Official website thickrecords.com

Thick Records is a Chicago-based independent record label which actively operated from 1994 to 2007. It now exists as a catalog only label for its previous releases.

Contents

History

Thick was formed in 1994 by Detroit native Zak Einstein, [1] [2] who started the label when he re-located to Chicago after graduating from Michigan State University. [3] Early releases include albums from Chicago ska-punkers The Blue Meanies, Alton, IL's Judge Nothing, Seattle's grunge rockers Truly [4] featuring Robert Roth, Mark Pikerel, and Soundgarden's Hiro Yamamoto, and the Omaha-based Commander Venus, whose members included Conor Oberst, Tim Kasher, Matt Bowen and Todd Baechle. Blue Meanies singer Billy Spunke joined Einstein and signed multiple Chicago punk rock artists including The Tossers, The Arrivals, and The Methadones. The label also issued the Trenchmouth compilation 'More Motion' spanning the years 1987-1997 in 2003. [5]

Thick released picture disc vinyl including 7" records from Alkaline Trio, At The Drive-in, ALL, and Citizen Fish. The label also released several compilations documenting Chicago rock and punk music. The compilations included 2000's Magnetic Curses: A Chicago Punk Rock Compilation, which included music from Gaza Strippers, Alkaline Trio, and Pegboy. [6] In 2002, the label issued Love & Rebellion, a compilation of label acts including Trenchmouth, The Tossers, and Commander Venus. [7] Oil: Chicago Punk Refined, a 2003 release from the label, included tracks from nineteen Chicago-area punk acts, including Rise Against, The Lawrence Arms, The Tossers, Plain White T's, Bob Nanna, and Local H. [8] [9] The tracks for the Oil compilation were recorded in an oil blending factory. [10]

The label hosted a summer barbecue/independent music event for several years, The Annual Chicago Rock Yards & Flea Market. [3]

In 2004 the label released a DVD collection of the "Out of Focus" fanzine, featuring acts including Green Day, Jawbreaker, Voodoo Glow Skulls, Down By Law, Sludgeworth, Born Against, Los Crudos and more. [11]

In 2004 Einstein moved the label to Los Angeles. [12] The last label releases came in 2007 with CDs from The Brokedowns and Seven Storey Mountain. Thick was distributed by the Symbiotic Label Group from 1994-1999, Southern Records 1999-2004, the Lumberjack Mordam Music Group 2005-2007, Nail Allegro Distribution and The Orchard 2007-present. [13] As of 2021, Thick operates as a catalog-only label. [14]

Bands

Other bands with Thick Records releases

Related Research Articles

Blue Meanies were an American ska-core band founded in Carbondale, Illinois, at Southern Illinois University, in 1989. They debuted in 1991 with the release of their first single, "Grandma Shampoo" c/w "Dickory Dock". This single would be the start of a lengthy discography and revolving line-up including Jay Vance, a bass player. Although their personnel was continually changing, The Meanies' sound would remain consistent as they released the albums Peace Love Groove (1991), Pave The World (1992), Kiss Your Ass Goodbye (1995), Full Throttle (1997), and the live Sonic Documentation Of Exhibition And Banter (1998). By the time they signed with MCA Records, the line-up of John Paul Camp (III), Sean Dolan (guitar), Jimmy Flame, Chaz Linde, Dave Lund, Billy Spunke, and Bob Trondson (drums) stuck together as a total of 22 musicians passed through the band since their formation. Their sixth full-length album, The Post Wave, was released in late 2000. This album is musically the most different from the other five albums. This change in sound along with the title of the album probably resulted from the crash of the third wave ska scene within the US. In late 2001 the band took the rights to The Post Wave back from MCA records and reissued it on Thick Records in August 2001. Soon afterwards the band ceased touring, though they never issued an official break up statement.

Alkaline Trio

Alkaline Trio is an American rock band from Chicago, Illinois. Since 2001, the band has consisted of Matt Skiba, Dan Andriano and Derek Grant.

<i>The Art of Drowning</i> (album) 2000 studio album by AFI

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<i>The War on Errorism</i> 2003 studio album by NOFX

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<i>From Here to Infirmary</i> 2001 studio album by Alkaline Trio

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<i>Good Mourning</i> 2003 studio album by Alkaline Trio

Good Mourning is the fourth studio album by Alkaline Trio, released May 13, 2003 on Vagrant Records.

7 Seconds (band)

7 Seconds was an American hardcore punk band from Reno, Nevada which was formed on January 17, 1980, by two sets of brothers. The band has gone through numerous lineup changes over the subsequent years, with only Kevin Seconds and Steve Youth remaining constant members.

The Lawrence Arms

The Lawrence Arms are an American punk rock band from Chicago, formed in 1999. They have released seven full-length albums and toured extensively.

The Lillingtons are a pop punk band formed in 1996 in Newcastle, Wyoming. The band is composed of vocalist and lead guitarist Kody Templeman, guitarist Alex Volonino, bassist Cory Laurence, and drummer Tim O'Hara.

<i>Sirens and Condolences</i> 2004 studio album by Bayside

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Midtown (band)

Midtown was an American pop punk band from New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States. Midtown was formed in November 1998 by three Rutgers University students, but quickly became a quartet. The group released three full-length studio albums and three extended plays before disbanding in 2005. In early 2014, Midtown reunited to play three shows, the first as a secret show at The Knitting Factory in Brooklyn, and the two remaining at the Skate And Surf Festival.

Poly Styrene Punk musician

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<i>How to Ruin Everything</i> 2002 studio album by Face to Face

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The Tossers

The Tossers are an American six-piece Celtic punk band from Chicago, Illinois, United States, formed in July 1993. They have toured with Murphy's Law, Streetlight Manifesto, Catch 22, Dropkick Murphys, The Reverend Horton Heat, Flogging Molly, Street Dogs, Clutch, Sick of it All & Mastodon. They opened for The Pogues in New York City on St. Patrick's Day, 2007. The Tossers were honored to play the Kennedy Center in May 2016.

The Meanies are an indie Australian punk rock band, formed in 1988 by D.D. Meanie on lead guitar, Link Meanie on vocals and guitar, Ringo Meanie on drums, and VB Meanie on bass guitar and vocals. As from September 2015 the line-up is Link, Ringo and Wally Meanie on bass guitar and backing vocals. The Meanies had a hiatus from 1996 to 1998.

Alkaline Trio / Blue Meanies is a split single between the Chicago-based punk rock band Alkaline Trio and the Carbondale, Illinois-based ska punk band the Blue Meanies, released as a picture disc in 2000 by Thick Records.

<i>This Addiction</i> 2010 studio album by Alkaline Trio

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This Addiction (song) 2010 single by Alkaline Trio

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<i>Sing the Sorrow</i> 2003 studio album by AFI

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References

  1. ↑ "An interview with Zak Einstein", Lollipop Magazine, April 1996
  2. ↑ Hiller, Joachim (November 1, 2004). "Interview - Thick Records". Ox (fanzine) (in German). Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Thomas, John D. (November 17, 2002). "Local Flavor". Chicago Tribune . Retrieved January 29, 2021.
  4. ↑ Prato, Greg (April 1, 2009). Grunge is Dead: The Oral History of Seattle Rock Music. ECW Press. p. 444. ISBN   978-1550228779 . Retrieved February 2, 2020.
  5. 1 2 Margasak, Peter (March 6, 2003). "There Goes the Bride/Postscripts". Chicago Reader . Retrieved January 29, 2021.
  6. 1 2 Jacks, Kelso (March 13, 2000). "Record News". CMJ New Music Report . Retrieved January 29, 2021.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 Morris, Kurt. Love & Rebellion: A Thick Records Label Sampler at AllMusic. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
  8. 1 2 James, Brian (April 15, 2003). "Various Artists: Oil: Chicago Punk Refined". Pop Matters . Retrieved January 29, 2021.
  9. ↑ Miller, Louis; Levy, Doug (October 7, 2002). "This Week". CMJ New Music Report . Retrieved January 29, 2021.
  10. ↑ Hick, Graham (July–August 2003). "Out Of The Studio: the Thick Oil comp and Metro Mobile Truck". Tape Op . Retrieved January 29, 2021.
  11. ↑ Heisel, Scott (December 17, 2003). "THICK goes Out Of Focus". PunkNews.org. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  12. 1 2 3 Mehr, Bob (July 15, 2004). "Rock 'n' Register; Thick Disperses; Miscellany". Chicago Reader . Retrieved January 29, 2021.
  13. 1 2 3 4 Martens, Todd (June 18, 2005). "Thickening Up". Billboard . Retrieved January 29, 2021.
  14. 1 2 Heisel, Scott (October 17, 2013). "13 Classic Record Labels We Really, Really Miss". Alternative Press . Retrieved January 29, 2021.
  15. ↑ Paul, Aubin (January 9, 2007). "Thick Records signs The Brokedowns". PunkNews.org. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Thick Records". PunkNews.org. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  17. ↑ Heisel, Scott (September 6, 2002). "Various - THICK Records: Love & Rebellion (2002)". PunkNews.org. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  18. ↑ Coozer, Adam (March 16, 2007). "Goldblade - Strictly Hardcore - Thick". ReadJunk.com. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  19. ↑ Mitchell, Daniel L. (March 1, 2004). "Goldblade - Strictly Hardcore - Thick". Ink19. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  20. ↑ Moffett Banks, Margaret (January 25, 2015). "Goldblade - Strictly Hardcore - Thick". News & Record . Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  21. ↑ "Judge Nothing reviving pop punk after 13 years". Edwardsville Intelligencer . April 18, 2012. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  22. ↑ Mehr, Bob (September 22, 2005). "What it Takes to Be the New Black". Chicago Reader . Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  23. ↑ Orange - Pill (1993) at Discogs
  24. ↑ Shultz, Brian (October 11, 2005). "Resident Genius / Howard Zinn - You Can't Blow Up a Social Relationship (2005)". PunkNews.org. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  25. ↑ Steininger, Alex (February 2, 2021). "Season To Risk: Men Are Monkeys. Robots Win". In Music We Trust. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  26. ↑ Buttertooth (January 24, 2008). "Seven Storey Mountain: At the Poles: CD". Razorcake . Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  27. ↑ August, Justin (September 20, 2006). "Thick signs Shanna Kiel (Sullen, Black Fur)". PunkNews.org. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  28. ↑ "All – Ruby (1997)" at Discogs
  29. ↑ "Burning Airlines– The Deluxe War Baby (2000)" at Discogs
  30. ↑ "Citizen Fish– Revolution (2001)" at Discogs
  31. ↑ "Cows – The Missing Letter Is You (1997)" at Discogs
  32. ↑ "Servotron – The Inefficiency Of Humans (1998)" at Discogs
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