Ithaca’s Angry Mom Records launches its own record label, a vinyl-only imprint whose third release will include the legendary Johnny Dowd.
ANGRY MOM RECORDS, THE INDEPENDENT RECORD STORE on the downtown Ithaca Commons, this month launched its own “vinyl-only” record label to produce and distribute records in the classic analog format.
The first artists signed to the Angry Mom Records label for vinyl releases are the Ithaca duo BLOW! (Bruce Hyde and Johnny Zachman), Ithaca one-man-band Elsa & the awesomeAWESOMES (Samuel Sveen), and international music sensation Johnny Dowd.
There will be a live-music launch party on August 21 at the Chapter House featuring BLOW!, Elsa & the awesomeAWESOMES and Johnny Dowd. Plus a dj set from DJ Automatic Buffalo.
The event will feature copies of the two debut, limited-edition, white-vinyl 7” EP records. The limited-edition, hand-numbered, white-vinyl records feature exclusive sleeve artwork by Ithaca artists and include free digital codes to download MP3 versions of all the songs.
Launching the Label with Three Ithaca Bands
Angry Mom Records store owner and now record label executive, George Johann, explained: “After the store’s successful first year on the Commons selling vintage vinyl records, CDs, and record players, I realized it was time to launch the record label that I’ve been planning for some years now.”
The label’s first three artists are Ithaca-based bands, though Johann pointed out that his first conception of the label planned on a different direction. “Originally, I intended the label to primarily reissue pre-World War II 78rpm records and rare psychedelic stuff,” Johann noted, “music that I am particularly passionate about.”
“But my plans changed,” Johann said, “when I saw Sam Sveen of Elsa & the awesome-AWESOMES playing a show at The Shop coffeehouse in Ithaca and thought he was amazing.
I knew right then that I wanted to put out a record of his music.”
Sveen, a native of South Dakota and a 2010 Cornell graduate, plays an impressive array of instruments, from marching snare drum to trumpet to ukulele. Composing his own tunes full of wit and pop hooks, Sveen plays catchy, infectious, intensely energetic dance music.
Sveen’s one-man band made a big impression on the Cornell party scene since 2008. His hugely entertaining live shows became legendary on campus and Sveen is preparing for an extensive tour this fall of the northeast U.S.
Sveen’s first record of three songs was recorded for Angry Mom Records at the Ithaca-based Pyramid Sound studios with additional recording, mixing, and mastering by Ithaca music producer Dan Timmons.
“I think Sveen’s raw energy and his underlying DIY, minimalist aesthetic has been successfully captured on his Angry Mom Records debut EP,” commented Johann.
Capturing Local Band BLOW! on Vinyl
Not long after signing a deal with Sveen, Johann was drawn to another local band called BLOW! (their band name includes the capital letters and exclamation point), an Ithaca duo with a big sound.
“My store manager was raving to me about a demo recording he’d heard by this new band BLOW!,” Johann recalled recently. “I saw the band at Castaways and wanted them to be part of the new label, too.”
BLOW!’s Bruce Hyde and Johnny Zachman headed into a Manhattan studio with legendary music producer Jimmy Bralower to record and mix their first songs. Three of the best pieces appear on the duo’s self-titled vinyl EP release on the Angry Mom Records label. The album’s cover sleeve design was created by Ithaca artist Laura Brothers, with insert design by local artist Mason Speed.
Releasing Johnny Dowd Hits on Real Records
Johann’s store manager, Lee Conlon, had been active in the music business in his native England, including handling touring arrangements for Ithaca-based and internationally acclaimed music sensation Johnny Dowd.
When not working in Ithaca, Dowd tours regularly in Europe. The Daily Mirror newspaper in London proclaimed Dowd’s unique music “brilliantly macabre, rib-tickling, poised and admirably raw dirty rock ’n’ roll from the shaded supremo of gothic Americana.”
Johann found out that no one handled vinyl releases for Dowd’s music, and worked out a deal to bring out Dowd’s records in vinyl format.
“Dowd is internationally known, tours internationally, and has a fan base around the world,” Johann said. “But his music is only available on CDs or on digital downloads. I felt his sound was perfect for vinyl, which adds a warmth and drive to music that can’t be matched with other formats.”
Angry Mom Records plans to release a two-song 45rpm by Dowd hits toward the end of this year.