GTG RECORDS

Here is a rundown of what the artists of GTG are up to at the moment. More details about what was discussed at the meeting Sunday night are on their way, so check back in a week or so!

STARGRAZER
Peter Richards has been busy at the Crooked Sound studio with Eric Merkling working on atmospheric sounds and melodies; building blocks of upcoming Stargrazer feature “My Dreams Are Running Late”. No date has been set for this release, but we can expect to see it out sometime this year. Whatever they’re cooking up there in that attic smells pretty damn good. We can’t wait to get a taste…
Stargrazer plans to set up a show in February or March, so keep that in your radar.

JOSH DAVID & THE DREAM JEANS
This hot new band comprised of Matt Norton (tCF) on drums, Michael Boyes (of Drinking Mercury) on bass, Nich Richard (ze famous bass playing Plural) on guitar, fronted by the one and only Josh David came smashing into the scene late last year, blowing unsuspecting listeners away at B414, Mac’s Bar and of course the GTG House.
JD & DJ will be working with Tommy Plural on their debut EP “Opinions and Profanity” to be co-released by GTG and Bermuda Mohawk Productions. They will be seeking artwork for this release, so any ideas may be reported directly to the Dream Jeans.
Upcoming shows include an early show tonight, January 28, at Mac’s Bar with Edible Intention, Randy Thunderbird and Burnouts as well as February 13 at Oade’s Hidden Camel with Cavalcade, Drinking Mercury, and Genocya.

NARC OUT THE REDS
“Narc Out the Reds Are On the Run” is the title of the long-awaited album we’re hoping to release as soon as this spring. They’ve been working on this record over the course of that past couple or more years with Ike from Hat Madder and Glen Brown. Peter Richards (yes, Stargrazer himself) will be producing artwork for this album that we can’t wait to hear and see. We proposed a triple-release show may take place this March or April with GTG label-mates The Plurals and Fade To Black, so we’ll see how that turns out.
This band always brings a killer live show (they can even make my MOM dance), so I’d advise you to experience NOTR live at one or more of their upcoming shows:
February 6 at Mac’s Bar with Hat Madder (EP release) and Drinking Mercury
March 12 at Mac’s with Extra Sugar, People’s Temple and Frank & Earnest
April 10 at Mac’s again with Their Teeth Will Be of Lions and Kids With Cobras from Kalamazoo

THE HAT MADDER
It’s coming up quick! February 6 at Mac’s Bar is the date set to release their latest EP “Rogue Notes and Phones”. GTG is proud to be part of this EP’s release and distribution. Raptor’s Delight PR is going to help us send this one out for review as well. I’ve never seen this band preform poorly, and I’m pretty sure when it comes to music, Ike is a perfectionist, so you can expect great things in their recorded material too. Listen for yourself!
You MUST SEE the Hat Madder. If you miss the Release show, check them out April 2 with Satin Peaches and Hounds Below at Mac’s Bar.

EDIBLE INTENTION
These three from Grand Ledge continue to be in and out of the GTG studio with Tommy Plural, with only a few songs left to track for their upcoming EP that is to be co-released with Silver Maple Kill Records. Fortunately, the sounds they’re getting at the GTG house were just what they were looking for. They hope to have these recordings released early this summer. Currently the only show I see booked happens to be tonight at Mac’s with Josh David and the Dream Jeans, so don’t miss it!

JASON ALARM
Now with a different line-up, a few of the Grand Ledge kids popped into the meeting to say they’ve been working on home demos, planning to tour this summer, and maybe even drop a record by the end of this year. We’re looking forward to whatever they bring to the table, especially after their last release “Engage”.
Upcoming shows:
March 28 at Mac’s Bar with Mustard Plug
April 3 t Oade’s Hidden Camel

MK ULTRA CULKIN
We loved “Sexual Exhilaration at a Bargain Price” and are thrilled to co-release their next work “Homeland Insecurity EP” with Silver Maple Kill Records. The band has been working on this with Tommy Plural at the GTG house and should have this EP out in late February or March. MK Ultra had a good couple shows in Bloomington and Indianapolis this past weekend and should be headed back to the studio soon.
One particular up coming show I want to make note of takes place at Basement 414 on February 20 with Love Muffin and Dan Daniels and the Southern Gents. We were hoping to film some footage for the video compilation we’d like to make this year, so please join us with that in mind! This is also the only upcoming show these guys and girl have in Lansing for a bit. They’re playing in Ypsilanti on February 12 and in Detroit April 5 too!

FRANK & EARNEST
Still they are in the GTG studio here and there working on an EP; potentially beginning to work a full album. Whatever it ends up being, they hope to have something released by late spring by both GTG and Bermuda Mohawk Productions. I must say, we are so happy to have these guys around. Lansing was in need of a band like this. Good things are coming. They have three shows scheduled:
February 8 at Mac’s Bar with To Fear the Wolf and Dave from the Loved Ones
March 12 at Mac’s with Narc Out the Reds, Extra Sugar and People’s Temple
March 20 at the Flint Citadel with more bands TBA

THE PLURALS
It’s been a minute since you’ve seen this trio together, but no worries! They are still rocking together as hard as ever whenever Hattie is around, and you’ve probably caught a glimpse of Nich and Tommy in other bands around town (JD&DJ, Drinking Mercury). The band plans to go back to the studio this spring and summer with buckets of songs to work on with Eric at Crooked Sound Studios. No date has been set yet on that albums release, but the band plans to release a split EP with a band called Honah Lee from New Jersey, hopefully by May 6 when they roll through town.
The Plurals first shows this year will be:
February 26 at State Grounds Coffee House in Hastings, MI (free show!)
March 21 at Mac’s Bar with Flatfoot and more TBA!
Also, keep a heads up for a potential GTG house show May 6th!

CROOKED SOUND
Eric has been in the studio with Stargrazer quite a bit these days, so his artistic focus has been on recording and engineering recently. He’s also preparing to get with the Plurals again, since they work very well together (take “Whatevers Forever” for example). The Plurals do miss fleshing out Crooked Sound songs and want to get back on it sooner than later to keep things fresh. We hope to see Crooked Sound perform at GTG Fest this year or sooner. Eventually, an album is on the way.

THE BREAK-UPS
This cutesy, half-cocked quartet plans to begin recording their next album through out this summer; looking to release by late summer/early fall. This album will have even more writing contribution from its rhythm section this time around with sugary-folk-pop songs like “California” and “Michigan”. The next album (not yet titled) is sure to be different from the last, but with all the same elements you love about The Break-ups.
Go see and hear them April 24 at Mac’s Bar with Those Transatlantics.

SMALL HOUSES
Jeremy Quentin (you may have seen him in folk group Head & Toe awhile back) currently resides in Boston, MA where he continues to book some kind of on-going tour of the Rust Belt and beyond under the name “Small Houses”. On his Michigan leg, Small Houses will release a new EP at Scene Metrospace in East Lansing where it all began more or less. That’s happening the 27 of February. Also, Small Houses will be performing all over the mitten; check out the GTG show listing for more info.

FADE TO BLACK
“Black Is Back” is the title of this bands upcoming record; a fitting title for a band who’s just gotten back into writing and recording again for the first time in 15+ years or so. This band started in 1990, wrote and recorded an album, and too soon after ended up going their separate ways, as they all had promising aspirations in the Field of Media. (In fact, their drummer is a professional actor!) After a while, they found themselves back together having a blast making music again, and asked GTG if we’d be interested in helping them promote and distribute “Black Is Back”, and possibly re-release some of their stuff from the early 90’s. We said “Sounds great! We’ll do what we do…”
Having a professional career is film and media (hence their name “Fade To Black”; a film term) guitarist Eldon has expressed enthusiasm for helping GTG make a video compilation over the course of this year. (More on this coming soon).
It’s hard to track these guys down as a band since they’re all busy “grown-ups” with “responsibilities” so… they don’t have a whole lot of shows scheduled. HOWEVER, they have some part in a Haiti Benefit show happening at Waverly High School on February 6. They appear to be on the bill! Check them out and support relief efforts for Haiti!

DRINKING MERCURY
What HAVE these guys been up to? Beats me. Better be good. We’ve been waiting on this album since 2003. What the f*** guys? Just kidding. From what I hear, DM has been playing together more, getting tighter and more prepared not only for the shows they have coming up, but for the studio as well. You may see them on stage, go up to Tommy and say “Oh! Are the Plurals playing tonight?” Or to Timmy, “Oh! The Break-Ups are playing? Where’s Frankie?” Or to Michael “Oooh! The Dream Jeans are playing tonight!? Where’s that sexy singer guy Josh David?!” And to all these inquiries, they will say “No, this is much, much different than any of those bands…” We hope you like the band that preceded all the others that is not The Plurals, The Break-Ups or the Dream Jeans. Check em out February 6 at Mac’s and the 13 at Oade’s Hidden Camel.

SPREITZER UPDATE:
Drummer James Spreitzer (formally of Really Cinematic) is on the look-out for a band to join forces with, so any one interested, look him up! Drummers are hard to come by people! His sister Jessi Spreitzer moved out east last year where she is too shy to tell us what her musical life entails. Like Thomas says in his song “Jessica”: “I don’t know why you write songs in the bathroom, but when I hear the results it doesn’t matter…” something sweet and sappy like that. She’s out there with Dim from Too Much Too Fast Too Soon (former GTG band) who now riffs for Honah Lee—a band soon to do a split with The Plurals. I hear tales and rumors about Jessi Spreitzer music happening, but I suppose we’ll see what’s up with her later this spring.

PUDVAY UPDATE:
He’s in Chicago doing stuff. Keep an eye out for cool places down there Loren!!

1335 E Grand River Ave, Lansing, MI, 2 PM, Saturday Dec 19.
Day of mayhem courtesy your BMP/ GTG Friends.
The Cartridge Family, Josh David & The Dream Jeans, Frank and Earnest, Cavalcade, Genocya, La Mano, Edible Intentions, Fisher King, Gates of Steel, and the debut of The Plurals+..Break-Ups+John Bruce project Gary Sez Go!
It’s not only the release party for the 2009 Bermuda Snowhawk Compilation, but also a birthday celebration for the big man juicebox drywall king himself, Josh David.

The compilation features exclusive new tracks from GTG/BMP mainstays & friends The Plurals, The Break-Ups, Cavalcade, Small Houses, Crooked Sound, Stargrazer, Johnny Unicorn, Josh David & The Dream Jeans (debut recording!), Middleman, Ben Hassenger, The Cartridge Family, new solo tracks from both of the ex Matadors of Shame singer guys Anthony Adani and Andrew Amato, as well as a stocking stuffer’s worth of absolute nonsense from the smattering of side projects that pop up this time of year.. all I can say is brace yourselves for fucking Young Dan Tucker and Foxy Cyrus.
The comp will be available for free at the show, and the bands will all have a few copies in the weeks to come, but supplies are limited so get ’em while you can!

Happy Holidaze.

In response to the post below, we all miss you too Ms. Jessi Lynn. We love you and are so happy that you dusted off that guitar again, and those Trenton folks best be taking good care of you. Looking forward to seeing you dims in February.
tommygtg

(a lot.)

JessiSpreitzer

Everybody heard the news and keep asking me, “Why are you moving to Texas?! When are you coming back?” My answer begins with another question: Do you want the short answer, or the extended one? Short answer: I’m broke and there’s work available there. That’s not good enough for you vultures though (I say that in the best way possible; I really love vultures http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vulture) Since this is a public blog, I suppose I’ll try and find and extended enough answer to satisfy.

Where to begin? As most of you know, Tommy and I are broken up. This came as a shock to most of our friends and surrounding music community. It may seem weird to break up a 6-year relationship, as well as the marriage engagement, true. But think about this—we were a pretty weird couple to begin with. How many couples do you know that started dating in highschool, formed a band, and are still together? I know it seems odd for me to leave such a great, smart, sweet, attractive guy after 6 years; stupid even. It barely makes sense to me either, but someday it will. (Who knows, maybe I’m homosexual? Nah… I wish though. I’d never have to worry about getting pregnant). Tommy and I have been and always will be the best of friends with many of the same goals. We have a positive outlook on what this experience will do for the band and how we’re to approach our songwriting from here on out.

“What’s this? A new way?

SO…
Why TEXAS?
I would have preferred a place a little closer to home, and ANYWHERE but Texas (or maybe California). It’s hot, drunks everywhere, everything’s bigger for the sake of being bigger, everything has it’s own special TEXAS stamp (“Lone Star” Bud Lite for example). It’s practically it’s own country. And it’s so proud of itself for it. Turns out though, Texas has a booming economy with a lush job market. On top of that, I have places (yes, that’s plural) to stay and a truck to return to it’s owner. You see, when my cousin Mike came back to Michigan after working in Texas for the past few years, his boss Gino let him take his work truck that Gino owned. Since Mike can’t send Gino money for the truck, he has to return it, and that’s where I come into that picture.

Where in Texas?
San Antonio. One of the more southern large cities of the Lone Star State.

I’d prefer Austin since that’s where the music scene thrives, but it’s not too far I guess. I will make visits.

Who will you stay with?
My cousin Mindy lives there with her husband and baby. I also have a list of friends of Mike’s that are happy to help me out.

Are you going alone? Who’s going with you?
My dear friend Jeremy is going along with me.

When are you coming back?
Before Christmas. I could go without Christmas personally, but my family is already unstable enough. Plus I’d miss the snow.
After the holidays, The Plurals will begin recording our next album at the GTG house and Crooked Sound Studios. We’re currently recording demos of all the songs so we can be familiar with them when we record them for real. I’m so excited for this next album too… it’s going to be a masterpiece.

What happens after that?
It’s kind of up in the air after that. If all goes well, I may go back and keep working, and continue to chime in on what ever tracks are added on top of my drum tracks. I may stick around. I may go to New Jersey or Antarctica or someplace. It’s hard to say. In the meantime, we’ll be booking our spring tour which is set for March 4-14th.

“Are you sure you’re not running away from something?” is another big one that some people have asked me. Yes, I do feel the need to get out of town for awhile, not just because of family or the ex-boyfriend, but for a change of scenery I suppose. It would be nice to be made aware of a new perspective. I’m looking forward to it very much, even if it’s not my ideal place to be. Unlike some Michiganders, I’m pretty happy with the mitten and will always call it home.

So that’s what I have to say about that. If you want to write me while I’m away, please do! My email is hattiedanby@gmail, or of you [refer to write an old-fashioned letter, I’ll be posting my Texas address as soon as I know it. I’m going to miss everybody very much, especially my GTG and BMP family that I love so much.

See you at the end of December!!
Much Love,
Hattie Plural

In both these articles Rich Tupica talks about local band Cheap Girls along with fellow GTG Member Stargrazer. Check these articles out.

http://www.lansingcitypulse.com/lansing/article-3533-roaring-back.html

http://www.lansingcitypulse.com/lansing/article-3560-turn-it-down-a-survey-of-lansings-musical-landscape.html

Rock and Roll.

Timmy GTG.

News!

We will be repressing The Break-Ups/ Head and Toe “GTG Sessions” split, The Plurals “Broadside Sessions EP,” and The Break-Ups “Skulls and Stuff” in October, so, fear not, they shall be available again soon. We’re aiming to have them on the streets again for the October 2nd Plurals/ Cartridge Family show at Sun Theater in Grand Ledge, MI. Also… The Plurals “Close Your Eyes and Floor It” live album should be available at this date as well.. keep your fingers crossed!

Plurals: “Whatevers Forever” is getting a nice national push through our friends at Raptor’s Delight PR. Expect some more reviews and stuff showing up soon. In the meantime, The Plurals have just recorded a track for an upcoming Devo tribute album to be released by GTG and The Wind Records this Christmas. Also on this album will be Calliope, The Cartridge Family, Narc Out the Reds, Gates of Steel, Johnny Unicorn, Cavalcade and oh so many other great bands. Yes! Michigan dates are booked through the beginning of November (make sure to catch The Plurals w/ OH MY GOD and Hat Madder at Mac’s Bar on October 25) followed by a brief midwest tour, and then it’s time to bunker down in the studio! With any luck, “Whatevers Forever” will be nicely buzzed, and then we take advantage of it with a new record in mid-10. Eric Merckling is working with the band again (on the Devo track as well as the new record) and we wouldn’t have it any other way.

J. Quentin/ Small Houses: Jeremy Rizik is chipping away at a record with John Krohn at his Deep Pink Studios in Lansing. Lots of cool folks have popped up on this record, including former members of Head and Toe and The Verve Pipe… should be cool! He’s playing in East Lansing at (SCENE) tonight, followed by a show in Philadelphia tomorrow night… fun stuff! His neverending tour picks up in Houghton, MI on September 30, whirling around the midwest for several weeks thereafter.

The Break-Ups: In addition to those new pressings mentioned above, The Break-Ups will soon be recording their smoking cover of KISS’ “Sure Know Something” for a GTG KISS tribute to come in early 2010. Not much to report on the live front, but the band should be hitting the studio in October to track some new material… stay tuned!

Too Much Too Fast Too Soon: The hard partying punky gentleman of our east coast contingent are keepin sprits up in dirty Jersey, with a show with punk legends The Casualities coming up in November. Wish we could all be there.. some of us will, but, read below… Raptor’s Delight PR has also taken on TMTFTS, so get ready for some more buzz on these fellas in addition to their state of mind…

Jessi Spreitzer: Well, we never got a chance to work with our token chanteuse on a record in Michigan, but we’ll be keeping tabs on her as she is soon to base her operations in the land of Too Much Too Fast Too Soon, Trenton, NJ. She’ll be playing a farewell show at State Grounds in Hastings, MI on October 9, and tommypluralsurprise will open the show. It’s free and all ages, so come sing along to “As It Should Be” one last time!

Stargrazer: Stargrazer is working away at a record in Eric Merckling’s CrookedSound studio, and boy are we excited. Stargrazer has deserved a good album of his haunting space pop for far too long, and we are honored to be the ones to help make it happen.

Jason Alarm: After some lineup shakeups the followed the release of their stellar debut EP “Engage!”, these hoodrats are back on the scene to support Cheap Girls‘ album release show on October 10 at the Sun Theater in Grand Ledge. Further GTG connections: Cheap Girls tracked about half of their album in the GTG House studio, so you can bet we’re excited to get that one out there too!

A Paschal Circus: Has anyone heard from these guys?

Really Cinematic: I think they broke up.. at least, Hattie, James, and Loren aren’t involved any more. Whatevs.

Drinking Mercury: With any luck, the long promised, forever-delayed album from these guys should be out for their 10th anniversary next year. Sheesh. But, dude, it’s gonna be so good.

Another post will be made in a few weeks to follow-up on this, but we’re involved with a lot of cool artists for future releases, including Narc Out the Reds, The Hat Madder, Gates of Steel, and Middleman. You can bet we’re excited!

GTG G2G

tommygtg

The softball game commences in a half hour. Who will win? Who will walk home in shame afraid to show their face in Lansing or at punk rock shows ever again? We wait with baited breath.

tommyplural

I was sitting around the other day. Just strumming my acoustic on the backporch of my house. I was thinking of the upcoming GTG vs. BMP softball game. Then I thought to myself, how to we establish the GTG? I get the question “What is GTG?” I always smile because a lot of people know that there is a “GTG” but no one knows what it stands for. GTG stands for “Good Time Gang”. But thats just letters. GTG to me means more than just three letters. Its a group of people or musicians that are brought together out of one thing in their lives they love the most. Which is music. I know that is my number 1 passion. It surpasses anything else. Nothing makes me feel more connected to my soul than playing music. But how does one explain that to someone who asks what the GTG is? It’s a record label. It’s a community. It’s got its own super band. It’s a friendship. 

So this is where I differ from a lot of other people except for maybe Tommy when I start to think. I was thinking about The History of the GTG. And I was thinking of it in a novel context. I started thinking of certain chapters. Because if you think of it, the GTG’s history is divided up into chapters. Well at least it is in my eyes. This may seem odd to you, but to me, as someone who likes to have the vast GTG musical catalogue archived on my computer, this is totally normal. So I give you my outline of the The History of The GTG.

1. The Beginning

2. Rock Cherry Pie – The Plurals are formed

3. One Hand Inside – My Apology, The First Release and Apologized and Pluralized 2005.

4. Feelin’ So High – Magdalina’s Teahouse, The Stopgap EP and the formation of The Break-Ups

5. I Promise I Will Call – Head and Toe’s I-80, Professer Nanners and Blush Noisette

6. Cuz I Hate Metallica – GTG Meets BMP, The Plurals join up with Crooked Sound, Situations at Hand Vol. 1

7. IIIayyeee Don’t Believe in Love – The Rise and Fall of The Knights Without, Let The Air In EP

8. What Do You Feel Right Now? – Skulls and Stuff, City of Leaves and Whatevers Forever

9. GTG Fest

10. Take You Home With Me – Too Much Too Fast Too Soon, Jessi Spreitzer, Really Cinematic, Ori

11. GTG Fest II

Mr. Unicorn himself.

We will miss you Johnny.

Timmygtg

I just realized that my first tour blog post isn’t up on the site. It didnt really say much, but it was called “God Bless America Tour #1.” Our new T-Shirts are red white and blue. That’s pretty much it. Man oh man… lost blog posts. What sort of gems have been taken away from us?!?!?!?!?!?!

Good to hear the Monday show went well. GTG started as a lunch room conversation between me, Nich, Hattie, and Stefan, and it’s super awesome that GTG events can happen across the continental US, without any of the founders present at a show in Lansing. Amazing. Bring on the fest!

tp