This coming Bumbershoot weekend, September 2nd-4th, Sub Pop Records is fairly well-prepared, and entirely thrilled, to host the above-mentioned Art Installation, Pop-up Store & Immersive Experience - aka Bumberstore - providing a rare glimpse of the unique art, design, culture, and (of course…) merchandise associated with the label.
You are right in identifying this as another conveniently located Sub Pop retail experience you have to buy a ticket to get into! (See also Sub Pop’s Airport Store.)
And you may (or may not) now be wondering: Exactly what sort of hocus pocus does it take to turn this…
Into this?
Like the other seven wonders of the world, we began with coffee and donuts (obvs.) Also cold pizza: breakfast of champions and losers alike!
Next, gather your brightest minds, your most idea-ful artists and designers, your typically fairly shiftless staffers. Then, sacrifice one toe. Anyone’s toe will do, however the toe of a department director is sure to stack the deck in your favor.
It takes a village. And also roughly that many pillows…
And the hearts of an entire company.
Add merch…
And we’re also hoping to sell some records.
Three days won’t be nearly enough time, but it’ll have to do. And we’re super stoked to see you there.
Find the Sub Pop Bumberstore at the International Fountain Pavilion. (there’s a map over here.)
We have a fond appreciation for the ideafulness of Altamont Apparel when it comes to music, art, and skateboarding. Thus, it seemed like a natural pairing for Sub Pop and Altamont to combine forces for this limited edition capsule collection. We couldn’t be prouder to share (and for you to buy) these new items.
Limited Edition Sub Pop x Altamont Logo Patch Flannel. [None more grunge.]
Founded in 2006 and rooted in the Los Angeles skate industry, Altamont has a long history of collaborating with the art & music worlds. Sub Pop family members No Age, Rick Froberg of the Obits, Tim Kerr, and Mogwai have all partnered with Altamont to bring their unique visions to life.
For Fall 2016 we worked with Altamont to create a collection consisting of 2 printed tees, a flannel shirt, denim jacket, and a beanie.
Take a peek at this short video wherein our very own art director extraordinaire, Sasha Barr, talks about at the record label, the history of Sub Pop music in skate videos and how the collaboration with Altamont came to be realized.
I’m writing to you with a heavy heart, as I must announce that this will be my final installment of the No Fly List blog. By the time you read this, I will be moving my life from Seattle, Washington, to New Orleans, Louisiana. Sometimes I think only a real idiot would leave behind a Corporate Associate position at Sub Pop Records, but the siren call of zydeco and drum buddies is too strong for me to resist.
I’ve been humbled by the many accolades that the No Fly List has received under my stewardship, including “The Only Airport Record Store Blog,” “Most Punctual Monthly Column on SubPop.Com,” and “Best Display of Crass Marketing Disguised as Blogging.” However, as I move on from my Internet throne, the No Fly List will live on, and I am excited to see what other folks from the airport store do with this blog. So stay tuned and get your eyeballs ready for some #fresh #original #authentic #curated #airportstore #blog #content next month.
I would like to use my last blog to air some final grievances and address all my personal vendettas list some of the things I will miss about working at the Sub Pop Airport store.
-The way that ’Sub Pop’ rolls off the tongues of people who are saying it for the first time in their lives. Sometimes their inflection drags on the “B,” and then emphasizes the second vowel so much it turns into an onomatopoeia, making a noise like “subbbbb POP.” For others, it’s more of a questioning, high rising intonation (a.k.a., that thing? Where all your sentences? Sound like questions?) which sounds like “Sup? Pod?”
-The people who desperately want to refold a stack of shirts that they’ve messed up, but just end up making it look worse and harder to fix. I usually try to say something like “I’m a professional shirt folder, you can mess up all the shirts you want, please don’t feel obligated to refold them.” But they try to be helpful anyway, and I love them dearly for this.
-The mystery person(s) that tried to steal our polaroid of (two members of) The 1975, and made us use a bunch of staples to keep it attached to the wall:
-The following people who were gracious enough to let me fumble my way around photographing them for our store’s polaroid wall: Elvis Costello, Nardwuar, Tom Scharpling, Jon Wurster, Jonathan Meiburg, and David Hinds.
-The following people who I met but was not able to photograph at the store, for a litany of reasons, but all seemed very nice: Dan Boeckner, Jemaine Clement, Randy Johnson, Corinne Bailey Rae, Jason Schwartzman, Noel Gallagher, John Curley, and Eric Kretz.
-Adults who put on our child’s-size-only bucket hats. I usually don’t have the heart to burst their bubble, when I know they’re only trying to copy their favorite band’s look.
-The man who saw our “Spanning the Globe for Profit” shirt, and with venom in his eyes, asked me if our company was like Wal-Mart or Halliburton. When I told him we are a medium-sized independent record label with a cheeky sense of humor, he countered with “Well, but do you make the world a better place?” and stormed off before I could launch into some of the things that have made me incredibly proud to work here. (Just kidding, I won’t miss that asshole at all.)
-Everyone who makes Sub Pop the best place to work. This includes my fellow coworkers, the many fans who continue to be psyched to see Sub Pop at the airport, the many more people who have no idea what the hell Sub Pop is (but are open and enthused to learn more about it), and if you’re reading this, YOU.
Last night, Clipping dropped these dizzying visuals for new track “Baby Don’t Sleep” and details of their new full-length Splendor & Misery, a Sci-Fi/dystopian concept album due out September 9th on Sub Pop/Deathbomb Arc.
Clipping are producers Jonathan Snipes and William Hutson, along with rapper/lyricist Daveed Diggs. [Yes THAT Daveed Diggs: Originator of the roles of the Marquis de Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson in acclaimed Broadway musical Hamilton AND winner of the 2016Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical.]
“Baby Don’t Sleep” is Clipping’s collaboration with multi-disciplinary artist Cristopher Cichocki. The new video is an electrified vortex of visual art that jolts into the core of the group’s commanding noise-rap and musique concrete aesthetics. Captured within the industrial bellies of New York and Los Angeles, this meticulously detailed work is comprised from Cichocki’s visual experiments with interference static, oscilloscopic wavelengths, and flicker-frame animation.
Splendor & Misery is an Afrofuturist, dystopian concept album that follows the sole survivor of a slave uprising on an interstellar cargo ship, and the onboard computer that falls in love with him. Thinking he is alone and lost in space, the character discovers music in the ship’s shuddering hull and chirping instrument panels. William and Jonathan’s tracks draw an imaginary sonic map of the ship’s decks, hallways, and quarters, while Daveed’s lyrics ride the rhythms produced by its engines and machinery. In a reversal of H.P. Lovecraft’s concept of cosmic insignificance, the character finds relief in learning that humanity is of no consequence to the vast, uncaring universe. It turns out, pulling the rug out from under anthropocentrism is only horrifying to those who thought they were the center of everything to begin with. Ultimately, The character decides to pilot his ship into the unknown—and possibly into oblivion—instead of continuing on to worlds whose systems of governance and economy have violently oppressed him.
The album is led by the highlights “Baby Don’t Sleep,” “A Better Place,” and “Air ‘Em Out,” was produced by the band, and mixed by Steve Kaplan in Los Angeles. The announcement of said album comes hot on the heels of the group’s just released Wriggle EP [see the GIFtastic title track video right over here].
Splendor & Misery will be available worldwide on CD/LP/DL/CASS, and is now up for preorder from Sub Pop and Deathbomb Arc. Preorders through Sub Pop Mega Mart and independent retailers near you will receive the Loser edition on crystal clear vinyl (while supplies last).
Clipping’s current tour schedule in support of Wriggle and Splendor & Misery includes: August 4th in Seattle at Neumos (with Cakes Da Killa and Porter Ray); August 19th in Los Angeles for the Perpetual Dawn Anniversary; A hometown release show on September 8th in Los Angeles at Highways Performance Space* (with Busdriver and Pedestrian Deposit); And September 11th at the San Francisco Electronic Music Festival.
*The September 8th show is presented by Highways Performance Space, Artistic Directors, Leo Garcia & Patrick Kennelly.
Additional tour dates will be announced soon. For now, please find a current list of dates below.
Tour Dates Aug. 04 - Seattle, WA - Neumos* Aug. 19 - Los Angeles, CA - Perpetual Dawn Anniversary Show (venue TBA) Sep. 08 - Los Angeles, CA - Highways Performance Space** Sep. 11 - San Francisco, CA - San Francisco Electronic Music Festival * w/ Cakes Da Killa & Porter Ray ** w/ Busdriver, Pedestrian Deposit
As the days get warmer, and the airport gets busier, I can’t help but think about all of the Sub Pop bands tearing it up on tour and crushing the summer music festival circuit. While many great festivals have already occurred this year, such as Coachella, Sasquatch, and Bonnaroo, there are still plenty more to discover, some in your own backyard, others in far-off locales. You might be saying to yourself, “Sure, I want to get my fest-vibes on this summer, but how do I distinguish between all of these authentically-curated music festivals?” Well, I have taken it upon myself to synthesize some of the information located at https://www.subpop.com/tours and compile a list of 10 music festivals worth attending this summer. For each festival, I’ve included information on current and former Sub Pop recording artists on the bill, other notable musicians to see, and a unique Festi Fun Fact™. Starting with two festivals right here in Seattle, followed by eight others around the world, let’s dig in!
Other Artists I’d Check Out: Clams Casino, DoNormaal, Dude York, Nail Polish, Mommy Long Legs
Festi Fun Fact™: This three day music festival takes place in Seattle’s funky and hip Capitol Hill neighborhood. (If you want to talk like a local when you visit, be sure to call it ‘Cap Hill.’) MTV’s The Real World is currently filming its newest season in Cap Hill, and locals are excited at the prospect of even more people filling up their bars and restaurants every weekend, hoping to see the cast members in-action.
Sub Pop Bands to See: So Pitted, Father John Misty
Other Artists I’d Check Out: Tame Impala, Run the Jewels, Kamasi Washington, Anderson Paak and the Free Nationals, Chastity Belt
Festi Fun Fact™: This annual Labor Day weekend festival has been running in Seattle Center every year since 1971. The word ‘Bumbershoot’ is a dated and humorous term for an umbrella, and the festival gets its name from the large wooden effigy of a bumbershoot that is constructed every year, and then burned to the ground, in a ritualistic sacrifice to the rain gods.
Sub Pop Bands to See: Father John Misty (solo set), the Head and the Heart
Other Artists I’d Check Out: M83, Twin Peaks, Mac DeMarco
Festi Fun Fact™: With this year’s special solo performance by Father John Misty (aka Josh Tillman), Mo Pop continues its legacy of hosting talented male performers, as previous festivals have seen the likes of Brandon Flowers, Andrew Bird, and J Roddy Walston grace the West Riverfront Park stage.
Other Artists I’d Check Out: Grimes, Kurt Vile, Vince Staples, Radiohead
Festi Fun Fact™: While many famous musicians have called Montreal, Canada, home, members of the indie-rock band Of Montreal are not, in fact, from there. They are proud Americans from the city of Montreal, Wisconsin.
Sub Pop Bands to See: Heron Oblivion, Beach House, Rogue Wave, Foals
Other Artists I’d Check Out: Chance the Rapper, Lana Del Rey, Third Eye Blind, Radiohead again.
Festi Fun Fact™: With their top-billing at this year’s Outside Lands festival, local San Fran band Third Eye Blind will be celebrating their 20th anniversary of opening for Oasis at the Frisco Civic Auditorium, by playing an identical song-for-song setlist.
Sub Pop Bands to See: Beach House, Wolf Parade, Fruit Bats
Other Artists I’d Check Out: Julia Holter, Thee Oh Sees, BADBADNOTGOOD, La Luz, Protomartyr
Festi Fun Fact™: La Luz and Protomartyr have both released albums on Hardly Art, everyone’s favorite scrappy upstart record label in Seattle, who will soon celebrate 10 years of being a scrappy upstart record label in Seattle.
Sub Pop Bands to See: Shabazz Palaces, Beach House, Melvins
Other Artists I’d Check Out: Bon Iver, Erykah Badu, James Blake, Jenny Lewis, William Tyler
Festi Fun Fact™: If you go to the Eaux Claires festival by yourself, one way to make a lot of friends would be to walk around the grounds saying, to no one and everyone in particular, “For an éclairs festival, I thought there’d be more pastries haha.” Repeat as necessary until people start recognizing you as the really funny éclair guy.
Sub Pop Bands to See: Beach House, Father John Misty, Wolf Parade
Other Artists I’d Check Out: Kendrick Lamar, Sheer Mag, AIR, Anohni, Charles Bradley
Festi Fun Fact™: Despite repeated excavations at the historic Los Angeles Sports Arena and Exposition Park, in Los Angeles, California, F.Y.F Fest organizers have failed to recover the original tableaus that contain the translation, and meaning, of the initials “F.Y.F.” This year, it was decided that festival goers would vote for a new original backronym, and “Family friendlYFun” was recently declared the top vote getter.
Sub Pop Bands to See: Sam Beam & Jesca Hoop, GOAT, the Shins, Kelley Stoltz
Other Artists I’d Check Out: Animal Collective, Cat Power, Broken Social Scene, Savages
Festi Fun Fact™: If you are from the U.S. and plan on going to the festival, be mindful that many attendees from the surrounding area might be sensitive about the recent ‘Brexit.’ It would be unwise to ask the nearest person with an unfamiliar accent about their thoughts on the U.K. leaving the European Union, but if you still want to be informed, be sure to stop by the End of the Road official ‘Brexit Information Tent presented by Tesco’ where volunteers are eager to fill you in on this unprecedented development in global politics.
Sub Pop Bands to See: METZ, Iron and Wine, Melvins
Other Artists I’d Check Out: The Specials, Sylvan Esso, Living Colour, De La Soul, Warpaint
Festi Fun Fact™: Synesthesia is defined as “a sensation produced in one modality when a stimulus is applied to another modality, as when the hearing of a certain sound induces the visualization of a certain color.” Studies have shown that 86% of people who claim to regularly experience synesthesia are liars.
This Saturday and Sunday (7/16-17) Team Sub Pop starts biking from Seattle to Portland in support of the Northwest Parkinson’s Foundation, and we need YOUR help!
Since being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in January of 2013, our Co-Founder and fearless leader Jonathan Poneman has done everything he can to show others that there is life beyond Parkinson’s. In a 2013 Seattle Times article, he states, “I accept that I have this disease, but that doesn’t give me the right to be passive.” He actually explains it as sort of a blessing. Parkinson’s has allowed him to “recalibrate” important values. “As ironic as it sounds, I am truly grateful to the disease,” and he explains further that, “My love of life and its precious elements became more vivid at the thought of seeing them fade away.” You can read more from Jonathan Poneman here, as he describes a very personal side to his Parkinson’s story.
In support of the many individuals and families affected by PD every year, Sub Pop Records employees will be raising money for the Northwest Parkinson’s Foundation (NWPF) by undertaking the fabled 204-mile Seattle to Portland (STP) Bicycle Classic. We hope you’ll take a moment to donate, and to spread the word about our fundraising efforts.
Donate to our team and we will enter you in a drawing for a hand-picked selection of Sub Pop greatest hits and rarities. From Nirvana’sBleach to Band of HorsesEverything All The Time to rare colored vinyl editions, Sub Pop fans are in for a treat. And, this week only, we will be throwing in mega-rare test pressings of Let’s Be Still by The Head and the Heart!
Your donation will benefit the Northwest Parkinson’s Foundation, which does great work on behalf of people suffering from Parkinson’s Disease. Please take a moment to visit our Sub Pop Team page and make a donation. Under ‘Honour Roll Options’ please select ‘Other (Custom)’ and enter “Sub Pop Giveaway (7/15/16)” in the note field. Winners will be notified shortly after 7/18.
