Banquet Records

Im not sure when it became obvious to us that we should do a Japan fund-faiser.  Those scenes which everyone was so shocked about at the time seem somewhat distant now, but obvs the need is still really strong.  It felt right that the next available NS date should be a fund-raiser.  100% of the door money is going to the cause, and this is mostly because all the bands and a few staff are playing / working for free to make this happen.  i hope its worth their time. 

It really does seem like its the Kingston music community making this happen.  Banquet and NS is the facilitator of this, but the credit really goes to the bands who are making it happen and significantly the people who are helping spread the word, or just buying tickets even when they have no intention to actually make the event. Having said that, i hope people DO come to the event.  Kurran And The Wolfnotes have rightly headlined new slang before, and the bill is really quite strong.

We’ll let you know how it goes.  I hope its good.  tickets and info from here:  http://www.banquetrecords.com/nsjapanfund

you know, before we actually took over the shop (its hard to think back that far…) Jane, Jon and Dave (and Mark) were running a label Gravity DIP.    At that time, the masses still wanted CDs, and whilst the label kinda existed as an extension of the Gravity DIP management arm, we were every bit proud of the releases we put out, from Stapleton, Instruction, Lucky Thirteen, CapDown and Hundred Reasons amongst others. 

As the shop grew we ran the label as part of the shop and put the two “companies” together..  Thats why you see Banquet Gravity DIP on your credit card receipt.  Periodically Jane inspires me to remember the DIP of the company, and not just the “Banquet” part.   

Eventually we decided to start the label afresh, using the Banquet name / umbrella, and representing more of the punk side of what we love, we released records by the likes of Bomb The Music Industry, Lemuria and Daggermouth  (as well as home grown talent like Dave House, Tellison and Our Time Down Here).  So there’s a history of releasing cheap priced CD version of albums that are available on download, or on CD / vinyl in the states.

As much as the vinyl buying public (and a lot of us who work here are exactly that…) are vocal about the merits of buying vinyl (and definitely when that comes with MP3 codes (srsly why isnt EVERY record like this?)) i see every day there’s people who want to buy CDs.  its not a dead format.  certainly not yet.

I also think its important that overseas bands have someone fighting their corner in a different country.  Im constantly worried that with the ever increasing amount of bands and labels furiously trying to sell direct to the customer / fan, that the goose that lays the golden egg will be slaughtered.  I think its important to keep these golden eggs in healthy supply.  Free range of course.

so anyway, last year, for various reasons, we didnt actually release anything on Banquet.  at the beginning of the year we wanted to.  in fact a few years back we really tried to take it a step up.  in truth we had a nightmare with the accounting side of things, especially the digital aspect and in recent times we’ve realised selling other people’s records is something we do better.  Take half the Hassle roster for example…  We join forces with a great record label, and use their label and our high st / online / gig promo presence and join together.  Those kind of relationships need to be nurtured.

However, with there not being anyway to get the CD version of the excellent Iron Chic album ‘not like this’, particularly not in the UK, this all had to change. 

That album is incredible.  Dave was on it from the get go.  Took me a little longer, but all the punk-heads of what we do at banquet get how good it is now, and Dave said on the site last year “One of my (Dave) favourite albums of the year so far, if not THE favourite.  It’s a desert island discs scenario with this one!”

Iron Chic - “Not Like this” CD now co-released on Banquet Records / 86d Records.  We’re stoked to be involved with this album! Stock due in in late March!  The new pressing comes with a bonus mini poster & sticker!

Im really excited that this is happnening.  Its a brilliant life affirming record, loved by anyone thats exposed to it.  I hope that by it being given a UK release it will be exposed to a few more people.  Pre-order it now, you wont regret it.

http://www.ironchic.net   www.banquetrecords.com/KT1023

i cant really remember first buying an Op Ivy cd from this very store about 15 years ago.  But i know i did.  Always a highlight at The Loft… Matt Freeman of Op Ivy / Rancid and notable others is doing a signing today ahead of his show with rock-a-billy side project Devils Brigade later tonight.

40 tickets left for that - should be insane!