Does anyone remember that rap group Quarashi? You know, the Icelandic Beastie Boys or whatever they were billed as (famous for the especially frat party-friendly "Stick 'em Up"). Their guitarist e-mailed me today (he made friends with all of us on Warped in '02).
From: Smári Jósepsson
Sent: Tue 3/20/2007 8:01 AM
To: kwade@usc.edu
Subject: KW
KEEEEEEEEVIN WAAAAAAAAAAAAADE.
there's a track called Kevin Wade on my next album.
Good shit?
How's it goin'?
Smári
This bit of sad news comes from one of the best labels and batch of people in music over at Suburban Home:
Suburban Home Records has been my life for the past 11 years. Through my experiences with the label, I have had some of the most incredible times of my life, met some of my best friends, and even found the love of my life. Although some of my greatest moments have occurred because of Suburban Home, I have also experienced some of my lowest lows. Running a record label in 2007 has become much more difficult considering the music retail landscape. Due to declining sales/revenue, I have been forced to make a very difficult decision. On May 1st, 2007, Suburban Home will have to cut back on staff and move the company into the residence I share with my wife and son, my Suburban Home. [Read the entire message...]
I admire how honest Virgil continues to be with his business, as people fail to realize just how difficult it has been to maintain a truly independent record label in 2007. There are very few labels left that are free of major-label funding and, of those, basically none of them are thriving. They push on through love of their products (and, in some cases, probably some ego). I wish more indies would step up and let people know when they're struggling. I'm not calling for a massive pity-fest, but it might remind people to try and stick up for the good guys (when they can) rather than chuck another 14 bucks to Fueled By Ramen for a Panic At The Disco reissue.
In my school, the term "dying industry" has been tagged to music more than once, and that's absolutely one of the most depressing things I've ever heard. People are listening to music more than ever, and they'll pay 500 bucks to see Mick Jagger evade death for one more day but apparently don't have 10 bucks for a CD they enjoy. The industry, at the top, is run by idiots who blame the computing industry for their problems rather than find revolutionary solutions to revitalize their business, but it just upsets me so much that the most honest and hard working people in music are the ones that are losing the most.
Stop buying 30 dollar shirts from Urban Outfitters and go buy a freakin' record. Take a night off from your nightly 80's dance-club rotation and go to a fucking show.
