Local vinyl labels like Platterhead Records court an eclectic sound
Philadelphia drummers Joe Ankenbrand and Eric Slick, among others, have started their own labels to release work by artists whose sound and vision they share.
The drummer is so often behind the rest of the band, a position that reflects a general, and shameful, lack of credibility for the instrumentalist.
"They get called the least musical aspect of any group," says Joe Ankenbrand, a veteran record seller and the onetime rhythm maker for legendary Philly electro-punks Bunnydrums and Jukebox Zeros.
"Always in the back, eyes rolled into our skulls," agrees Eric Slick, a Philadelphia drummer/multi-instrumentalist for Dr. Dog and Lithuania. "We never learn."
This month, however, the Philadelphia drummers' profile gets an indirect leg up as both drummers are starting their own limited-edition, all-vinyl labels: Ankenbrand with Platterhead Records and his first 45, Dixy Blood's hillbilly-gospel-rocking Buck Owens cover "Pray Every Day." Slick's Least Records hosts a release party this weekend at Arch Street's 1026 Gallery for Philly skronky avant-pop act Hermit Thrushes' LP Potsherd Gold Meadow.
Lest anyone think Platterhead or Least are one-hit wonders, both labels have their next releases ready to go - Platterhead with local garage-a-billy icon Dan Montgomery's seven-inch "Come on In," and Least with Philly's Laser Background and its "Jawbreaker" single, which comes with a piece of candy.
"I've wanted to do this for years," says Slick, mentioning how Dog bandmate Dimitri Manos started a label, Solid Gold, with a similar concept of limited pressing and a curated vibe. "I'm fully aware this process will be philanthropic for some time, but it's a way for me to help my friends and make a unique object in the process."
At 200 copies - that's it, he says - and with the focus of experimental, forward-thinking locals ("Hermit Thrushes is an example of what I'm looking for, as it utilizes homemade instruments and microtonal guitars but functions within the context of rock"), Slick's Least has an aim. "I'm open to releasing things that could fall in the realm of hip-hop, free jazz, noise, grime, or even just pop music with unconventional structures."
Ankenbrand comes to Platterhead from several angles.
As a veteran musician, he always made private recordings of his personal music for friends and associates. He also saw countless sessions he or his friends played on go unreleased. As the co-owner of Molly's Books & Records in the Italian Market (Molly is his wife, Molly Russakoff), and as the drummer of Sickidz and its sister band, Dixy Blood, he knows CDs don't sell. That's why he sells exclusively vinyl releases at their shop.
Ankenbrand presses 300 copies of each vinyl-only single. His stepdaughter, Carla Dickie, designed the logo. "I'm a platter head, that's my nickname," Ankenbrand explains.
As Least looks into the future with a new batch of music from New Jersey eccentric R. Stevie Moore, Ankenbrand's Platterhead goes back to Philly punk's deep well with unreleased sessions from the Autistics, a band fronted by legendary Philly DJ Bobby Startup with songs recorded during live sets at David Carroll's long-defunct South Street venue, the Hot Club.
Ask Ankenbrand, who celebrates his birthday this weekend, if he's geared toward Weird Philly's older division, and he says there's no tag to define the genre of music he'll release. "It's just about what I personally find cool," he laughs. "That's what's nice about having your own label - you could do anything you want."
Now, that's the drummers' revenge.
Hermit Thrushes play a Least Records vinyl release show with Palberta and Radon Chong, 8 p.m. Saturday at Space 1026, 1026 Arch St. Information: space1026.com. Molly's Books & Records is at 1010 S. Ninth St. Information: 215-923-3367 or mollysbooksandrecords.com.