Friends Below Zero

YouTube video by Elizabeth Skadden Talbot Tagora and Sex Vid @ Old School Pizzeria in Olympia, WA December 2008

Two great underrated WA state bands on the same bill at an Olympia Pizzaria, Dec. 2008.

Talbot Tagora were a weirdo Seattle trio that should have been talked in the same breath as Thinking Fellers, rRope or Erase Errata.

And Sex Vid were a warped Seattle/Olympia/Austin hardcore band.

What I liked about rRope was that, unlike Sonic Youth, Polvo, and Trumans Water, that band didn’t give a SHIT about melodies, or even riffs. Their songs seemed to be all about dynamics, textures, and general disruption. Their instruments were barely in tune with *each other* half the time lol.

YouTube video by mlgendreau rRope - Nr 23 - Aaron's Los Angeles - 16 March 1996.mp4

San Francisco's rRope are probably the most underrated 90s rock band ever. They were certainly trying for experimental rock beyond Sonic Youth, Polvo or Trumans Water influences. This Aron's Records (pre-Amoeba L.A. mega record store) performance in 1996 is still thrilling to watch.

A Thing Rolled Up, by Taurus Judge 6 track album

Hat tip from friend @mikebaehr.bsky.social : the Philly band Taurus Judge, and their cassette mini-album A Thing Rolled Up. Major Polvo / DUSTdevils / Dreamdecay energy.

Conflicted about removing music from SoundCloud.

On one hand, giving away creations to companies for free that don’t value art is horrific.

Then again, my music is so unpopular that maybe it will poison the algorithms to make highly unprofitable music and force AI companies out of business.

SOMEONE REMEMBERS!!

This is real.

Tl;dw: if your digital music distributor pitches you on some AI Protection Program, do not agree to anything.

Ampwall is and always will be against generative AI. AFAIK we're somehow still the only music platform with this position. Demand better from your platforms and partners!

Seeing Dummy last September was one of my favorite shows of the year (Madame Lou's in Seattle), so I'm happy to see them again this April (at Black Lodge in Seattle)

Friends Below Zero "For All The Fucked-Up Indie Pop of This World, We Give You..."

Since it's been a slow news day, I figure I'll let y'all know that the Friends Below Zero AMPWALL page has been set up! Merch ahoy! Connect with me there if you want, and all the things.

If you like noisy indie pop, you may like the music.

Friends Below Zero "For All The Fucked-Up Indie Pop of This World, We Give You..."

Stealth December Bandcamp Friday Update. Hey, there are still Friends Below Zero LPs and 7" and cassettes and CDs and downloads for sale. The LP+7” bundle is a good deal. If you like noisy indie pop…

Picture of musician Marshall Allen in front of a yellow wall with two colorful reddish paintings above and behind him. He’s holding his saxophone. Photo by Ron Stephens / The Guardian

Marshall Allen, of the Sun Ra Arkestra, has just outlived Henry Kissinger *now in duration* as well as shared timeline. That’s more than 100 years and 187 days.

THAT is certainly worth celebrating today.

Rob does great work. If you can get him or land him a gig, that would be really swell!

Musicians: Tell DistroKid to Stop Union Busting! Musicians stand with DistroKid union workers!

Pretty self explanatory, and the distrokid union needs these petitions signed by November 2. Fortunately, it's really easy to sign. Link is right here.

distrokid is really important for DIY artists trying to get music to streaming platforms.

The Unwound / Steel Pole Bath Tub mini tour this weekend is going to rule.

Seattle: Thursday, Vancouver BC: Friday. Portland: Saturday.

Hey!

YouTube video by Eric Fundingsland Why Am I Doing This? (A Film About Touring)

Why Am I Doing This? (A Film About Touring) - Has hit over 400K views. Incredible! Zero marketing or corp $$$. If you have ever wondered what it is actually like in a touring band, or if you have played in one and never seen it accurately depicted. A MUST SEE!
youtu.be/agUS6GnZr_U?...

Donate to Help Unwound's Sara Lund Beat Breast Cancer, organized by Janet Weiss This past April, my dear, sweet friend Sara Lund, beloved drummer of Unwound, … Janet Weiss needs your support for Help Unwound's Sara Lund Beat Breast Cancer

Unwound's Sara Lund—one of the best American drummers—was diagnosed with breast cancer earlier this year and needs help with medical bills.

GFM: www.gofundme.com/f/help-sara-...

I thought keeping an announcements only Twitter account might be worth it but I get followed by dozens of bots a week. Without the block feature? The account gets deleted, easily. No big loss, but so pathetic.

Friends Below Zero "For All The Fucked-Up Indie Pop of This World, We Give You..."

Since it's been a slow news day, I figure I'll let y'all know that the Friends Below Zero AMPWALL page has been set up! Merch ahoy! Connect with me there if you want, and all the things.

If you like noisy indie pop, you may like the music.

Don’t miss Dummy on their West Coast tour! The new songs live are awesome

Free Energy, by Dummy 12 track album

The new Dummy album is as great as the hype says. I've already listened to this twice in a row.

Seattle folks: they're playing this Sunday at Madame Lou's in Belltown.

Trying the best here to keep that dream alive

The Helicopter Spies, by Friends Below Zero 3 track album

Stealth March Bandcamp Friday Update. Hey, there are still Friends Below Zero LPs and 7" and cassettes and CDs and downloads for sale. Here's the link to the single with the Swell Maps cover, but there's an LP too!

Most record stores in Seattle, Olympia & Portland have been very supportive. Love you all.

Next album is being written & recorded. There’ll hopefully be a surprise release of something different in a few months. But as Pink Fairies say, don’t talk about it, do it, just do it, do it

College radio has been good to me. KAOS in Olympia has been especially good, as well as KSPC in Claremont, Hollow Earth Radio in Seattle, KDVS in Davis, also WRIR in Richmond, WFMU in Jersey, WHRB in Cambridge MA, and anyone whose station doesn’t publish playlists online.

I want to give thanks for the debut LP/7”/CS/CD release to my longtime friends obviously, Jen Matson, Min Yee, Brian Cook, Joe Trainor and anyone I’m forgetting.

Friends Below Zero "For All The Fucked-Up Indie Pop of This World, We Give You..."

Today's the last Bandcamp Friday of the year (and I'm hearing maybe ever?). If you're into droney / psych DIY / garage indie pop, then maybe this is for you?
* End of Tunes LP
* The Helicopter Spies 7" (yes, the Swell Maps cover)
* A cassette with both
* A CD with both

kath @rabitsphd twitter artists genuinely do you like when people comment on your art and tell you they like it? i always just assumed since twitter art tends to have fewer comments that most people prefer only their friends interact

Bsky please don’t be like this. Artists love when you comment on their stuff 🧡
Depending on how swamped we are or how anxious, some might not always reply. Myself, I do my best to reply as much as I can, and also know I treasure all of your interactions a lot. It’s why I post as actively as I do.