Good Land Records

Last week was pretty huge for me!  I got to sing the National Anthem at Miller Park for a Brewers vs. Cubs game on Aug. 22nd.  I thought us Shades did a great job considering the likes of this bitch above getting to do it.  On top of that the Brewers swept the Cubs!  Thanks to the out of towners Josh and Dave for coming down and helping with all the shows.

Then we headed off to Minneapolis to play the Triple Rock Social Club with Murder By Death and Ha Ha Tonka.  The highlight of the night for me was getting to eat 2 Juicy Lucy’s from Matt’s Bar, and also catching up with some old friends.  Good!

Friday we headed home to share the same bill of bands at Turner Hall Ballroom in our hometown of Milwaukee.  It’s always a fun place to play, and have Ruthie run around in all night.  I have a long week of work ahead of me but I gotta try to make that money.  Happy Birthday to the world’s greatest, and most loving mother Robin Phillip!  Love you Mum!

This weekend the Shades played in Neenah, WI at Cranky Pat’s Pizzeria with the Redhawks, and Juniper Tar for bartender Mike’s B-day bash!  It was so much fun, and it was great to see a bunch of our old friends.  Not to mention we ate gobs upon gobs of delicious pizza as well!!!!!!!!!!!

Then, we headed down to play Spring Green, WI at The Shitty Barn and it was one of the coolest live experiences I’ve had playing a show in Wisconsin ever.  It’s this really cool barn that holds shows all summer and do it for all the right reasons.  With supporting local communities and farmers.  Ian’s pizza was there grilling pizzas for free using all local seasonal veggies.  If you ever get a chance to see a show there I highly suggest going but remember to get there early so you get a good spot for your chair inside the barn.  Don’t forget your boots or dancin’ shows!

As I sit here at home with my sleeping Pug while watching That 70’s Show, I realize I am growing into a record collecting nerd.  Yesterday I went to a record collecting convention at Serb Hall (home of my favorite fish fry in town) and I felt like all the loner weirdos that were in attendance.  It was just funny to me.  There are so many characters at those things.  Scored some good records though including some Sam Cooke, the Smiths, and Marvin Gaye.

I’m excited for this weekend because the Shades are playing at Cranky Pat’s in Neenah, WI, and The Shitty Barn Fest in Spring Green, WI!  I just got the new Reuben’s Accomplice record that I’ve been waiting about 4 years to hear.   I’m freaking my shit right now so hard!  It’s perfect.  WFSY.

I’m at home cuddling with my pug Ruthie and listening to the test pressing of Run, Engine, Run on vinyl.  The record is sounding so awesome, and my pug is very gassy.  Can’t wait to actually see the final vinyl product when it hits my hands at long last!

Just got back from my girlfriend Becky’s work which is called The Philly Way, and I have to say it’s my favorite cheese steak in the Milwaukee area.  It reminds my a lot of some of the ones I’ve gotten while on tour or visiting Philadelphia.  Cheese steaks are one of the many reasons I could not be vegetarian again.

Since I no longer drink, it’s been nice to go record shopping more.  I can’t tell you how much happier that it makes me in all kind of ways.  Got to visit 2 of the 3 Amoeba record stores in California and man are those stores dangerous!  If you’ve never been, please do yourself a favor and go.  Like right now, and bring money.

I’m currently writing this backstage at The Independent in San Francisco, CA.  My fellow Shades and I played with Soul Asylum tonight as well as last night at the Troubadour in LA.  The shows were a big success in many ways.  We happened to make some new friends and catch up with some old ones.  I got to hang out with Robb & Pat from Limbeck yesterday and wow, do I really miss those guys.  It’s weird to play where they live and not be sharing the stage with them.  Maybe someday we can get it together enough to play a couple shows.

It was good to spend some quality time with The Shades’ new record label SideOneDummy!  There was some quality snack time and we got to raid their warehouse for goodies, as well as listen to the test pressing of Run Engine Run – which sounded GOOD!  We can’t wait until it comes out internationally on September 25th!

We’re headed home after this show so it’ll be good to be back home.  WFSY.

This past weekend the Shades played Madison and La Crosse with the Smoking Popes from Chicago.  The shows were great and it was amazing to see some old friends.  In Madison we got to stay at my buddies’ Luke and Dana’s house.  They both run a cool and unique record label called Porter Records.  We all got a chance to check out one of my new favorite record stores named Strictly Discs.  Try to go in there and not blow a couple hundred dollars.  I’m really in trouble because this coming week when the Shades play California we’ll end up at Amoeba Records which is so dangerous for people like me.  Can’t wait to play on the coast because it’s been about 3 or 4 years for me at least.  Hopefully I get to see the Limbeck guys when I’m out there!  WFSY.

I’m proud to say that my band Trapper Schoepp & the Shades signed with LA based SideOneDummy Records last week!  They did a remix and remaster of our album Run, Engine, Run that they are unleashing on the world Sept. 25th.  Up above is the new cover for RER done by the fabulous Ryan Lynch of the Exports.  Yeah you got it…the ivory tickler from Archies band.

The Shades are doing two shows with legendary MPLS rockers Soul Asylum in California.    Our first show with them is at the Troubadour in LA on Aug. 2nd and the other is at the Independent in San Francisco on Aug. 3rd.  For more show dates for the Shades and other Good Land bands click the “tour dates” link on the front of our page here.

You heard it right folks!  18 songs for free!  That’s how much all of us at Good Land love these bands.  The free disc contains hits from Archie Powell & the Exports, Trapper Schoepp & the Shades, The Figgs, Tommy Stinson, Smoking Popes, & many more.  We will be passing them out at the Milwaukee Vans Warped Tour 2012 on August 1st.  Also, we will be putting them in every possible record store we can along with any other big event we can make it to.  Hope everyone has a great August!  We be seein’ ya.