Carrot Top Records News: New Handsome Family shows & album, Speck Mountain on KEXP, Antietam plays NY show

The Handsome Family
If you missed the exciting information on the Handsome Family's upcoming album Wilderness (May 14th, Carrot Top Records), you can read the juicy details here!

Additionally, the Handsome Family has announced a few new shows. A full set of east coast and midwest dates for June & July will be announced shortly. In the meantime, we've got two new Albuquerque shows and one Chicago show at the Pritzker Pavillion in Millenium Park! Full details of current announced UK and US dates can always be found on our website.

Speck Mountain
KEXP claims Badwater as their "Song of the Day" today! They have been spinning 5 or 6 tracks from Speck Mountain's January album Badwater rather consistently and we love their support!! They call the title track "a soulful slow burn...a gorgeous tune that unfolds deeper and deeper without wearing out its welcome."

Antietam
We got a lovely little note from our friends at Antietam HQ about an upcoming show!
In short, there will be a show on Saturday, March 2nd at Hank's Saloon in Brooklyn with PGSix (Drag City) and Ma'am (Lyle Hysen, Rebecca Odes, Charles Gansa). We've been promised at least half a set of new Antietam songs! Additionally, this show is formatted so that it is perfectly acceptable to leave at anytime, have a cigarette, get coffee, breathe fresh air, and come back inside. Anytime you show up between 9 and midnight there will be music going on and you will not feel pressured to remain in one place the entire time.

But because nothing is "in short" with our favorite Antietams, the background of this show format and further details of "the Jimmy Principle" lie after the jump.

Tara Key Artwork Hits the Web

There are many projects to follow when it comes to Tara Key. As one of our first saki gallery artists, and a member of Carrot Top Records band Antietam, we pay close attention.

Pink Peaks 2011

We are thrilled that some of Tara's works have recently gone up for sale online. These are the works from the "My Other Guitar is a Paintbrush" show at One Mile Gallery in Kingston, NY. "My Other Guitar Is a Paintbrush" highlighted musicians who are also visual artists and included folks like Georgia Hubley (Yo La Tengo), Lee Ranaldo (Sonic Youth), Rachel Blumberg (The Decemberists), Sue Garner, Grasshopper (Mercury Rev), and Tara Jane O'Neil (Rodan, Retsin). Pretty rad show right there.

Take a look at Tara's pieces for sale.

Carrot Top Records Around The Country

Many Carrot Top Records artists have taken it upon themselves to play shows in the next few days.
Friday, 10/26 (TONIGHT) :: The Handsome Family :: Engine House Theater :: Madrid, New Mexico
Saturday, 10/27 :: Antietam :: Hank's Saloon :: Brooklyn, NY
Sunday, 10/28 :: Wee Hairy Beasties :: The Hideout :: Chicago, IL :: 4pm Kids 8pm Adults
Monday, 10/29 :: Speck Mountain :: Township :: Chicago, IL :: w. Companion

"My Other Guitar Is a Paintbrush": Exhibition of art by musicians in NY

NY folks: Quite the exhibition coming up! Visual art by artists known for their work as professional musicians. These musicians rank among our favorites, from bands including Antietam (Carrot Top Records!), Yo La Tengo, Sonic Youth, The Decemberists, Rodan, Retsin (Carrot Top Records!), and more.

Northbound (2012)

Opening: October 13th 7-9pm

One Mile Gallery
475 Abeel Street
Kingston, NY

My Other Guitar Is a Paintbrush is an exhibition featuring the work of musician/artists Tara Key (Antietam), Tara Jane O'Neil (Rodan, Retsin), Lee Ranaldo (Sonic Youth), Georgia Hubley (Yo La Tengo), Rachel Blumberg (The Decemberists), Brian Dewan (inner artwork from Neutral Milk Hotel's In the Aeroplane Over the Sea), Grasshopper (Mercury Rev), and Sue Garner. The exhibit runs from October 13 to November 17 with opening reception for the artists on October 13 from 7-9pm.

Pink Peaks (2011)

Antietam's Tara Key will be showing paintings and photographs in this stellar company. Plus, the Hudson Valley in the fall is one of the most beautiful places on earth.

Antietam fans: there is also a live show coming up!
Saturday, Oct 27 @ 10pm
Hank's Saloon
46 Third Avenue
Brooklyn, NY

Louisville transplants Antietam play Derby show at Maxwell's!

On the 28th anniversary of the founding of their band, Tara Key and Tim Harris of Antietam plan to bring some Derby spirit to Hoboken. Jim Testa (Hey Jersey Beat!) wrote up a meaty article on Antietam, Derby, and Hoboken to help get the word out. A nice, literate trip through rock and NJ history.

Key and Harris discovered Hoboken while touring as members of Louisville’s Babylon Dance Band at the dawn of Hoboken’s Eighties pop scene. When that group dissolved in 1983, they left Louisville and moved to a Hoboken loft… and a few months later, Antietam would play its first Maxwell’s show with a local act playing its first-ever official gig called Yo La Tengo.)

And don't forget the machine that is Josh Madell. Though only an honorary Louisvillian, he brings the only beats that could back the maelstrom that takes place in front of him. Read the whole article here and if you're in the neighborhood, go have a mint julep! 

Antietam National Mailing

Antietam the Band, being the self-described "very curious children who can't sit still" that they are, have launched several blogs worth following recently.

You can keep up to date with all the blog updates through the Antietam the Band Facebook page. But here's the in-depth goodies we got from Tara Key that we are very excited to keep up with!

"First- About the antietamtheband.com site. I will definitely be updating it through time, but it is largely a historical (and a mighty one, at that) site. I would encourage anyone who wants to know more in depth about us prior to this year to still poke around. But it is not the place to go for the latest news. The site to keep up to date on our current band exploits is: Antietam Weekly Reader. 

Second- TK has a photo blog up and running. You can follow that at: Antietam Daily Eye.

Third- We are so excited to launch Tim's blog on art, travel, sensory perception of all sorts and, who knows what, this week. The first set of posts will be his book/essay, Antonello's Moment, broken down into 12 parts. TK did most of the photos for the book. The intro and first chapter are up with more to come very shortly. It can be found at: Aesthetic Diary."

While you're at it, don't forget to read the diary entries from the Yo La Tengo Hannukah shows. Nights 5 & 6 written by Antietam's Tim Harris and performed in by Tara Key, and night 8 written by Antietam & Other Music's Josh Maddell.

Antietam on Sound Opinions WBEZ

This week on WBEZ's show/podcast Sound Opinions was the Buried Treasures show. Chicago Tribune music critic Greg Kot featured saki favorite Antietam with their album Tenth Life released this year on Carrot Top Records.

If you missed it, you should really download it or stream it here! Thanks Sound Opinions! Pick up the release at saki

Carrot Top Artists on WBEZ

Over the last couple months, two of our favorite CT artists were featured on Chicago's own WBEZ 91.5! Listen to interviews with The Bitter Tears and Tara Key's Antietam here:

Althea Legaspi interviews Rick Rizzo and Tara Key and Liz Bustamante talks with The Bitter Tears.

Antietam by Dmitry Samarov

Dmitry Samarov is a modern renaissance man - artist, blogger, cab driver, and all of those things it seems, he does well. What makes a good cab driver? I would say someone who knows how to get you where you're going at the cheapest rate and doesn't scream into his own blue tooth while he gets you there. A good artist? Well, that's subjective, I suppose, but we certainly like Dmitry's work! And a good blogger... that takes consistency, humor, and at least a remedial command of the written word. Dmitry's blog, HACK: Stories From A Chicago Cab, is one of the best reads you'll find online. Soooo, check, check, and CHECK!

Keep your eyes peeled for a possible upcoming art show by Dmitry at saki sometime in the fall, and for now, check out his sketches, including this one from last nights Antietam record release show at the almighty Hideout.

Photos of Antietam with Yo La Tengo

Check out Brooklyn Vegan for photos from the 5/10/11 performance at The Bell House in Brooklyn where Antietam opened for their good friends, Yo La Tengo.

photo by Winnie Cheung

Antietam Release Tenth Life

TODAY: Antietam Releases 8th Studio Album

"Tenth Life is another solid, memorable and crucial piece in a jigsaw-like canon that refuses to be finished without an age-defying fight."—Adequacy

Purchase the CD on Carrot Top Record's website, at saki, or your favorite online music store.

Antietam Live:
TONIGHT The Bell House Brooklyn, NY Antietam - Tenth Life - CD Release Day w/ Yo La Tengo
Saturday May 21 Tritone Philadelphia, PA Antietam w/ Bedroom Problems and Gold Crowns
Saturday June 4th The Hideout Chicago, IL Antietam CD Release w/ Rizzo/Key and Horse's Ha

Antietam - Tenth Life CD - 05/10/11

One week from today, Antietam releases their eight studio album, Tenth Life, on CD! The album is now available for pre-order at Carrot Top Record's website.

Tenth Life Press:

"Boiling things down to a duel between gnarly ‘70s-flavoured proto-punk and new wave pop, this could be Antietam’s heavily-smudged answer to Television’s underrated Adventure, Patti Smith’s ragged Radio Ethiopia and Blondie’s tunefully sharp Parallel Lines." —Adequacy

"Tenth Life is another solid, memorable and crucial piece in a jigsaw-like canon that refuses to be finished without an age-defying fight."—Adequacy

"...this eighth studio album is packed with tight, smart, gritty, no-bullshit indie rock." —Cyclic Defrost

"Tenth Life is at once a continuation of the classic first-generation indie rock sound and – at its core – just an amazing guitar record." —Cyclic Defrost

Adequacy's Artists On Albums - Antietam's Tara Key on Patti Smith's Horses

Antietam's Upcoming Shows:

05/10/11 The Bell House Brooklyn, NY Antietam - Tenth Life Release Day w/ Yo La Tengo
05/21/11 Tritone Philadelphia, PA Antietam w/ Bedroom Problems and Gold Crowns 10PM
06/04/11 The Hideout Chicago, IL Antietam - Tenth Life CD Release Show w/ Rizzo/Key, and Horse's Ha 10PM

Sweet 16 Benefit CD Now Available

The amazing CD put together by Mark Greenberg and The Coctails is now available for sale via our mailorder site. Very few available or order now!

V/A "Happy Sweet Sixteen Carrot Top Records"
--Special, very limited edition CD made for the CTR Sweet Sixteen celebration at The Hideout September 26-27, 2008. Includes ALL EXCLUSIVE TRACKS, each with a 16 theme by nearly every band ever released by the label. Like the long weekend, all profits from the CD will be donated to The Accelerated Cure Project for Multiple Sclerosis.

Tracks by TALL DWARFS, HANDSOME FAMILY, KATJONBAND, ANTIETAM, MEGAN REILLY, ARCHER PREWITT, BITTER TEARS, COCTAILS, David Greenberger of DUPLEX PLANET, RETSIN, NAYSAYER, PALM FABRIC ORCHESTRA (POI DOG PONDERING), SLIPSTREAM, LYS GUILLORN, and birthday phone messages from SPECK MOUNTAIN & DARLING DOWNS. Gorgeous cover art by Archer Prewitt & beautiful letterpress printing by John Upchurch. All organized by Mark Greenberg of The Coctails.

CTR Sweet 16 Recap...In Pictures!

Patrick receiving the Carrot Top Records Sweet 16 Compilation

Giant and delicious carrot cake from our friends at The Hideout

Make a wish!

Best MC's ever; Carrot Top's own, Allison & Jason announcing our raffle

Carrot Toppers celebrating in style

The Bitter Tears 09/26/2008

KatJonBand 09/26/2008

Antietam 09/26/2008

The Coctails 09/26/2008

Mark Greenberg presenting the Carrot Top Sweet 16 Compilation to Patrick

Lys Guillorn 09/27/2008

Megan Reilly 09/27/2008

Megan Reilly featuring Antietam 09/27/2008

The Handsome Family 09/27/2008

Sweet 16 Press Links

Chicago Tribune by Greg Kot

The Weekend's Best Shows (Recommended)
Show of the Day: Carrot Top Records Sweet 16 Party
One of the city’s finest indie labels throws itself a birthday celebration with eight bands spread over two nights of music, including a reunion by avant-lounge pioneers the Coctails; guitar-monster Tara Key with her excellent trio, Antietam; and hardcore roots duo the Handsome Family, Friday-Saturday at the Hideout, 1354 W. Wabansia, $15; ticketweb.com.

Daily Herald (KatJonBand + Sweet 16)

As expected, a mature pulse of antiwar sentiment and relevant social concern courses throughout the diverse proceedings. Smart, sinewy, spiky and occasionally sonorous, "KatJonBand" is evidence that even while forging their own paths, sometimes punks should listen to their elders.-Jeff Pizek

KatJonBand performs with The Coctails, Antietam and The Bitter Tears as part of Carrot Top Records' Sweet 16 Party at 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 26, at The Hideout, 1354 W. Wabansia Ave., Chicago. $15; proceeds benefit the Accelerated Cure Project for Multiple Sclerosis. (773) 227-4433.

Chicago Reader (Critic's Choice and Recommended)

Coctails, Antietam, KatJonBand, Bitter Tears
When: Fri., Sept. 26, 9 p.m.
Phone: 773-227-4433 or 866-468-3401
Price: $15

-There isn’t much new to say about Chicago’s beloved Coctails. Dressed in their trademark skinny suits, the quartet spent the late 80s and early 90s paying goofy, endearing tribute to every type of evening-out music, from jazz, exotica, and Rat Pack crooning to British Invasion pop. After the band’s 1995 farewell show at the Lounge Ax, John Upchurch, Barry Phipps, Mark Greenberg, and Archer Prewitt all went on to other things, but they’ve remained on call. Since their first reunion show in 2000—a joyous, generous, tightly executed set to bid the Lounge Ax adieu—they’ve been sporadically coming back together, as though at the flash of some indie Bat Signal, and each time they’ve created another were-you-there scene milestone. Today the Coctails headline the first night of Carrot Top Records’ Sweet 16 Party, one of the year’s best unsung festivals; former Chicagoans the Handsome Family headline tomorrow. Proceeds go to the Accelerated Cure Project, a multiple-sclerosis research organization. —Monica Kendrick

Chicago Sun-Times Blog by Jim DeRogatis

--Carrot Top Records, one of Chicago's least-hyped but most consistently excellent independent labels, celebrates its Sweet 16 birthday this weekend with two shows to benefit the Accelerated Cure Project for Multiple Sclerosis at the Hideout, 1354 W. Wabansia. Friday's lineup includes the Coctails, Antietam, the katjonband (with Jon Langford Katerina Ex of the Ex) and the Bitter Tears, while Saturday's features the Handsome Family, Megan Reilly, Speck Mountain and Lys Guillorn. Both shows start at 9 p.m., and tickets are $15.00 per night via www.Ticketweb.com.

Time Out Chicago

--Low-key local indie label Carrot Top celebrates its 16th anniversary in style with a bevy of its favorite players. Idiosyncratic lounge act the Coctails reunite for a rare one-off, while indie mainstay Tara Key unleashes her inner guitar goddess with the revered trio Antietam. Longtime friends Jon Langford and Katherina Ex of—you guessed it—the Ex open as the KatJonBand following a set by the Bitter Tears. Profits from tonight's show will be donated to the Accelerated Cure Project for Multiple Sclerosis.

CTR Sweet 16 Filled with Presents for YOU!!

In order to raise a HUGE amount of money for the Accelerated Cure Project at Carrot Top Records' Sweet 16 Party this weekend at The Hideout, we have gathered an amazing, never-ending group of generous donations from our favorite people and places. Tickets to the bash are still available here.

Come celebrate with us and you can come home with one, or MORE of these fabulous prizes...

• Wine tasting for you and all your friends @ Cellar Rat Wine
• The Coctails - 12 inch action figure set courtesy of PRESSPOP Inc. in Japan
  
• 6 tickets and private opera box for Lucinda Williams @ Riviera 10/14 courtesy of Jam Productions
• 2 Signed Wilco posters
• A Thrill Jockey gift set of books, limited edition ELPEES and rare posters
  
• Gift certificates to: Vella, Uncle Dan's and Ruff Haus
• Tshirts from the infamous Chicago venue, Lounge Ax
• Summersweet garden consultation
• 10 tickets to Roller Derby bout at UIC on 10/25 thanks to WCR
• Beginning Pilates Package from Balance Health & Wellness
• Artwork and Dog Book from Emily Flake
• The Coctails gift set including: "Let's Enjoy..." 10" EP, Book of Images and tote bag
• A special gift package from Second City
• Bloodshot Records gift set including a signed Andre Williams poster, CDs, tshirts and a DVD
• Pairs of concert ticket for upcoming shows at Epiphany, The Hideout, Metro, Lake Shore Theater and Schuba's

Intrigued yet?!

Thank you to all of our generous sponsors for their contributions!
We hope to see you this weekend.

Carrot Top Records Sweet 16 Party Update

A Benefit for The Accelerated Cure Project for Multiple Sclerosis (contribute now!)

After many games of band Stratego, we finally have the lineups set for the big party at the end of September!

The Hideout, Chicago, IL

FRIDAY Sept 26
the coctails
antietam
katjonband (jon langford of the mekons and kat ex of the ex)
the bitter tears

SATURDAY Sept 27
the handsome family
megan reilly
speck mountain
lys guillorn

• Tickets are $15.00 for each night and are available now via Ticketweb.
• Music both nights starts at 9pm sharp, and if you haven't seen Lys or The Bitter Tears before, do yourself a favor and get there on time. Trust me on that one.
• Doors at 8:30.
• Sadly, they're both 21+ over shows. Sorry kids.
  
• Because The Hideout is so wonderfully intimate and because it is a benefit, there will be no guest list.

We have been inspired by SP20 and the kind gentlemen of Red Red Meat to donate any post-expense money we bring in at the door to the

Accelerated Cure Project

who support cutting edge MS research and aren't screwing around while doing it.

• To further this along, Carrot Top Records is paying the travel expenses to get the artists here and back.
• All of the bands have generously agreed to donate their pay for the night as well.
• The amazing and nice ladies at Green Light Go Publicity have offered to donate their time, energy, and expertise promoting these shows both locally and nationally.
• Steve W of Screwball Press has offered to donate some awesome, lovingly screenprinted posters for promotion and sale.

How cool is all this? Only one of many reasons why we love working with all of them. And big thanks to Julia and Michelle for doing the organizational heavy lifting.

And we've already snagged our first bit of press at a Time Out Chicago blog.

Wanna know more about MS?

• Here's a wonky but small computer generated video from Opexa Therapeutics that explains a lot. Even if you're not scientifically inclined, the pictures tell the story.
  
• For those who like to read, the UCSF MS Center has a lot of easy to digest material and is a great resource for both the new and knowledgeable.

We'll post further updates at the CTR News page, and return saki to her irregularly scheduled ephemera.

Carrot Top Records Sweet 16 Party

We don't have the order and dates yet, and we're still hoping to rope in another surprise or two to add to the fun, but after a lot of discussion we can now confirm the following:

Fri Sept 26 and Sat Sept 27 The Hideout Chicago featuring
The Handsome Family
Antietam
The Coctails
Megan Reilly
KatJonBand (Jon Langford of The Mekons & Kat Ex of The Ex)
Speck Mountain
The Bitter Tears
Lys Guillorn

Logistics, price, and exact running order of bands are all being worked on along with several harebrained ideas. We'll post more details as soon as we get them, both at the CTR News site and at The Hideout website. We can't wait! Big, BIG ups to The Hideout for allowing us to invade for a whole weekend. Truly the most gracious club owners on the planet.