BANDS:

Punk & Ska
80's New Wave/
Post-Punk/
College Bands
90's & Beyond
Virginia, North
Carolina, & DC

RECORD LABELS

*Indicates labels recently added to this page.

4AD

• Current artists include: The Breeders/ Kim Deal & Tanya Donnelly.
• Catalogued artists include: Cocteau Twins, Gus Gus, The Pixies, Lisa Germano, & Modern English

Almafame

• London based label run by Mark Norden, concentrating on archives and re-issues across all music genres
• Has released albums including by artists including Throbbing Gristle, Sex Pistols, and Love and Heaven 17

American Laundromat Records

• Huntington, NY based label that releases CDs and 7" singles
• Bands include The Atomic Hepcats, Wondernaut, The Smarties, 9-Fifty, and John Karma

Alphabet Records

• Began in 1999 by Rob Perelman, a bored computer programmer
• Bands include Agent 51 and Counterfit

The Annex Group 

• Washington, DC label featuring a variety of artists including Utris, Charming, Inches to Flood, and Infectious Organisms

AntiAntenna Recordings

• Founded by Ryan Mills in Toronto, Canada 
• Artists include Cities To Drown In, Gaffer, and Static is Silver

Bad Monkey Records

• One-man operation started in 1996 as a spin-off of the Santa Cruz zine Monkey Magnet
• Relocated to Oakland, CA
• Owner is in the band God Hates Kansas

Baria Records

• International label started in 2003 by Eugene Bari in Australia
• Artists include The Lovemakers, The Heavenly States, GloveboX, Blue-Eyed Son, and The Gasolineros

Beggar's Banquet 

• Founded and directed by Martin Mills, in south west London nearly 25 years ago
• First artist was British punk band, The Lurkers
• One of the first indie punk labels ever
• Bauhaus, Gene Loves Jezebel, and The Cult were among the artists that established Beggar's as a major force in the mid-80's goth movement
• Catalogued artists include: Buffalo Tom, The Charlatans (UK), The Cult, John Spencer, Love and Rockets, and  many other great artists.

Bomp Records

• San Francisco label started in 1974 by Greg Shaw
• Specializes in original '60s garage punk, '70s punk and contemporary garage and punk music, neo-garage, psychedelic, power pop, and dreampop
• Current roster includes such artists as The Brian Jonestown Massacre, Beachwood Sparks, Dead Meadow, MC5, The US Bombs, and The Richmond Sluts

BYO Records

• Started in 1997 by the three brothers of "Youth Brigade" (Shawn, Mark, and Adam Stern)
• Label for the indie/punk/alternative community in Los Angeles

Cherub Records

• Lynchburg, VA label started by PJ Sykes
• Artists include Kids Techno, WBR, Slow Roasted Dog, Angels VS Aliens, Catacomb Summer, and A New Dawn Fades

Crafty Records

• New York City based label started in 1999 by Dan Treiber 
• Artists range from acoustic to hip-hop and everything in-between
• Current roster includes Adam Z, Big Treats, Chris Martin, and Paul Nicholas

Crank Automotive

• Arlington / DC based label whose artists include The Hat City Intuitive, Metropolitan, Mikroknytes, and A Handful Of Dust 

Deep South Records

• Formed in 1996, the label has carried a diverse group of modern rock artists including Marvelous 3, Collapsis, Far Too Jones,  Marcy Playground and Might Joe Plum
• President of Deep South is Andy Martin
• Each year releases a compilation in the "Deep" series, spotlighting up and coming artists

Devil Dolls Records

• Goth label started in 1996 by John Geldbach
• Inspired by Diminish of L.A. label, Lethal Records
• Based out of Long Beach, CA

*Digitone Records

• Label located in Richmond, VA, started by Gary Gaskin of Acoustafunk
• Bands include Acoustafunk, Gutter Kitty, Lenny Snickers, and Harland

Dischord 

• Formed in Washington DC in 1980 with the $600 made by Ian MacKaye's first band, The Teen Idles
• Concentrates on the Punk/Hardcore scene in DC, releasing various compilations of local music starting with "Flex Your Head," which featured 32 songs by 11 DC bands
• Affiliated with London's Southern Studios for European and American distribution since 1984
• Turned more toward DC area music distribution in the late 90's, and away from production
• Some past and present Dischord bands include Beefeater, Government Issue, Untouchables, and Ian MacKaye's own Minor Threat and Fugazi

Earthen Records

• Scotland-based label that specializes in experimental and individual music
• Artists include Achenar, Hydrus, This Things I Hate Them, and Die Screaming With Sharp Things in Your Head

Echelon Productions

• Washington, D.C.-based label
• Artists include Stamen & Pistils, Feller Quentin, Dead Artists, and Outputmessage

Epitaph 

• Started in 1981 by the California band Bad Religion, Epitaph has become the most successful indie punk label to date
• Brett Gurewitz, Bad Religion's guitarist was the president and driving force behind Epitaph 
• The Offspring's Smash, released by Epitaph in 1994 were largely responsible for boosting the label to its financial and influential position today selling an unprecedented number of copies for an inde release, and helping set off what some dubbed as  punk's "second coming"
• Some past and present Epitaph bands include: Dropkick Murphys, Bouncing Souls, NOFX, Pennywise, Rancid, Millencolin, H20, The Slackers, Zeke, The US Bombs, and The Pietasters
• Has released a series of "Punk-O-Rama" compilations featuring the latest and greatest punk acts

Eskimo Kiss Records

• Wilmington NC label formed in early 2000 by Jeremy Matthews & Kim Ware-Matthews
• Current band roster includes Audio Explorations, Lookwell, Pacer, & Velvet

Fat Wreck Chords 

• Started by "Fat Mike" of NOFX in 1987
• Some past and present Fat Wreck bands include: Screeching Weasel, Avail, Sick of it All, Face to Face, Frenzal Rhomb, The Dickies, and No Use For a Name

Fowl Records

• This Annapolis, MD label handles top alternative bands in the mid-Atlantic region and also serves as a distributor
• Some artists include Kelly Bell Band, Laughing Colors, Live Alien Broadcast, Jimmie's Chicken Shack, and Mary Prankster

Garageband Records

• Invites musicians to upload their music to the garageband.com site, where it is reviewed and rated by a growing audience of loyal registered users
• Utilizes the Internet to provide an on-line test market for the hundreds of thousands of unsigned artists and bands that have escaped the attention of major and independent record labels
• Has signed at least eleven bands including Yuma House and Boondogs

*Green Garlic Records

• Virginia-based label founded in 2002 by Colin Jones

Guerilla Records

• Independent label based in Winter Haven, FL, featuring a wide variety of artists
• Began over fifteen years ago with a strong DIY ethos
• Featured artists include: The Ivory Tower Project, Wolfe At The Door, and 33 West

Heydey Records

• San Francisco based label started in 1989 by Pat Thomas
• Early artists included Robert Rankin Walker (current label president), Steven Roback (Viva Saturn / Rain Parade), Jack Waterson (Rain Parade), Barbara Manning, The Dave and Deke Combo, Phoenix Thunderstone, Baby Snufkin, The Aquamen, Marty Willson-Piper (guitarist of the legendary Australian band The Church) , The Duo-Tones (surf music pioneers Paul Johnson (Bel Airs, Surfaries) and Gil Orr (Chanteys), David J (Bauhaus / Love and Rockets) and San Francisco's own The Slow Poisoners

Hideaway Records

• North Carolina label whose artist list includes 34 Satellite

Hopeless Records and Sub City

• Indie/Punk label started in 1993
• Based out of Van Nuys, CA

Hound Records

• Acoustic/Experimental rock label based out of Martha's Vineyard, MA
• Artists include Rarae Avis, Stagecoach Taxi, and Blind Faith

Huel Records

• North Carolina label formed in 1997 by Trip Costner and Kevin Ring
• Featured releases by Squatweiler, Disband, Rompecabeza, Codeseven, & Swank

Iguana Records

• New York City based label whose current roster of bands include Don't Look Down & Align

Illbilly Records

• Garage, Punkabilly, and Rock 'n' Roll label based in Blue Ridge, GA

Intelligent Records

• Boston based label founded in 1998 
• Current band roster includes Ajax O'Vaque, *AM Stereo, Balsa Gliders, Den Mothers, Delwin G., Denise Hradecky, Josh Metcalf, The ModifierS, Pop Gun, Say Hi To Lisa, & Spyndakit

In The Red Records

• Burbank, CA label whose roster includes Cheater Slicks, Reigning Sound, Speedball Baby, The Hunches, The Dirtbombs, The Deadly Snakes, and many more bands

K Records

• Olympia, WA label started in summer of 1982 by Calvin Johnson of Beat Happening
• Original artists include Supreme Cool Beings, Beat Happening and Rich Jensen
• Current roster includes Jason Anderson, Yume Bitsu, The Microphones, The Softies, Modest Mouse, and Dennis Driscoll

K-Bop

• Artists include Binky Goes to Hell, Realtime Busker, Mike Hopkins, Monty Tam

Laid Off Records

• Political punk label based out of Petaluma, CA
• Bands include Aphrodisiacs, Black Box, and Allegiance to None

Limekiln Records

• Philadelphia-based label whose roster includes The English System and Metroplex

Liquilab Records

• Charlotte, NC label whose artists include Baleen, First Night on Earth, The Houston Brothers, and The Interstellars

Lookout! Records 

• This label was started by the short-lived, but greatly influential punk band Operation Ivy
• Some past and present Lookout! artists include: Operation Ivy, Green Day, Screeching Weasel, The Alkaline Trio, and Tilt

Lovitt Records

• Washington DC-based label  started by Brian Lowit in  1995
• Current roster includes Engine Down, The Cassettes, and Ben Davis

Magnanimous Records

• Independent, artist-run record label based in Shepherdstown, WV
• Formed by Curt Seiss in 2001
• Artists include Paradigm9, Good Lord Giveth, Skinny, Mental Midget

Matador Records

• Began in 1989 when Chris Lombardi dragged the Austrian duo H.P. Zinker into Wharton Tiers Fun City studio to record OLE-001
• Dustdevils, Railroad Jerk and Superchunk among the first bands on the Matador roster
• Has also served as the North American licensee for a number of exceptional international acts, including Belle & Sebastian, Mogwai, Boards of Canada, Red Snapper, and Arab Strap

McCarthyism

• Hyattsville, MD punk, hardcore, and metal label started by Josh Sisk
• Bands include Carrion, Chopsley, the Clancy Six, the Hidden Hand, the Human Timebomb, and Vincent Price's Orphan Powered Death Machine

Merge Records

• Chapel Hill, NC label started in 1989 by Mac McCaughan and Laura Ballance of Superchunk
• Home to Archers of Loaf, Squirrel Nut Zippers, Rocket from the Crypt, Seaweed and Neutral Milk Hotel

The Militia Group

• Booking agency (1998) turned label (2000)
• Bands include Tora! Tora! Torance!, Rufio, and The Beautiful Mistake
• Based out of Huntington Beach, CA

Mr. Lady Records

• Durham, NC label owned and operated by Kaia Wilson and Tammy Rae Carland.
• Artists include Le Tigre and The Butchies

New Pants Publishing / Old Pants Publishing

• Colorado Springs labels; artists include Silence, Lisa Bigwood, and Tech. 

PA Records

• Lynchburg, VA based label whose roster includes Born with a Tail, Laurel Lane, and Savory

Pinch Hit Records

• Torrance, CA label started in 1993 by producer/manager David Lebental
• Artists include Vegas Demilo, Punchy, Munkafest, Allen Gonzalez, Pinwheel, and Zoomer

Planting Seeds Records

• Virginia Beach, VA based label, started in 1998 
• Current roster includes such acts as Astropop 3, Gritty Kitty, Jumprope, Sunday Smoke Kit, and Astroblast

Prank Records

• Hardcore punk label with over sixty-five releases on vinyl and CD
• Started in 1995 By Former Mordam Records employee, Gilman Street Booker and radio show host, Maximum Rock and Roll contributor Ken Sanderson
• Bands include Artimus Pyle, Guyana Punch Line, Kylesa, World Burns to Death, Born/Dead, His Hero is Gone, Born Against, Antischism and more.
   

Reel To Reel Records

• New Brooklyn, NY based label whose artists include Driver X, Christopher Sullivan, & CQ

RiceBox Records

• Raleigh, NC label started by Van Alston and Kenny Roby
• Artists include Kenny Roby and Patty Hurst Shifter

Sadistic Records

• Santa Barbara-based label featuring mostly Metal, Punk, Hardcore, Emo acts

Seriously Groovy Records

• London-based label specializing in guitar-oriented alternative music

Smash Music

• Sydney, Australia based label with artists such as The Von Bondies, The Veils, The Soledad Brothers, The Dexateens, Dozer and The Fiery Furnaces

SST Records 

• An electronics company turn record label started in 1978 by Black Flag's Greg Ginn
• Became Southern California's signature indie label, eventually releasing music by the Minutemen, Husker Du, Dinosaur Jr., The Screaming Trees, The Descendents and many other great bands

*Strangelight Records

• Irish label formed by Duncan Patterson in 2002
• Roster includes Antimatter, Breaklose, Danny Cavanagh, Deathcap, and Leafblade

Sub Pop Records

• The Seattle label known for its part in sparking the grunge movement of the late 80's & early 90's with bands like Nirvana, Soundgarden,The Screaming Trees, Mudhoney, and Beat Happening.
• This west-coast fanzine started by Bruce Pavitt in 1983 turned record label in 1986 with the release of Sub Pop 100

*Tallboy Records

• Los Angeles based label that releases primarily 7-inch records
• Artists include The Sugarplastic, Cliff Hillis, Parallax Project, Eugene Edwards, and Kenny Howes and the Yeah!

Theologian Records

• Hermosa Beach label whose roster includes Pennywise and No Fun At All

Tolotta Records

• DC label affiliated with Dischord
• Bands include Spirit Caravan, Dead Meadow, Stinking Lizaveta, and The Obsessed

Transceover Productions

• Frederick, MD based label started in 2000 by K. Cornelius
• Specializes in experimental-based organic and electronic music

Trekky Records

• Chapel Hill-based label whose roster includes Vibrant Green, Westfalia, Mortar and Pestle, Alvarez Painting, and The Stoles

Turkey Vulture Records

• Brownsville, WI label featuring hardcore, punk, metal, rock, ska, and blues music
• Artists include New Society of Anarchists, Heresy, Kombat, and Provoke

Vagrant Records

• Punk label featuring music by bands such as Alkaline Trio, Face to Face, and No Motiv

*Venge Records

• Chapel Hill-based label started in 2001, featuring metal, post-hardcore, grind, avant-garde, and punk
• Roster includes End of All, Filth Amendment, Idea of Beauty, and Valient Thorr

Wolverine Records

• German punk label founded in 1992 by Sascha Wolff
• Roster includes Across the Border, Bullocks, and The Punkles

More labels to be featured soon.  Recommend a label to be included on this page.

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