SHOW AND TELL RECORDINGS was my first label (prior to GIRLSVILLE). I ran it from 2002-2007 before the wheels fell of for a variety of reasons. In 2007 I was working with PURPLE WIZARD releasing a slew of singles when Bill Pietsch passed away suddenly on the cusp of what was to be their fourth 7″ single on SHOW AND TELL. We scrapped the single. It wasn’t feeling like a good time at that point.
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To rewind a bit: I had moved from Philadelphia to San Francisco in 2001. The planes hit the twin towers when I was about to release my first proper record, COACHWHIPS Get Yer Body Next Ta Mine. After it’s release, I remember taking a trip up to Portland and seeing a real deal live copy of it in a record shop and it felt kinda thrilling. I didn’t know if I would sell even 10 copies.
COACHWHIPS kinda started taking off. They toured constantly, and they often toured with Brooklyn by way of Chicago outfit X27. Rikkeh Suhtn of X27 was a Chicago No Wave stalwart who had formed a garage punk band that incorporated his no wave leanings. It was rhythmic, noisy, ugly, and often kind of dark with a sexual tension. There was good chemistry between Rikkeh and bassist/vocalist Carmen X. I liked that they had a simple drum kit that incorporated sheet metal ala PUSSY GALORE. I put out their 7″ single called Agent X.
After that I called Lori and Leslie (PRISSTEENS, PURPLE WIZARD) in Brooklyn and we decided to release a series of PURPLE WIZARD singles. Pictured here was the first of them, I’ve Been Wrong Before b/w I’m Not Angry.
The last couple of singles I put out were for HIPSHAKES and a tour split for BLACK TIME and THE HUSBANDS that I was tasked with putting out in a matter of weeks. MAXIMUM ROCKNROLL and THRASHER MAGAZINE gave them favorable reviews, but some of the other webzines started making me doubt what I was doing and getting into my head a little bit. Message board culture was really big at the time, and aside from the fact that it was overtly queerphobic and misogynistic, I wasn’t taking criticism in stride.
In retrospect I’m really proud of what we accomplished and it was the right thing to do ending it when I did. I resurrected a label (GIRLSVILLE) in 2015 with a compilation called Stupid Punk Boy. It was received warmly, and it’s been fun ever since.
So might I suggest you go buy this here comp I curated for you, it’s only $6.66, and beyond telling the history of SHOW AND TELL RECORDINGS, the proceeds will go to helping me put out more releases! Not to mention I’ve included unreleased gems from COACHWHIPS & X27 making it a novel and collectible comp for that reason alone. SO BREAK OUT THEM WALLETS, CHEAPSKATES!
Lastly, a big thank-you to everyone that has ever bought a release, supported the label, and been a part of the ride.
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