Red Forty, Discography

Cover image courtesy of Harlan Records.

 Nate Powell, the Eisner Award-winning graphic novelist and original member of the legendary Little Rock punk band, Soophie Nun Squad, is blogging a history of Harlan Records, one of the several DIY labels that helped make a name for Little Rock's 90's music scene. Today's "history lesson" is the Discography CD by Red Forty featuring Ben Nichols (Lucero) on bass and singing, Colin Brooks (The Big Cats, Substance, Dan Zanes & Friends) on guitar, and Steve Kooms on drums.

Red Forty's punk pop/emo owed a lot musically to Jawbreaker and Social Distortion, and the members all went on to bigger and better projects, but this record so perfectly captures what was happening in Little Rock at the time, and it still sounds fun and relevant 14 years later.

The best bit of Powell's walk down memory lane is he is digitizing all the old cassette and 7" releases and making high quality downloads available of each release. All the projects Harlan released on CD are being re-released digitally at Bandcamp with lossless CD quality download options. Red Forty's Discography had two small print runs and has been out of print for seven or eight years. It has become a much sought after collectible, so having a legal, lossless download available will make a lot of people happy. Stream or buy it below.

Saturday Night Out: The Big Cats

Poster used courtesy The Big Cats.

There are many holiday traditions you may look forward to: singing Christmas carols, candlelight services and potlucks, seeing family you haven’t seen since last Christmas. One tradition that I look forward to all year is The Big Cats’ annual holiday show at White Water Tavern.

Though The Big Cats have been a band for nearly 20 years, for the last decade or more its members have been scattered across the country, making the holidays, when they’re all back here to visit family and friends, the only time during the year they can play together. This year’s show is extra special, as it comes on the heels of the release of the band’s fourth album, The Ancient Art of Leaving, a 3-LP or 2-CD collection of 25 of the best power-pop songs I’ve heard this year.

Once again, they’re playing 2 sets: a 6 p.m. all-ages set, with pop-punk youngsters Bad Years opening up, and a 10 p.m. adults-only set with support from local treasure, Kevin Kerby. If you’ve not heard it yet, Kevin Kerby’s new CD, Apostle’s Tongues, is a thing of stubborn beauty.

You can hear music from The Big Cats at the band's BandCamp site.

Take a listen to "It's Not Needing What You Want, But Wanting What You Need," the single from Kevin Kerby's Apostle's Tongues.

Bad Years have just initiated their own BandCamp site with a recording of a recent live gig at Vino's.

The Big Cats "Ancient Art of Leaving" part 2 out in August

Image used courtesy of The Big Cats.

The second half of The Big Cats' song cycle The Ancient Art of Leaving: Two Parts, will see the light of day on August 21, according to a new post on the band's website. The first half, High and Low, was released at the band's annual holiday show back in December. Rumor has it, both halves be combined for a 3-LP vinyl release as well. I'll post further details, song streams, release party, pre-order info, etc., as I get them.

Once it's out, I'll also post a review of both parts. Reviews are also forthcoming for Kevin Kerby's Apostle's Tongues, Holy Shakes' Feast or Famine, as well as recent releases by The SEE, Year of the Tiger, and other Little Rock bands (old and new) I want to talk about.