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Indie Music: A Celebration
With Mark Robinson
Founder and CEO, Teenbeat Records
Wednesday, March 28, 2001; 12 Noon EST
The independent music scene is very much alive in the D.C. area and the time for celebration for a seminal local record label starts this week in several clubs. (For a schedule of club dates: Teenbeat Web Site) Mark Robinson founded the Arlington-based record label Teenbeat in 1985 and has released over 300 singles, albums and videos of mostly Washington talent. Himself a musician and producer (he sings and plays several instruments) Robinson has fronted bands like Unrest, Air Miami and Flin Flon.
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Teenbeat
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Some say the label has its own sound, with guitar, bass and drums making up the core lineup. It's the sixteenth year for Teenbeat and the club showcases will spotlight talent and the creative spirit of local musicians.
Mark Robinson will be online Wednesday, March 28, at 12 Noon EST, to talk about the independent music scene.
A transcript follows.
Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control
over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.
Mark Robinson: Hello everyone.
Thanks for the questions, I'll do my best to answer them all. I hope everyone can make it out to our
Teenbeat Anniversary shows on Thursday and Friday.
Bells Of, The Long Goodbye, & Phil Krauth will be
at the Galaxy Hut in Arlington, Virginia on Thursday
the 29th. Jonny Cohen, myself, and Tracy Shedd will
be at DCCD in Washington, DC on Friday the 30th
at 5pm, and last but not least, the big bash will be held
on Friday the 30th at the Black Cat in Washington, DC
at 14th and R sts. NW with THE RONDELLES, ADEN,
TRUE LOVE ALWAYS, HOT PURSUIT, BUTCH WILLIS & D FLAT and TRACY SHEDD.
Hopefully I'll see you all then.
On with the questions!
Mark Robinson: hello everyone,
thanks for sending in all these questions,
I'll be glad to answer them all.
Arlington, Va:
Ever considered an album of first-takes?
Mark Robinson: Well, I think probably 90% of everything I've done is first takes. Unrest's Perfect Teeth was pretty much live.
Both of my solo albums, Tiger Banana and the upcoming Canada's Green Highways were all first takes. If you're well rehearsed, you can pull it off,
plus it adds a bit of spontiniety (sp?), because you're never THAT well rehearsed.
next question!
Huber, Va.:
I heard you and your wife just had a son named Cardinal. Does this impede your rock star lifestyle?
Mark Robinson: uh, yeah that is true.
I like to think of my "wife" as Evelyn
the rock lifestyle really hasn't changed,
we're both performing this Friday.
Flin Flon, Manitoba, Canada:
do you have any new albums coming out
soon?
I really want to hear more of that "Tiger
Banana" style of music.
Mark Robinson: well, gosh "flin flon"
I just happen to have a brand new album of
pop tunes produced by a Mister trevor/hollAnd
which should be out on May 29th.
It's genius title is "Canada's Green Highways".
Ryan Nelson from Most Secret Method did some
great illustrations of me that will grace the cover.
Washington, D.C.:
Did the Rondelles find a bassist to replace Yukiko? And why did she leave the band?
Mark Robinson: Yes, the Rondelles DID find a new bass player.
He will be making his DC debut this Friday at the
Black Cat. His name is Darian.
Yukiko left the band for her own personal reasons
that we'll never know, but I like to tell people she
left to pursue a career in supermodeling.
Aden, Va.:
What do you consider to be the best Teen Beet bands out right now?
Mark Robinson: well, that's a dangerous question.
Live, i'd say True Love Always are pretty ding dang good.
My faves right now are the bands with new-ish albums out like Aden, Hot Pursuit, Bells of, Butch Willis & D Flat (I'm a member!), TLA.
Reston, Va.:
When did you and Evelyn get married? When was the baby born?
Will you be playing any of the shows this week?
What Teenbeat release are you most proud of?
Mark Robinson: we were married in October of 2000.
Cardinal was born on Henry Rollins' 40th birthday.
I'm performing at DCCD at 5:30 pm on Friday.
that's on 18th St. in Adam's Morgan.
I'm also the ryhthym guitarist for Butch Willis' band
D Flat, we're playing at the Black Cat that same night.
Jonny Cohen and I will be hosting all of the events.
I guess I'm most proud of the Wakefield CD box set we did a few years ago. It has lots of great Teenbeat songs
and has a nice package as well.
WDC:
Hey,
I wrote a song that I think would be a natural for Butch. Does he only perform his own material, or is he open to suggestions?
Mark Robinson: Butch does pride himself on performing his own songs, but he has collaborated on a few songs.
send a tape to Teenbeat and we'll make sure it gets to him.
Washington, D.C.:
Any chance of a follow up to "world cup
fever" for 2002?
Mark Robinson: I definitely would like it to become the official world cup theme for 2002. Please lobby your local FIFA official.
kick!
Dee of Cee:
What's your whole take on the Napster ruckus?
Mark Robinson: uh, I like Napster OK.
People are always going to be taping your music one way or the other.
I went onto Napster once because someone told me there was a version of Nirvana doing an Unrest song
"Yes She Is My Skinhead Girl". I downloaded it and it turned out it was a really bad recording of Unrest.
MP3s up soon on the Teenbeat website.
www.teenbeat.net
or
www.teenbeatrecords.com
Arlington:
I can't find the Grenadine "Don't Forget the Halo" 7" for love or money. My copy is worn out. Any chance you'd release it on CD?
Mark Robinson: I don't think we would put a CD out of just that.
we did put both of those songs on the previously mentioned Wakefield box set, but that's sold out too.
Maybe they'll be on our next box set
have you tried one of those popular auction sites?
The burg, Va.:
I love Versus. How do you pick the bands you sign? Do you take submissions?
Mark Robinson: I love Versus too.
they rawk!
Most of the bands that we've put records out by
were either friends of mine, or bands that I saw play live.
there have been 2 bands that we've had on the label that sent us demo tapes, Tel Aviv and Robert Schipul.
We listen to all tapes that we receive.
Reston, Va.:
Will Panax be doing anything?
What's upcoming for Teenbeat this year?
What is your favorite release from Factory records?
Mark Robinson: Panax: I hope to God they do,
but they might not be called Panax anymore.
they did some recording last summer that hasn't been finished yet.
Upcoming this year on Teenbeat:
a re-issue of Unrest's "Imperial f.f.r.r."
True Love Always "Spring Collection" singles comp
Aden the first album remastered and rereleased
Mark Robinson "Canada's Green Highways"
Mark Robinson "Proposal" EP with Melissa (Tuscadero), Juliet (Rondelles), Jeff (Aden).
new Aden album
solo album from James Baluyut from Versus
cd from The Screamer
Hot Pursuit "Culottes"
hopefully Bridget & Kathi's new stuff
maybe Fontaine cd
lotsa stuff
my Favorite factory items
there's just so much.
everything by ACR, Crispy Ambulance, Section 25,
New Order, Joy Division, James, ESG, john Dowie,
some stuff by Stockholm Monsters, Royal Family and the Poor, Kevin Hewick, Durutti column
Bethesda, Md.:
Have you ever heard of a band called MaryLou and the Untouchables? They played in Ocean City last summer and were awesome! Any ideas if they're coming our way? Thanks.
Mark Robinson: gee,
I've never heard of them.
I'm not too sure when they're coming your way.
sorry
Arlington, Va.:
It seems to me that Teen Beat has basically stuck to the same musical style over the 10 years I have been paying attention. Pop-y pretty psudo-rock. Do you have any desire to sign bands with different sounds? Is there a reason for the similarity? Thanks for taking my question.
Mark Robinson: hmm.
well I dont' think that's really true.
we've always had a variety of genres on the label,
from Los Marauders' rockabilly, to Bells of Psychedelic stylings. Have you heard my "Taste" CD, it's all-out
avant electronic. What about Cath Carroll? Jonny Cohen?
I'd love to sign bands with different sounds.
At last check, there weren't very many out there.
What do you suggest?
Arlington, Va.:
Hey Mark, I heard you and the label were moving back to DC. Any truth to this rumor?
Mark Robinson: I believe that is true.
Washington, D.C.:
Hey there Mark,
Which local scene have you found to be more vibrant and/or friendly, D.C. or Boston?
Nancy Pants
Mark Robinson: Well, my favorite drink, or course is the famous Flaming Volcano, although I am also partial to a good Suffering Bastard...., oh, oops,
Um, I think Boston is a bit friendlier, but it is soooo much bigger. Instead of 5 clubs there are 25.
I've played in at least 6 different clubs since I've been here. There's tons more going on in Boston in terms of number of bands and shows, but I wouldn't say there's too much revolutionary stuff going on here.
D.C.:
What's the deal with teenbeat?
last I heard you had moved off
far away and sort of stepped away
from the whole scene. Lately it
seems like the label and the bands
on it are sort of resurfacing.
Is that all part of a master plan?
and where is teenbeat based out of
now? Also, how do these pants look
on me?
Mark Robinson: Teenbeat is still going strong as ever.
There's no master plan, I think everything comes in waves, all the bands on the label now joined the label 4 or 5 years ago, so at this point they're getting a bit bigger.
Teenbeat has 3 offices right now.
Arlington, VA (hq)
Boston (mailorder & production)
Chicago (distribution)
that wil probably be reduced by one a year from now.
your pants are spectacular, and on you, they seem to breathe new life to your legs
Arlington, Va.:
What music gives you goosebumps?
Mark Robinson: really sad and quiet music.
"Folklore" by James.
a new song by Fontaine.
Tracy Shedd's music
Washington:
I was wondering what Mr. Robinson thought of the fact that everyone seems to complain that the D.C. music scene is "insular."
Mark Robinson: I suppose it is insular.
But I think everything in life is.
The scenes and cliques in college or high school,
the same goes for office environments.
So, everyone should stop complaining,
if somebody doesn't want you in their scene,
fuck 'em, and start your own scene
or better yet,
be your own scene of one.
Delray, Va.:
Do you think D.C. has been hurting for good local bands? It seems tome that 10-15 years ago we were at the center of the indie-rock world. Now
well
I don't know where the center is (NY? Austin?) but it ain't here.
Mark Robinson: I think DC was the center of things 10 years ago because there was a new style of music that was gaining popularity all over the country and many of the bands that played this style were from DC.
Right now there's not much of anything going on anywhere that's too new.
Probably the most innovative music right now is electronica, but as with everything, there's a lot of bad stuff and some good stuff.
It most certainly is a shame when bands sound a bit too much like other bands that are (usually) more famous than them.
Let's do something new!
Washington, D.C.:
I was wondering why you hate the tiger so much? Do you like the cheetah?
Mark Robinson: i assume you're referring to Air Miami's
"Fuck You Tiger" EP.
We love the tiger.
I like the cheetah, but not as much as the Tiger
Boston, Mass.:
Hey Mark-
Do you think as the weather becomes warmer you may do a subway station performance again? I missed your appearance last year. Boston will definitely miss you alot when Evelyn and you move back to D.C.
Mark Robinson: Shit yeah,
we may even do that next weekend with True Love Always.
Why does the weather have to be warm to play in the subway??
speaking of which< I have to get my microphone back from this fellah I loaned it to
St. Paul, Minn.:
I've always been a big fan of your graphic design, and I've enjoyed watching it progress over the years. Can you name any of your early or current design influences? Where do you find inspiration for your design?
Mark Robinson: Well thanks so much.
My early design influence was defitely Peter Saville's stuff he did with Factory Records in England. I also took a bit from Jeff Nelson from Dischord, mostly the way their ads looked and their logo.
Piet Mondrian is also a super guy
as well as the entire DeStijl pulication
Reston, Va.:
Will you be putting out a Teenbeat video comp? I remember seeing one on the catalog years ago. It'd be great to have, esp. for the Unrest videos. And the Air Miami one.
Mark Robinson: I think we will do this at some point in the next couple of years.
It will probably be on a DVD
We'll put the videos on it and also the hours and hours of tape we filmed at our anniversary shows.
Mark Robinson: thanks a bunch everyone
be sure to make it to all of our shows on thursday and Friday
March 29 & 30.
for more info, email me at markrobinson@radioamp.com
or visit www.teenbeat.net
once again:
MARCH 29: ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA - at the Galaxy Hut - 8:30 PM
PHIL KRAUTH, THE LONG GOODBYE (w/Melissa Tuscadero), BELLS OF + host JONNY COHEN
Galaxy Hut, 2711 Wilson Boulevard, Clarendon, Arlington, VA (703) 525-8646.
between Clarendon & Court House Metro stations.
NO tickets sold in advance. $5. ALL-AGES.
* MARCH 30: WASHINGTON, D.C. - at DC CD, evening in-store - 5 PM
JONNY COHEN, MARK ROBINSON, TRACY SHEDD.
DC CD, 2423 18th Street NW, Adam's Morgan, Washington, DC (202) 588-1810.
walking distance from Dupont Circle Metro station. Near 18th & Columbia.
FREE. ALL-AGES.
* MARCH 30: WASHINGTON, D.C. - at The Black Cat Nightclub - 8 PM
THE RONDELLES, ADEN, TRUE LOVE ALWAYS, HOT PURSUIT, BUTCH WILLIS & D FLAT, TRACY SHEDD, + hosts Jonny and Mark.
The Black Cat Nightclub, 1831 14th St. NW, Washington, DC (202) 667-7960
on 14th betw. R and T Sts. a few blocks from the U-Street Metro station.
Tickets WILL be sold in advance. $8. ALL-AGES.
Special New England Anniversary show:
* APRIL 7: BOSTON, MASS at the Milky Way Lounge & Lanes, 5 PM
w/ADEN, MARK ROBINSON, TRUE LOVE ALWAYS, & TRACY SHEDD.
washingtonpost.com:
That was our last question today. Thanks to Mark Robinson, and to
everyone who joined us.
Stay tuned on Live Online:
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Music:
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