Hello everyone,
I know this kind of post is generally frowned upon here, but considering that I've been around for a little while and am obviously not just passing by to plug my label, I think it'll be alright. If not, feel free to lock/delete this topic, but it would be most appreciated if you let it go. Thank you.

With that out of the way, I'll get down to the story. For the past half year, I've been slaving to release the album by Nashville indie pop band The Bubblegum Complex through my label, Heatstroke Records. Being just 15 years old, you could guess it's been rather difficult, especially resisting the 50+ CDs (mostly by MidTN bands) that have been tempting me for quite some time now, but at long last, my goal has been realized. As you may have guessed, this is a very happy, rewarding time for me, but also a very trying one --- I obviously have to sell this stuff. So please, check out Heatstroke Records and look into the band. If you like them, please consider purchasing a copy for $7 via our mail-order, our at one of the BGC's upcoming live shows. (Most notable of which being their CD release show on Dec. 12th, at the Red Rose, with the Clutters, Velcro Stars, and if I'm not mistaken, Feable Weiner, who will be playing to celebrate their album's now-gold status) Thanks for looking.

And even if you aren't a fan of the band, please, consider linking us if you have a website or blurbing us in your next update...all help is massively appreciated. This really helps the band and the label, and, although a bit of a pipedream right now, I think that a label (two in this case) can really help give a scene direction, as Spongebath did in the 90s. (Love them or hate them, it's undeniable that they really did help organize the MidTN scene and help it become one of the best ever) I think that if my label as well as Vacant Cage Records grow the MidTN scene might really hit a "second renaissance" of sorts similar to the glory days of the late 90s. Yes, at present, it's aiming high, but it's always good to set big goals...something wonderful might come out of all this.

Thanks for reading,
-Jakob Dorof

You're fifteen? I feel like such a loser. I need to do something with my life.

No shit. Me too.

Feable Weiner's album went GOLD?!!!

!?!?!?!?!

That's what I was thinking. Isn't gold 100,000 copies?

500,000

That can't be right....wouldn't it be on Billboard or something? Is it on Billboard?

(Edited by MissSeptember at 4:34 pm on Nov. 28, 2003)

I don't think so. That's just what the FW newsletter said.

Yeah, if an album went gold, it would definitely be on the Billboard 200.

Gold definitely equals 500,000 sold.

My initial reaction was that there is no way 500,000 people would buy that CD. Then I came to the realization that there are probably 500,000 people who would and do buy trite drivel with little to no substance... and that was extra-scary to me. No offense to FW or any FW fans out there. They deserve any recognition they may get just because they work so hard at it. Does this mean that I don't abhor what I've heard from them? No, but they do give a lot of people what they want, so kudos.

However, there is no way they've sold that many records. I think they probably meant it as a joke.

Clarification: FW won't be playing the Dec. 12th show at the Red Rose. I was told that earlier but apparently there was some mix-up or misunderstanding...it's just going to be Velcro Stars, the Clutters, and the Bubblegum Complex. FW is playing a show to celebrate their "gold" record (if jokingly) soon, though.

Maybe they won't play again until they go gold.

Fuck Feable Weiner

Yeah. I really don't like them that much. But I mean, I guess I'm glad they're doing well. I just know I'm not playing any part in their success.

yet again.....Fuck Feable Weiner.

I hate that band and their supposed "music". I heard them on WMTS on the way back home and i cringed. it definitely brought back my severe hatred for them. whiny bullshit.....that's all that they are. it's sad but im beginning to believe that they may become more popular than our beloved features....which is a fucking shame just because they fall into that terrific sub-genre which is becoming increasing popular for the past 6 years or so. i would love to beat them with their own shoes.

(Edited by ray davies at 6:48 pm on Nov. 30, 2003)

Why is human cruelty so funny to some people?

Beat them to death with their own shoes?

Nice.

I'm getting The Features played on a college station in Britain. Perhaps some De Novo Dahl if I can get my hands on it. It's not big, but it's something. More details to come soon.

I like Feable Weiner.

good, jc. im glad you like them.

bubblegum complex sucks

Yeah, I've never been to one of their shows, but I bought their album because I had heard good things, and I enjoy almost all of it. There are a couple of questionable songs, but nobody's perfect. Except Matt Mahaffey.

Well, at least you're on topic...

And I like FW. Like JC said, some of their songs are a little iffy, but if you look past their high school lyrics and just enjoy their excellent musicianship and vocal harmonies, they're very enjoyable.

oh dear. i saw them open up for the features a while back and i can defintely say that there must be some pro-tooling going on in the studio to help out with their harmonies.

all in jest. you know i would never wish any harm upon any living thing. just an honest little wayne's world 2 reference.

(Edited by ray davies at 7:58 pm on Nov. 30, 2003)

Oh, I know. I caught it right away. I was going to go off on brown M&M's, but I figured that would be too far off-topic.

I wish there were a font to indicate "to be read in a bad Cockney accent."

I went to their CD release party so that I could see what all of the buzz is about. I will stand up for them and say that they put on a pretty enjoyable show and that a lot of people that I have spotted at Features shows were in the massive (yes, massive) crowd at the Boro for FW. I will also say that most of the people were dancing and appeared to be having a great time. They did have good vocal harmonies, though maybe they didn't when Ray D. saw them. I just didn't like the high school-ish lyrics and whininess of their voices. They're not as bad as I expected them to be, but they are definitely not my cup of tea.

saw them once. hated them. never forgave them.

I've never seen them, but I've heard them...and I know a guy who really, really, likes them, and I don't trust his judgement. On anything. Ever.

well damn.....

You know who it is.

Think committe meetings.....

(Edited by MissSeptember at 7:20 pm on Nov. 30, 2003)

what shocking revelations!

Yeah, I know.....fucking Feable Weiner posters everywhere. But he's a nice guy.

Carligula wholeheartedly supports Feable Weiner. They are amazingly good at what they do-- writing infectious pop songs with TIGHT harmonies (both recorded and live). Personally, I don't really get into their shows that much, but these guys really know how to work a crowd (albeit a bit younger crowd). They have a very strong work ethic that is evident from the self-booked tours and capacity local shows they've been playing. Doghouse Records saw fit to sign them, so there must still be a market for the genre. Did I mention they're super-nice, unpretentious guys to boot?

To say these guys are drawing attention away from The Features is ridiculous.

I agree with Carligula. They're a very hard working, entertaining band of nice guys.

If I was going to criticize anything about them it would be the name "Feable Weiner," but then again, I certainly never forgot that band name once I heard it.

can we stop talking about feable weiner and go back to talking about bubblegum complex and how much they suck?

I've never heard Bubblegum Complex.

But I like bubblegum.