Mckeenstreet Music
Originally started in 2004 by Maine native Graeme K, Mckeenstreet Music moved from NYC to Portland to Seattle until finally settling back in Portland earlier this year. The label currently has five signed acts, all but one being from Maine. One of the acts is former USM student Chad Chamberlain, who is better known as Horse Thief in the music underworld. It was bands like Horse Thief and label-mates The Last Sip that ultimately brought Mckeenstreet back to the state. “I felt it was my job to get these acts more exposure,” Graeme said.
Graeme, who started the label with his debut album ‘Hidden Beast’, said their mission is “to get out of Maine.” But don’t take this the wrong way. Graeme just wants his bands to have greater exposure in a more national setting and has already seen success. Another band on the label, Brenda, was just invited to play the main stage at the Nateva Festival this July. In addition, Graeme’s music has been featured on NPR and the CMJ Music Marathon.
Mckeenstreet is getting ready to release records this year from Brenda, Dehtro, The Last Sip, Dethro and Graeme K. You can visit http://mckeenstreetmusic.com to learn more.
Eternal Otter Records
If you’ve ever heard live music amplified onto Congress St. on First Fridays, you might know the music of Eternal Otter Records. This record label originated as a monthly concert series called the Tower of Song, where the music was played over Congress Square. Naturally, the project grew into a support system for a like-minded, yet diverse group of musicians. William Ehtridge, a student of USM’s Muskie School, is responsible for starting the label.
Eternal Otter’s line-up features all Portland-based artists and bands including Anna’s Ghost, Johhny Fountain and Panda Bandits. The most successful act so far is, without a doubt, Lady Lamb the Beekeeper who has played all over New England, opened for Melissa Ferrick and will be opening for national act Dr. Dog in May at Port City Music Hall.
In addition to CD releases by Lady Lamb and Anna’s Ghost, Eternal Otter also has a Vinyl Singles Series running with a 7″split from Aly Spaltro (of Lady Lamb) and TJ Metcalfe (formerly of Lady Lamb) one with two unreleased Cerebrus Shoal songs and one from Portsmouth-based Blaque Boose. Another vinyl series is expected this Spring including USM graduate Jesse Pilgrim. To find out more information, go to http://www.eternalotterrecords.com
Peapod Recordings
Over the past few years, Peapod Recordings has grown notorious in the Portland music scene for a diverse catalog and hi-fidelity recording and it’s only operated by one man: Ron Harrity. He happens to play in one of the signed bands, Honey Clouds (and previously, Nord Express and Harpswell Sound.) But when he’s not playing his own music, he’s wrapped up in various recording projects for signed bands (Huak, Company, Hearts By Darts) and some non-signed bands (Marie Stella, Computer At Sea.)
Two Peapod releases from last year (Brown Bird & South China) were both featured on NPR Music’s blog, and Peapod’s Chriss Sutherland release was given a positive review in the New York Times.
Foam Castles, featuring USM grad Tyler Jackson, is the newest addition to the Peapod Family and will be releasing its third album this summer. To learn more about releases on Peapod, go to http://www.peapodrecordings.com/.
the [dog] and [pony] label
Though only proclaimed as a record label last week, [dog] and [pony] has already been making waves in Portland with their documentary-style video series of local musicians in their most intimate settings. USM-based Jakob Battick & Friends was announced as the first signee along with Bangor natives Good Kids Sprouting Horns. Though not much is known about the immediate future, co-founder Nick Poulin feels a lot of momentum behind this partnership.
“That’s the brilliance of us becoming a label. We don’t have much money sure, we never have, but we have a promotional company with a growing local name and an endless means of video and audio promotion for any band signed to our label.”
To follow their developments as a record label, go to http://www.dogandponymusic.net/.