Crustacean Records
Encyclopedia
Crustacean Records is a record company from Wisconsin
, United States
, founded in 1994.
, was the first Crustacean Records compilation, featuring Helena Handbasket, Gethsemane, Crab Shack, Front of Trucker, Mas Optica and Wet Dog
. The label grew in the mid and late 1990s with notable mainstays of the label being Mad Trucker Gone Mad, Big Big Furnace and System & Station.
The current ownership is founder and bass player of Mad Trucker Gone Mad, Chris Langkamp, as majority owner and Rory Nienajadlo as co-owner. The current roster of the label includes Awesome Snakes, Birthday Suits, Bloodcow
, Droids Attack
, Drunk Drivers
, Fuck Knights, The Giraffes
, The Gusto, The Pimps, Imperial Battlesnake
, Killdozer
, Mad Trucker Gone Mad, Ouija Radio
, Screamin' Cyn Cyn & The Pons, The Skintones, The Skullcranes, 20 Dollar Love, Things Fall Apart and The Von Ehrics. To date Crustacean has released over 80 records in 16 years solidifying its place as one of Wisconsin’s most important and prolific punk/indie/metal record labels. Past notable artists Crustacean has worked with include The Soviettes
, 26 (Doc Corbin Dart
), Mucky Pup
, John Kruth
, Hazard County Girls, Modern Machines, Peelander-Z
, Rocket Fuel Is The Key, and others.
In a review of the label's Crust-o-Matic label compilation, In Music We Trust's Jeb Branin wrote "Crustacean has a knack for signing bands that rock the universe but are in no way cliché or mundane. Anything and everything they touch is unique and noteworthy". In a 2008 cover story by Madison free alternative weekly paper The Isthmus, Rich Albertoni summed up Crustacean's effect on the Wisconsin rock scene by saying, "It's history because Crustacean has gone on to assemble one of the richest archives of Wisconsin rock over the past 10 years. The label's catalogue now includes more than 70 releases, mostly from bands originating in Madison, Milwaukee and the Fox River Valley."
In August and December 2007, the label filmed ten of their acts performing at the High Noon Saloon
, to be released on DVD in July 2008.
On March 13, 2008 Crustacean Record had its inaugural South by Southwest showcase in Austin, Texas at the Molotov Lounge as well as participating in the 2008 Indie Village as part of the trade show in the Austin convention center.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, founded in 1994.
History
The label was founded by current majority owner Chris Langkamp. The debut release was Fetus by Crab Shack, the band Chris Langkamp played bass with, and was cassette only. The second release, issued on Compact DiscCompact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
, was the first Crustacean Records compilation, featuring Helena Handbasket, Gethsemane, Crab Shack, Front of Trucker, Mas Optica and Wet Dog
Wet Dog
Wet Dog is an international group featuring Stephen 'Vom' Ritchie from German rockers Die Toten Hosen and Richard Searle from Acid jazz band Corduroy and the Bohemian Underground Movement. Both Ritchie and Searle were original members of British chart-toppers Doctor and the Medics...
. The label grew in the mid and late 1990s with notable mainstays of the label being Mad Trucker Gone Mad, Big Big Furnace and System & Station.
The current ownership is founder and bass player of Mad Trucker Gone Mad, Chris Langkamp, as majority owner and Rory Nienajadlo as co-owner. The current roster of the label includes Awesome Snakes, Birthday Suits, Bloodcow
Bloodcow
-Members:*The Corporate Merger*1987*Navin*Bones*Dave Collins-Previous members:*Dead Knight*Bobbie Bibledick*Medium Rare*Clam-Discography:*Killbodies *Railroad City *Bloodcow III : Hail Xenu...
, Droids Attack
Droids Attack
Droids Attack is a Madison-based stoner rock band. Much of the band's sound combines the heavy riffs of stoner metal with the speed and ferocity of punk. The band releases material on Madison's Crustacean Records and Minneapolis-based Round 13 Records co-op label...
, Drunk Drivers
Drunk drivers
Drivers operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol are commonly referred to as drunk drivers. When charged with this as a crime, it may either be referred to as a DUI or a DWI , where a DUI is generally considered to be a lesser crime. Studies have been performed to identify...
, Fuck Knights, The Giraffes
The Giraffes
The Giraffes can be one of the following bands:*The Giraffes *The Giraffes *Girafot - Israeli rock band...
, The Gusto, The Pimps, Imperial Battlesnake
Imperial battlesnake
Imperial Battlesnake is a Chicago-based metal band. Their sound is a combination of up-tempo guitar riffs, energetic vocals, and pounding rhythms...
, Killdozer
Killdozer (band)
Killdozer was an American noise-rock band, formed in Madison, Wisconsin in 1983, with members Bill Hobson, Dan Hobson and Michael Gerald. They took their name from the 1974 TV movie, directed by Jerry London, itself based on a Theodore Sturgeon short story. They released their first album,...
, Mad Trucker Gone Mad, Ouija Radio
Ouija Radio
Ouija Radio is a Minneapolis, MN based indie rock band. The core members consist of lead singer songwriter/guitarist/keyboardist Christy Hunt, drummer/percussionist Charles Gehr, and bassist Matt “Helz” Belz. The group has had many line up changes with Hunt remaining as the only founding member...
, Screamin' Cyn Cyn & The Pons, The Skintones, The Skullcranes, 20 Dollar Love, Things Fall Apart and The Von Ehrics. To date Crustacean has released over 80 records in 16 years solidifying its place as one of Wisconsin’s most important and prolific punk/indie/metal record labels. Past notable artists Crustacean has worked with include The Soviettes
The Soviettes
The Soviettes are a punk rock band from Minneapolis, Minnesota, founded in 2001. The group was composed of Annie , Sturgeon , Susy , and Danny , all of whom switched off singing duties.-History:...
, 26 (Doc Corbin Dart
Doc Corbin Dart
Doc Corbin Dart is an alternative musician from the United States. He was lead singer, founder, and lyricist of the Lansing, Michigan 1980s punk rock band The Crucifucks...
), Mucky Pup
Mucky Pup
Mucky Pup began as an American hardcore and crossover thrash band formed in Bergenfield, New Jersey in 1985, when brothers John and Chris Milnes joined up with Dan Nastasi and former Hades member, Scott LePage . The band went through various incarnations and several musical style changes while...
, John Kruth
John Kruth
John Kruth is a singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist best known for his highly energetic “Banshee Mandolin” style of playing. He is also proficient on guitar, banjo, harmonica and various flutes. Kruth is also a music journalist and author....
, Hazard County Girls, Modern Machines, Peelander-Z
Peelander-Z
Peelander-Z is a Japanese punk band based in New York City. They bill themselves as a "Japanese Action Comic Punk band hailing from the Z area of Planet Peelander"...
, Rocket Fuel Is The Key, and others.
In a review of the label's Crust-o-Matic label compilation, In Music We Trust's Jeb Branin wrote "Crustacean has a knack for signing bands that rock the universe but are in no way cliché or mundane. Anything and everything they touch is unique and noteworthy". In a 2008 cover story by Madison free alternative weekly paper The Isthmus, Rich Albertoni summed up Crustacean's effect on the Wisconsin rock scene by saying, "It's history because Crustacean has gone on to assemble one of the richest archives of Wisconsin rock over the past 10 years. The label's catalogue now includes more than 70 releases, mostly from bands originating in Madison, Milwaukee and the Fox River Valley."
In August and December 2007, the label filmed ten of their acts performing at the High Noon Saloon
High Noon Saloon
The High-Noon Saloon is a live music venue located in Madison, Wisconsin, built to replace O'Cayz Corral.-History:The High Noon Saloon opened on May 5, 2004 , at 701 E. Washington Avenue, Madison Wisconsin...
, to be released on DVD in July 2008.
On March 13, 2008 Crustacean Record had its inaugural South by Southwest showcase in Austin, Texas at the Molotov Lounge as well as participating in the 2008 Indie Village as part of the trade show in the Austin convention center.