Simple Machines
Encyclopedia
Simple Machines was a record label that operated out of Arlington, Virginia. The label was masterminded by Jenny Toomey
and Kristin Thomson and, at its peak, had four paid workers- Toomey, Thomson, Pat Graham
and Mickey Menard. The label was formed to 'find creative ways to avoid the established and boring music business'.
covers". The profits were donated to a youth at risk home in Washington D.C.
The most famous release of the label is Pocketwatch
, an album recorded by Dave Grohl
, the Foo Fighters
frontman, then the drummer for Seattle based grunge
band Nirvana
. Unwilling to use his own name on the record, Grohl used the moniker "Late!", and was listed in liner notes as "Dave G". The album was released in 1992 and featured songs that were later re-released by the Foo Fighters, namely "Color Pictures of a Marigold
" (shorted to Marigold, and released both by Nirvana and Foo Fighters), Friend of a Friend
, and "Winnebago" (the latter becoming the b-side to the Foo Fighters first single This Is A Call
). The album can be heard on its MySpace
page . Grohl himself played all the instruments on the album, while Barrett Jones
produced it and sang backing vocals on "Petrol CB".
After Pocketwatch
was released in 1992, Grohl remained tight lipped about the project, preferring not to talk about it, and remain the Nirvana
drummer. But with the creation of the Foo Fighters
in 1995, the strain of people wanting the Pocketwatch
album almost destroyed the label.
In 1993, the label spent a large part of the year promoting and releasing a 7" collection called "Working Holiday", which was a monthly release featuring two bands on every record. Each single featured songs pertaining to a holiday that occurred in the month the single was released. Some of the artists featured in this series included My Dad Is Dead
, Lois
, the Coctails
, Eggs, Bratmobile
, Codeine
, Superchunk
, Jawbox
, and Rastro!. Subscribers to these records also received a calendar featuring interesting facts about every day of the year, a box holder for the singles and a special gift on their birthday. The label pressed and shipped 36,000 7" inch records and, in January 1994, they hosted a weekend music festival to celebrate the feat.
The guide gives detailed advice on many aspects of the music industry from recording and releasing singles through to the legal requirements of setting up a label as a legitimate business.
They ended by releasing two records, by artists Ida and Tsunami respectively, then organised a Simple Machines Finale Party at the Black Cat in Washington D.C, with 24 bands on the bill which took two days to complete, and on March 29, 1998, Simple Machines closed.
Jenny Toomey
Jenny Toomey is an American indie rock musician and arts activist from Chevy Chase, Maryland, and later, Washington, D.C. She was a member of the bands Geek, Tsunami, Liquorice, Grenadine, So Low and Choke, among others, and has also recorded under her own name...
and Kristin Thomson and, at its peak, had four paid workers- Toomey, Thomson, Pat Graham
Pat Graham
Pat Graham is an American photographer specializing in indie-punk bands, with whom he often tours.Graham began shooting in high school in Milwaukee, WI, but soon relocated to Washington DC where he worked extensively in and around the local and national music scenes for over 10 years.His photos...
and Mickey Menard. The label was formed to 'find creative ways to avoid the established and boring music business'.
Biography
The label came into existence in 1990 with the release of "Machines Compilation 7" Series". Simple Machines promoted cooperation with other indie labels all over the United States, and the "sell it at a fair price" ethic. The label also released a compilation of bands covering their "favourite Beat HappeningBeat Happening
Beat Happening is an American punk band formed in Olympia, Washington in 1982. Calvin Johnson, Heather Lewis and Bret Lunsford have been the band's continual members...
covers". The profits were donated to a youth at risk home in Washington D.C.
The most famous release of the label is Pocketwatch
Pocketwatch (album)
Pocketwatch is a cassette album by Dave Grohl, under the pseudonym Late!, released in 1992 on the now defunct indie label, Simple Machines, as part of their Tool Cassette Series.-Background:...
, an album recorded by Dave Grohl
Dave Grohl
David Eric "Dave" Grohl is an American rock musician, multi-instrumentalist, and singer-songwriter who is the lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter for Foo Fighters; the former drummer for Nirvana and Scream; and the current drummer for Them Crooked Vultures...
, the Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters is an American alternative rock band originally formed in 1994 by Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl as a one-man project following the dissolution of his previous band. The band got its name from the UFOs and various aerial phenomena that were reported by Allied aircraft pilots in World War...
frontman, then the drummer for Seattle based grunge
Grunge
Grunge is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged during the mid-1980s in the American state of Washington, particularly in the Seattle area. Inspired by hardcore punk, heavy metal, and indie rock, grunge is generally characterized by heavily distorted electric guitars, contrasting song...
band Nirvana
Nirvana (band)
Nirvana was an American rock band that was formed by singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987...
. Unwilling to use his own name on the record, Grohl used the moniker "Late!", and was listed in liner notes as "Dave G". The album was released in 1992 and featured songs that were later re-released by the Foo Fighters, namely "Color Pictures of a Marigold
Marigold (song)
"Marigold" is a song written and composed by American rock musician Dave Grohl, that was first released on Pocketwatch, an album Grohl issued under the pseudonym Late! in 1992....
" (shorted to Marigold, and released both by Nirvana and Foo Fighters), Friend of a Friend
Friend of a friend
Friend of a friend is a phrase used to refer to someone that one does not know well, literally, a friend of a friend.In some social sciences, the phrase is used as a half-joking shorthand for the fact that much of the information on which people act comes from distant sources and cannot be...
, and "Winnebago" (the latter becoming the b-side to the Foo Fighters first single This Is A Call
This Is a Call
"This Is a Call" is the first major single released by the Foo Fighters from their self-titled debut album. It was released in 1995. No video was made for the song.Dave Grohl said about the song: "The chorus says 'This is a call to all my past resignation'...
). The album can be heard on its MySpace
MySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
page . Grohl himself played all the instruments on the album, while Barrett Jones
Barrett Jones
Barrett Jones is an American football offensive lineman. He currently attends the University of Alabama in his junior year. Jones is considered one of the best offensive lineman of his class....
produced it and sang backing vocals on "Petrol CB".
After Pocketwatch
Pocketwatch (album)
Pocketwatch is a cassette album by Dave Grohl, under the pseudonym Late!, released in 1992 on the now defunct indie label, Simple Machines, as part of their Tool Cassette Series.-Background:...
was released in 1992, Grohl remained tight lipped about the project, preferring not to talk about it, and remain the Nirvana
Nirvana (band)
Nirvana was an American rock band that was formed by singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987...
drummer. But with the creation of the Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters is an American alternative rock band originally formed in 1994 by Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl as a one-man project following the dissolution of his previous band. The band got its name from the UFOs and various aerial phenomena that were reported by Allied aircraft pilots in World War...
in 1995, the strain of people wanting the Pocketwatch
Pocketwatch (album)
Pocketwatch is a cassette album by Dave Grohl, under the pseudonym Late!, released in 1992 on the now defunct indie label, Simple Machines, as part of their Tool Cassette Series.-Background:...
album almost destroyed the label.
In 1993, the label spent a large part of the year promoting and releasing a 7" collection called "Working Holiday", which was a monthly release featuring two bands on every record. Each single featured songs pertaining to a holiday that occurred in the month the single was released. Some of the artists featured in this series included My Dad Is Dead
My Dad Is Dead
My Dad Is Dead, is a recording project of musician Mark Edwards. The project began in Cleveland, Ohio in 1985. My Dad Is Dead has released eleven full-length albums on labels such as St. Valentine's, Scat Records, Homestead Records and Emperor Jones....
, Lois
Lois Maffeo
Courtney Love is an American musician and writer who lives in Olympia, Washington. Although never achieving mainstream success, she has been closely involved with and influenced many independent musicians, especially in the 90s Olympia, Seattle and DC based musician.-as Lois Maffeo:albums*The...
, the Coctails
Coctails
The Coctails were a Chicago music quartet, which formed while its members were attending the Kansas City Art Institute. The band was active from about 1988 to 1995 The Coctails were a Chicago music quartet, which formed while its members were attending the Kansas City Art Institute. The band was...
, Eggs, Bratmobile
Bratmobile
Bratmobile was an American punk band. Bratmobile was a first-generation "riot grrrl" band, which grew from the Pacific Northwest and Washington, DC underground...
, Codeine
Codeine
Codeine or 3-methylmorphine is an opiate used for its analgesic, antitussive, and antidiarrheal properties...
, Superchunk
Superchunk
Superchunk is an American indie rock band from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, consisting of singer/guitarist Mac McCaughan, guitarist Jim Wilbur, bassist Laura Ballance, and drummer Jon Wurster. Formed in 1989, they were one of the bands that helped define the Chapel Hill music scene of the 1990s...
, Jawbox
Jawbox
Jawbox was an alternative rock band from Washington, D.C., U.S.. Its original members were J. Robbins , Kim Coletta and Adam Wade...
, and Rastro!. Subscribers to these records also received a calendar featuring interesting facts about every day of the year, a box holder for the singles and a special gift on their birthday. The label pressed and shipped 36,000 7" inch records and, in January 1994, they hosted a weekend music festival to celebrate the feat.
The Mechanic's Guide
As part of the label's DIY attitude towards the music industry, they published a 24 page guide that was believed to be responsible for helping to set up many independent labels throughout the 1990s.The guide gives detailed advice on many aspects of the music industry from recording and releasing singles through to the legal requirements of setting up a label as a legitimate business.
Demise
Following Thomson's relocation to Philadelphia, with her husband, and the subsequent six hour weekly commute, Simple Machines found themselves under increasing financial pressures to keep putting out records and keeping them in print. Toomey and Thomson had also became disenchanted with the business aspect of their label, realizing that it overruled the musical side of it. In 1997 the decision was made to wind the label down.They ended by releasing two records, by artists Ida and Tsunami respectively, then organised a Simple Machines Finale Party at the Black Cat in Washington D.C, with 24 bands on the bill which took two days to complete, and on March 29, 1998, Simple Machines closed.
Bands & Artists
- AutoclaveAutoclave (band)Autoclave was a post-punk band, based in Washington, D.C.. They were on local label Dischord Records. Formed in the summer of 1990, the group consisted of vocalist and bassist Christina Billotte, lead guitarist Mary Timony, guitarist Nikki Chapman, and drummer Melissa Berkoff.The group broke up in...
- Franklin BrunoFranklin BrunoFranklin Bruno is an American singer-songwriter, academic, writer, and blogger originally from Upland, California. He has been a member of Nothing Painted Blue since its inception in 1986....
- Grenadine
- The HatedThe HatedThe Hated was an Annapolis, Maryland punk rock band from 1985 to 1990. The original members were Mike Bonner, Erik Fisher, Daniel Littleton, and Colin Meeder...
- Danielle HowleDanielle HowleDanielle Howle is an American singer-songwriter. After releasing an early song on a Columbia, SC music sampler, she joined the Columbia band Lay Quiet Awhile, which had been formed by brothers Dan and Phil Cook in 1989 and had released two EPs...
- IdaIda (band)Ida is an indie rock band from New York City. They are known for their three part harmonies, sparse, minimal, often quiet arrangements, and for their three singer-songwriters...
- Liquorice
- LungfishLungfish (band)Lungfish is a post-hardcore band formed in 1987 in Baltimore, Maryland. All of their music has been released by the Washington, D.C. punk label Dischord except for their first LP, Necklace of Heads which was released by Simple Machines .Their line-up as of 2005 consists of Daniel Higgs , Asa...
- LoisLois MaffeoCourtney Love is an American musician and writer who lives in Olympia, Washington. Although never achieving mainstream success, she has been closely involved with and influenced many independent musicians, especially in the 90s Olympia, Seattle and DC based musician.-as Lois Maffeo:albums*The...
- Monorchid
- My Dad Is DeadMy Dad Is DeadMy Dad Is Dead, is a recording project of musician Mark Edwards. The project began in Cleveland, Ohio in 1985. My Dad Is Dead has released eleven full-length albums on labels such as St. Valentine's, Scat Records, Homestead Records and Emperor Jones....
- Rastro!
- The Raymond BrakeThe Raymond BrakeThe Raymond Brake was an indie rock band that formed in the mid-1990s in Greensboro, North Carolina, USA. Greensboro being only 45 minutes drive away from Chapel Hill, the city's music scene was an influence and a guiding light...
- Retsin
- ScrawlScrawlScrawl is a musical trio based in Columbus, Ohio. The founding members are Marcy Mays , Sue Harshe , and Carolyn O'Leary . Their first show, in the summer of 1985, was a 20-minute opening spot for the Meat Puppets...
- Sea Saw
- TsunamiTsunami (band)Tsunami was an American indie rock band from Arlington, Virginia, formed by housemates Jenny Toomey and Kristin Thomson in late 1990 to play at New Year's party...