Tag: it’s a king thing

Join me for a moment and we’ll partake in the sky

Posted on by Joey Gantner

Hello 2024. Yes, I’m tardy as usual. Get over it 🙂 Usually, I start these posts with an apology and a look behind, but let’s start with the future past before going further backwards.


Billiam‘s full-length Corner Tactics is HERE and it’s a winner, with the full album side a and 2 rarities plus a live set on side b. The album has been out digitally for a minute now and seems to have found itself a healthy audience (though I’d argue Billy was already well-loved, just now more so). The LP is out on Under the Gun (US) and Cow Tool Records  (AUS). I don’t know CT, but Evert at UTG is an old and cherished friend. He was very helpful with tape advice when I was about to launch this whole operation, and he even printed the Weed Homer shirts. We’ve been wanting to do something together for years, so it was nice that this project came together with both of us attached to it. I just did the tapes, but regardless it was nice to feel like part of the team. Spin.com did a feature on the rise of egg punk recently, and Billiam had plenty of coverage in it. It’s worth a read if you’ve got a minute.

I finally got the Panzarotti represses and It’s a King Thing tapes to the finish line – what a fucking relief. These took an embarrassingly long time, but they’re here and they’re a 10/10, so I can rest easy at last. With the Brian Mietz trifecta complete, it feels like last year’s Wow! can be properly celebrated – so let’s celebrate! Copies are up and shipping now in the shop.


The next release that’s immediately on the way is Twelve Big Ones by The Wand-ers. It’s all Wanda Jackson covers, which is right up my alley. Thanks to Nat Brower for thinking of me once again. That’ll likely be here in a week, and once they arrive I’ll tell you where you can buy it from with specific links (otherwise duh, it’ll be on Merchtable and Bandcamp).

Okay, let’s simmer in the twinkle of yesterday’s tears:

So hey speaking of Nat, Nancy is going on tour starting THIS weekend! I got to a greatest hits tape with them last year for the European tour and they’re rad as fuck. Such a great band, if you live anywhere near here get your buns out to the show. I’ll see you in Philly – Foto Club is maybe my favorite venue in town right now. Maybe they still have copies of the cassette, but you can always get ’em on Merchtable or Bandcamp).

2/24 Chicago – Empty Bottle
2/25 Detroit – The Regal Beagle
2/26 Toronto- Toronto Style Bar and Grill
2/27 Buffalo – Area 54
2/28 Pittsburgh – Cattivo Bar
2/29 Philadelphia – Foto Club
3/2 NYC – Union Pool w/ PROTEX (LOW TIX!!!)

New tommy oeffling song/video! Check it out.

cardigan hate train instantly became one of the best things I’ve ever released. I’m sorry I didn’t post about it at the time here, but I’ve been gushing everywhere else I swear it. tom is a prolific mastermind and we’re lucky to be on this planet at the same time as him. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for his music and what the future holds for us. My magic 8-ball is showing a date of April 21st, 2024. Maybe check back then 🎱.

The Whiffs Scratch ‘N’ Sniff cassettes were a fucking smash, as was the album in general (congrats to the lads and to Dig!). I got to catch them last year and it was a ripper as always, and the new stuff was so good. They’re gonna hit the road again soon, I’ll do my best to keep you informed.

Lastly, Sir Kim from Kim came out. This came together because of my old CT friend Bradley is in the band and it was a joy to work on a project together after some false starts back in yesteryear. They also did the art for the tape, it’s really neat.

There’s more, but I’ll wait until they’re closer to being real before I spill the beans. Some catch up, some mustard. Check out my 2023 year-end playlist, it’s full of the good stuff. I remain psyched about cassettes and everything on the horizon. Every time a box of these beauties arrives from Canada it’s just the best feeling. I always feel behind on my passions but in reality, SLUDGE PEOPLE is still here contributing to the musical climate. That’s cool. I need to stop and simmer in that more often. This thing celebrated 10 years last year! I’m determined to get caught up on all lingering projects so I can feel more joy and less stress about this venture. So far so good!

My drink has spilled and my shoes stick to the soil

Posted on by Joey Gantner


If I got in a time machine and told the version of me who was working on this website how his plans for blog updates and news reports were too ambitious, I think that guy would be pretty let down. Me? The messenger? I’m slightly more okay with it, but jeez – first update in a YEAR!

It’s weird, I was always pretty good with website upkeep until I started SLUDGE PEOPLE and throughout the label’s ten-year existence (more on that in a moment) it has never fully come together. I almost got there a few years back, but this portion has remained a challenge. I hope all of the tweaks and updates I’ve done throughout will inspire me to be better at it. No promises though, that’s how these hijinks get started to begin with.


So yeah – TEN YEARS! That’s pretty wild and I have plenty of thoughts about it that I plan on putting into SPT50, out around the end of the year. You’ll hear about it around then, just know I’ve been brainstorming some cool ideas on top of the tape. It should be a special package.

So what happened from March ’22 to now? Plenty and not much! 2022 was a complicated year and as a result, I took a longer break than I had hoped but I released tapes from The Warhawks, By Surprise and The Pains of Being Pure at Heart.


Adulthood by Adulthood came out at the end of December so it honestly feels like a 2023 release to me. It’s such a good-looking tape, from the appealing cover to the frosted ice shell. You can get a copy of that here.


Heinous Action by Wayne Pain and the Shit Stains is out now, after years of behind-the-scenes planning. The whole project evolved so much over the years and I’m so pleased with how it turned out. I even drove my buns out to Kansas City for the release show and it did not disappoint. What a ripper!


Speaking of projects from old Kansas co-workers, Old-Light Painting by Danny Pound is out now on tape and digital. These came out awesome, the silver shell is especially sharp.

Up next:


Belong by The Pains of Being Pure at Heart is almost here, running a tad behind but nothing too extreme. Not sold out yet, but getting close! Looking forward to seeing those, I’ll gush a bit more on those in a post showing off the final product. It’s still mind-blowing to be doing these Pains tapes, the first one was such a hit and I think this one is even better.


The Whiffs are back with their latest Scratch ‘N’ Sniff! It’s probably the album of the year and it’ll be out next month. Pre-order that here.


Brian Mietz has a new record coming April 21st called Wow! and it’s the best. The second single just dropped today – stream “Cranefly” wherever you have an account.

 

Also, we’re repressing Panzarotti and putting It’s a King Thing on tape for the first time. So much great music!! You can pre-order all three in a bundle and save some bucks, or get them one at a time. Up to you, consumer! There’s also a release show booked on 4/21 at Tin Can. Here’s the flyer:

AFTER THAT?? So much! It’s gonna be a non-stop year as I have some holes to fill to get us to SPT50. Can’t wait to get those out at long last, it’s been a long time dreaming big.

Okay, that’s plenty. Until next time!!