WHAT: Cinco de Knox, celebrating the fifth year of 307 Knox Records in Durham.
WHEN: Saturday, 8 p.m. until
WHERE: The Pinhook, 117 Main St., Durham
ADMISSION: Free and open to the public
By Cliff Bellamy
cbellamy@heraldsun.com; 419-6744
DURHAM -- "Eclectic" is the word for the music on 307 Knox Records -- from Dan Deacon's ethereal, experimental compositions to the humor of Midtown Dickens, to the meditative songs of Humble Tripe, to the unabashed rock sounds of Jews and Catholics.
Melissa Thomas, who founded the label in 2004, said the label does "anti-folk, indie rock and dance-rock." But trying too hard to define the label's sound is to miss the point: During 307 Knox's short history, Thomas and Alicia Loggie (who joined about two years ago) have tried to help nurture the music scene in Durham in all its forms.
It's been a labor of love, Thomas said in a phone interview, with Thomas and Loggie doing their own scouting for talent in Durham and throughout the region. "The way I have approached this is if we like the band and the people, and they feel comfortable with us, then we work with them," Thomas said.
The label will celebrate 5 years of recording and producing local bands Saturday during Cinco de Knox, a celebration to be held at Durham's Pinhook bar. For this party, the musicians who have recorded with 307 Knox will get the night off, but fans will still hear their music broadcast on the Pinhook's sound system. "I am making the most massive playlist you have ever seen," Thomas said.
She will post that list, which will accompany an art installation with memorabilia chronicling the history of the label. The party, Thomas said, is the label's way of thanking everyone behind the scenes -- from record store owners to post office employees to bank employees -- who have helped her and Loggie learn the basics of running the business.
Thomas, who plays drums (she used to play in the band Dirty Little Heaters), came to Durham in 2002 and began meeting local musicians. She made a compilation recording in 2004, and "kept falling in love with all these good artists."
Loggie, who knew Thomas from days they spent in the Washington, D.C., area, kept in touch with her and came to Durham from Los Angeles in 2006 to visit Troika Music Festival. With Troika, she "fell in love with Durham, the music scene." Later, she drove by a house for sale, closed on it, and moved here in April 2007.
The label (which takes its name from an address where Thomas lived in Cliffside Park, N.J.) records artists in all formats. In addition to digital download availability, for each recording, 307 Knox issues about 500 vinyl discs and 1,000 CDs. "In a perfect world, I'd always put out vinyl," Thomas said.
She sees a stronger market for vinyl emerging as more listeners collect it. She attributes the appeal of vinyl to the physical artifact itself, and the jacket art. Listeners "get that landscape we want from the art." Musically, producing vinyl does present different challenges. "An artist can put together 16 songs, but you really have to think about it. ... You have to really think about curating that record, and that's a hard thing to do," Thomas said.
Recently, 307 Knox released a 7-inch vinyl record by Dan Deacon & Future Islands, which Thomas said is almost sold out.
Both Thomas and Loggie see Durham developing a strong musical identity. Both have helped curate the fall Troika Music Festival, which draws bands to different venues in Durham, and Thomas sees more of an ongoing presence of local bands at places like Pinhook, Marvell Event Center, and Duke Coffee House.
Loggie cites Durham bands such as Midtown Dickens and Megafaun as making a mark on the Durham music scene. "There's always been a pretty solid urban scene here," she said. "I wouldn't say the indie rock focus is changing from Chapel Hill, but I would say that Durham is coming into its own and becoming more identifiable. ..."
In 2010, 307 Knox Records will be putting out its 30th release. Next year, the label will release a new CD by the duo Jews and Catholics (produced by Mitch Easter), and new recordings from Birds and Arrows, and Humble Tripe.
The label operates on a break-even philosophy. While some artists pursue Thomas and Loggie, most of their new talent emerges from the two going to venues, listening and then watching the audience reaction. "It's the best part of this," Thomas said.
Loggie finds satisfaction in "working with musicians... and you have an album at the end. ... I've added a little beauty and wonder and awesomeness to the world," she said.
