Today is a first : an interview with Lou Mansdorf , Mastermind of RUM BAR Records, home to New England's newest hit-makers The Connection, pop punk heart warmers ZipGun Bomber, glam rockers n' shakers WATTS, and Boston's garage rock ambassadors to the world Muck And The Mires.
Lou on the left, Kurt Baker in the middle
It is my
understanding you run RUM BAR Records on your own. Can you tell me when you
started it all and why? Was this an out of the blue decision or were you
thinking about starting your own label for quite a while?
LOU : Yes, I completely own, operate and run Rum Bar Records all on my own with help
and support from the bands, my wife Lisa (Queen of the Wild Bunch), and our 4
year old daughter Ida Lee (The Rum Bar and Brad Marino's biggest fan). The label had slowly grown out of the blue
but something I had been wanting to do again for quite some time.
About 20 years ago, with two best friends I started up Melted Records out of Astoria NYC, we were home to some fantastic greaser rock and pop punk bands including The Heartdrops, The Cretins, The Morning Shakes, Magnatone, Darlington, Huntingtons, The Young Hassellhoffs, 30 Amp Fuse, and released a stellar pop punk compilation with all our favorite bands called "My So-Called Punk Rock Life". Melted Records were releasing and putting greaser and garage rock bands in all the pop punk halls and rooms and had a great scene going on.
About 20 years ago, with two best friends I started up Melted Records out of Astoria NYC, we were home to some fantastic greaser rock and pop punk bands including The Heartdrops, The Cretins, The Morning Shakes, Magnatone, Darlington, Huntingtons, The Young Hassellhoffs, 30 Amp Fuse, and released a stellar pop punk compilation with all our favorite bands called "My So-Called Punk Rock Life". Melted Records were releasing and putting greaser and garage rock bands in all the pop punk halls and rooms and had a great scene going on.
I moved to Boston about 13 years ago, and I have been friends with Geoff, Nate and Rick from the Guts going on 20 years. About 2 years ago I was introduced to The Connection's rendition of "7 Nights To Rock" on the Underground Garage and when I found out the band was from Portsmouth NH, I emailed, texted and tweeted everyone I know in NH trying to find out who this band was and how to get their music in my hands. The first person to respond was Geoff and his response was, "dude, that's my band". So my response was, "dude, let's put out a record". Geoff introduced me to Brad and we made it official pretty quick!
It only made sense, I knew these guys from their teen days
long before the Guts ever existed, they used to crash at my place in Astoria, I
used to book their bands and we were long-time friends who had just been out of
touch a few years.
The name of the label comes from the bar in my home where we
all hang, the bands are all considered family to my family and they are truly
all my current favorite bands to listen to. Signing and releasing records from
The Connection, ZipGun Bomber, Watts,
and Kurt Baker was a dream come true for me. Since then we have opened our doors to overseas
exports The Breakdowns (who the Rum Bar refers to as Los Breakdowns), and I have re-connected with old friends from
Rockford IL, Mono In Stereo. These cats used to be in Mulligan Stu who
were Melted family and appear on the Melted compilation. Geoff and Rick of The Connection along with
Nate from ZGB also appeared on the Melted comp in their old band She's A Guy,
this has all come full circle for us.
We currently have a 2 song digital advance single/beer koozie available
for sale from Mono In Stereo to keep the fans satisfied till the full length is
unleashed.
Was The CONNECTION
the first band signed on your label? How did you get in touch with them?
LOU: The Connection
is the Rum Bar's first signing, we have released 2 LP's, The Connection's Xmas
CD and a 7 inch to date with them. The
first "Seven Nights" LP is sold out and "Let
It Rock" is getting close.
I have known Geoff and Rick from The Connection along with Nate from
ZipGun Bomber over 20 years, they were just young teenagers when we first met
in Fishtracks Studio, i was on tour with the Gotohells and we stopped in Boston and Portsmouth to do some shows
with the Tunnel Rats and Queers, I had made so many great
friends on my trip with the Gotohells through New England that we remained
friends and worked together with their other bands all these years. When I first moved to Boston, Geoff, Rick
and Nate were playing in the Guts and used to play shows that I was booking at
a local bar called The Abbey Lounge and we used to throw killer BBQ's at the
place I was living before the shows, we just picked up our friendship where it
left off and music was what always drove it.
Kurt Baker I met
when he was in the Leftovers I was working for his label Oglio Records'
distribution arm Fontana.
My wife Lisa and I were hanging at the Abbey Lounge one
mid-week Wed night and all of Lynchy (Watts' drummer) former Avoid One Thing
Drummer walks in. I knew Lynchy from AOT
and ask what he's doing there, and he said he is playing drums for this
reunited glam band called Watts. the
band gets on stage and we see this dude who we always knew by site but never
knew personally get on stage in his perfectly feathered ala Ron Wood hair do
and we are like holy shit that guy plays in a band!!! turns out that guy was Johnny Blout who later became one of our dearest and closest
friends in Boston along with the rest of the band Watts. That day, I swear the
first time we saw them I said if I ever start up a label again I am signing
Watts. A few years later we have a CD
and 7 inch and shows and all this stuff going on with them on the Rum
Bar!! Again solidifying our family
connection.
What are the plans
for the future/next releases in 2015 as far as RUM BAR is concerned?
LOU: Future plans include (no particular order), working closely
with the bands on press, radio, shows, tours, I help manage all projects, we
have a show this week with ZGB and The Connection supporting the Biters which I
helped book.
The Connection 2015 full length release (produced by Andy
Shernoff of The DICTATORS) should be
out by summertime.
(The Connection in the Studio with Andy Shernoff)
Mono In Stereo
full length release should be out summertime as well.
We will be releasing the CD version of the new Kurt Baker Band CD this summer/fall
when it is ready for release.
Another new band Tom
Baker & The Snakes are working on their Rum Bar debut. Tom Baker is the frontman for Boston band The
Dirty Truckers and he is working some great rock n roll tunes for a fall
release and continuing work with Watts, ZGB, and Los Breakdowns.
Any information you
want to share with the viewers on the blog.
LOU: I appreciate everyone's support of the label and our
bands. Keep in touch and hit me up any
time!!!
Los Breakdowns tour dates:
12th March: Hairy Dog, Derby. Supporting The Ramonas
28th March: The Square, Harlow. (Private Party)
11th April: Hellfire Club, Redhill. Supporting DeRellas
25th April: Phoenix Bar, High Wycombe. Supporting DeRellas
5th June: Dirty Water Club, London. Supporting Barracudas.
Mono In Stereo - Rockford style Koozie/2 song download Bundle – Rockford style Koozie/2 song download
Mono In Stereo
Mono In Stereo
Compact Disc (CD)
$5 USD
Rock 'N' Roller Skates (CD/Koozie UK Invasion Bundle!!) – Rock 'N' Roller Skates (CD/Kooze UK Invasion Bundle!!)
Los Breakdowns
Los Breakdowns
Compact Disc (CD)
$10 USD
Top Shelf Singles Only Club – Top Shelf Singles Only Club
Record/Vinyl
$15 USD
Christmas Collection (Holiday Bundle w/Koozie & CD ONLY bonus tracks!!) – Christmas Collection (Holiday Bundle w/Koozie & CD ONLY bonus tracks)!!
The Connection
The Connection
Compact Disc (CD)
$10 USD
Brand New B-Sides (CD / Koozie Combo pack!!) – Brand New B-Sides
Kurt Baker Band
Kurt Baker Band
Compact Disc (CD)
$10 USD
Flash Of White Light (CD / Koozie combo) – Flash Of White Light CD bundle w/Watts koozie!!
Watts
Watts
Compact Disc (CD)
$10 USD
Paper Airplanes EP – ZipGun Bomber - Paper Airplanes EP (stocked bar bundle deal) w/ZGB Koozie and logo patch!!
ZipGun Bomber
ZipGun Bomber
Compact Disc (CD)
$7 USD
Flash Of White Light (deluxe white vinyl) w/KOOZIE!! – Watts - Flash Of White Light 7 inch (deluxe white vinyl) with KOOZIE!!
Watts
Watts
Record/Vinyl
$7 USD
DON'T TALK TO MY BABY - 45 w/Koozie!! – The Connection "Don't Talk To My Baby" 45rpm Vinyl w/Koozie!!
The Connection
The Connection
Record/Vinyl
$7 USD
DOUBLE WHITE LINE - 45 – MUCK AND THE MIRES "Double White Line" 45rpm Vinyl
Muck And The Mires
Muck And The Mires
Record/Vinyl
$6 USD
The Connection - 7 Nights EP (SOLD OUT!) – 7 Nights (SOLD OUT!)
The Connection
The Connection
Record/Vinyl
$15 USD
