Virgil Dickerson
Virgil Dickerson has been running Suburban Home Records, a small, independent record label based in Denver, Colorado for the past 12 years. It started as a fanzine in September of 1995 and has become a label, a distributor, a vinyl imprint and store, a custom t-shirt company and this blog about the music industry. He remains optimistic about the future of music sales although it is tougher now than it has ever been trying to sell a product people actively get for free. Suburban Home's bands include Drag the River, Tim Barry, Love Me Destroyer, On Guard, Ghost Buffalo, Josh Small, Stereotyperider, Two Cow Garage and Adventures of Jet.
Email | Suburban Home Records
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Sean Klassen
Sean Klassen has found his lot in life through playing guitar in struggling indie bands for over ten years now, currently playing in tongue-in-cheek heavy metal band Dartanian. Through playing music he discovered the art of graphic design and now spends much of his time designing various records, cds, posters and websites for a wide variety of clients ranging from local bands to international brands such as Universal Pictures and Audi. Sean currently pays his bills working as an Art Director at Factory Design Labs in Denver. He also enjoys wearing argyle socks and playing hockey. Feel free to direct any technical or website related comments or problems his way.
Email | Design Portfolio
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Bill Wilson
Bill Wilson founded the NY based indie, Blackout! Records while a college student at Fordham University in 1989. In it's 18 year history, the label (and sub-imprints) has released music from a diverse roster of bands, including Crime In Stereo, Deadguy, Ensign, Guided By Voices, H2O, Killing Time, Kill Your Idols, and Sheer Terror. He also has held positions as a Product Manager at RED; Distribution Marketing Manager at Caroline Distribution; and General Manager of Earache Records. Since 2001 he has worked in digital media and social networking, and is currently employed by a big ol' multinational media company in their mobile entertainment division.
Email | Blackout! Records
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On November 7th, 2007 at 5:07 pm
Jeb Bush said:
Sorry to be rude but Whole Wheat Bread is a really bad band. How many copies of their CD are they selling in order to top this list week after week? And where are they finding so many kids to sell their gimmick to?
On November 8th, 2007 at 1:27 pm
Chris G said:
I second that to a degree. I don’t think they’re a bad band, their album is catchy and all–Millencolin-y, but not great. I really want to know their numbers.
Also, how are Anti-Flag and Alkaline trio still selling a significant amount of old shit?
On November 8th, 2007 at 2:34 pm
Pulsar said:
So because they are all one minority theyre automatically a gimmick? Does that make Bad Brains a gimmick band?
On November 8th, 2007 at 3:31 pm
Frank said:
Thanks Pulsar for stepping up to that. The band has sold 16 of their debut and 5K of their ep, according to soundscan. Isn’t it just a solid accomplishment when any independent band sells that much in these times? Because they play pop punk and they’re black they’re a gimmick? I doubt they’ve sold what they’ve sold just because people are laughing at them.
On November 8th, 2007 at 9:02 pm
Jeb Bush said:
This is no time to get all Kanye West, “George Bush doesn’t care about black people”, guys. They’re a gimmick because all of their merchandise is about the fact that they are black and the audience is white. Their entire live show centers around this idea as well. Have you seen them live? I didn’t pull this out of thin air. A gimmick is defined as “an ingenious or novel device, scheme, or stratagem, esp. one designed to attract attention or increase appeal.” That is very applicable to this band.
On November 8th, 2007 at 10:54 pm
Frank said:
What would you expect from someone who uses the moniker “Jeb Bush?”
On November 9th, 2007 at 9:23 pm
Matt said:
my friend’s band is touring with them, and I saw them twice in the past 2 weeks. I can confirm that they say at each show “raise your hand if you’ve ever killed another human being!” at each show. that’s absolutely awful. it IS a gimmick - it doesn’t HAVE to be a gimmick, but they play it up to be a gimmick, for sure. Also, their new bass player is white. go figure.
On November 9th, 2007 at 10:06 pm
Frank said:
racism is alive and well on this board I see
On November 10th, 2007 at 10:12 am
mike m said:
they have shirts that say ‘i like black people’.
they’re a fucking gimmick.
On November 11th, 2007 at 7:01 am
Jeff said:
whole wheat bread are totally harmless. remember mephiskapheles?
Alkaline Trio’s stuff is re-issue stuff, that’s why they are on here.
On a side note great to see ska is dead hanging in there!
On November 11th, 2007 at 10:57 am
slinky strom said:
None of the Alkaline Trio stuff has been re-issued. Goddamnit will be re-issued next year.
On November 12th, 2007 at 9:21 am
Brad said:
It sucks when you can’t be critical of a band simply because they’re not white for fear of being called a racist. That’s pretty racist in and of itself.
Whole Wheat Bread is a gimmick. That’s okay; some people like gimmicks and others don’t. Either way, racism is a pretty serious accusation to be throwing around over a band.
On November 12th, 2007 at 1:15 pm
frank said:
It sucks when you can’t discuss the merits of the band without bringing their race into the fray because only a black pop punk band can be seen as a gimmick and not just a band. That’s pretty racist in and of itself.
On November 12th, 2007 at 1:42 pm
Will said:
Frank, you’re a moron. If I said Vanilla Ice was a gimmick because he was white would you call me a racist?
So, the VALID question is…why are they selling so many copies? It probably has something to do with the fact that the band lives on the road and from all accounts puts on a very entertaining show. More power to them.
On November 12th, 2007 at 2:16 pm
frank said:
Yes, yes I would…racist!
On November 13th, 2007 at 1:21 am
Howdy Doody said:
Frank
You really either don’t have a clue or you’re totally obvlious. I have no opinion on their music whatsoever, so I’m pretty unbiased here. No one refers to Gym Class Heroes as a “gimmick band,” because they don’t play up the black thing. I’m under the impression that musically, the bands aren’t that dissimiliar. As has been said, their name, their merch, their stage banter, etc all revolves around the fact that THEY’RE BLACK DUDES PLAYING POP PUNK IN FRONT OF WHITE AUDIENCES. I don’t know how that could be ANY CLEARER.
Do you consider the Dropkick Murphys “we’re boston irish” thing a gimmick?
On November 13th, 2007 at 10:35 am
frank said:
Nope, I see the Dropkick Murphy’s as expressing their heritage as a gimmick. NOFX pushes the “white trash two heebs and a bean” and they aren’t a gimmick. MXPX aren’t just a X-tian band nor are they a “white group.” Is Nicotine or Hi-Standard a gimmick because they’re Asians playing pop punk?
I’ve seen their merch and I don’t know what about it screams “THEY’RE BLACK DUDES PLAYING POP PUNK IN FRONT OF WHITE AUDIENCES” except the fact that their pictures are on the shirts. I guess that’s all you see though, which is really sad.
On November 13th, 2007 at 11:02 am
chris said:
NOFX’s white trash two heebs and a bean is definitiely a gimmick, not saying thats awlays a bad thing but if anything the dropkicks example is the least goofy of the things we’re talking about here. Black guys playing pop punk isn’t a gimmick in itself but the way they sell their image is a gimick. I don’t think its racist to say that Whole Weat Bread is playing up the racial tension and cracking jokes at it while using that gimmick to expand their market. I happen to think they’re pretty funny, but I’m still not a huge fan of their music..
On November 13th, 2007 at 11:09 am
Jeb Bush said:
Frank, which member of Whole Wheat Bread are you? The Asian guy? The concept of “ethnic punk” in general is fucking stupid. And its so popular these days. Not sure when punk rock turned into late 80’s WWF but we have carichatures of all sorts of ethnic groups. But it sells…. go figure. People are dumb.
On November 13th, 2007 at 12:00 pm
frank said:
Nice, Jeb Bush is lamenting “ethnic punk.” Nice term there David Duke.
On November 13th, 2007 at 12:05 pm
Will said:
Ha, actually, I think Frank is the only gimmick here.
On November 13th, 2007 at 12:39 pm
franksucks said:
frank sucks.
On November 13th, 2007 at 12:51 pm
Howdy Doody said:
OK, I’m pretty convinced Frank is a fake poster. There’s no way he’s a real person.
Chris pretty much nailed it.
On November 13th, 2007 at 12:56 pm
Jeb Bush said:
That is a term I read on a message board and it makes sense. What else do you call the bands playing Irish-fluenced punk, British-influenced punk, Afriacan American- punk? It is very strange when you sit back and think about it. I’m not saying these bands are bad by any means. But they have their selling point and they are working it. It just seems out of place in 2007.
On November 13th, 2007 at 3:03 pm
Jeb Bush said:
You know what, I’ve figured it all out and Frank is right. I just need to shut my yap and read everything before I spout off. Carry on.
On November 13th, 2007 at 3:05 pm
Howdy Doody said:
Makes since now that I think of it, I should have payed more attention in class! Oh well, it’s not the first time I’ve acted like an idiot. Frank is right, Whole Wheat Bread is no more a gimmick than any other band out there.
On November 13th, 2007 at 9:01 pm
Howdy Doody said:
Wow. Someone posting under other user’s names. Clever. You get kicked off punknews.org and decided to bring some of your quick wit to a board that actually has intelligent conversations?
On November 13th, 2007 at 9:54 pm
Howdy Doody said:
It sucks arguing with myself, but what can I do when I refuse to pay attention to what people say. Oh well, time to call myself an idiot - you idiot!
On November 14th, 2007 at 1:45 pm
RYAN said:
I think what you guys are failing to recognize here is that they topped a list just above a near 25 year old Suicidal Tendencies record, 10 year old recordings by today’s crop of washed out mainstream punk acts (Anti Flag, Alkaline Trio) and compilations that are going to wind up in a landfill within 3 or so years. Big deal. What Lumberjack fails to include on these lists are actual quantities sold……
On November 14th, 2007 at 2:11 pm
Frank said:
You can’t post Soundscan numbers, dipshit. Seems someone in the “industry” should know that.
On November 14th, 2007 at 6:12 pm
RYAN said:
Frank - Fuck Soundscan. Our store doesn’t have anything to do with that garbage. I’m talking about actual numbers sold. And not that long ago on this very board there were number quantities listed alongside Lumberjack’s top 10. I’m curious what they would look like when a new release barely outsells a 25 year old release by an inactive band. Assuming that Suicidal isn’t completely finished by this point.
On November 14th, 2007 at 11:11 pm
Frank said:
Ryan, you asked why they aren’t posting numbers. If you were any kind of real knowledgeable industry person you would know Soundscan does not look kindly on having their data spewed out for free. Duh. Why would they give out actual numbers sold? I don’t see RED or Caroline or Fontana opening the books to the likes of you. Why are you do deadset on jumping on a small distributors neck when times are so tough? Did someone not ship you enough limited edition vinyl? In this day in age you should just be happy you even have a record store in today’s market and that there are still distributors selling punk and metal and what not in a world where very few records are being sold. Support the indie scene why don’t you.
Oh, and Suicidal Tendencies are on tour and recently headlined west coast Sounds of the Underground shows this summer. But of course being an all knowing record clerk, I guess you would know that!
On November 14th, 2007 at 11:21 pm
Howdy Doody said:
Ryan
You and your store are doing a disservice to indie acts and labels by not having anything to do “that garbage.”
And, Suicidal, while not super active, still tour and play out.
On November 15th, 2007 at 1:01 am
RYAN said:
Frank - “If you were any real knowledgeable industry person….” Give me a break. Do you talk like this in person? What I am asking is that didn’t earlier this year or last year, Virgil post numbers next to the Lumberjack top 10 scans of the week? Perhaps I am wrong but I seem to remember something like that. Also, Lumberjack is neither a small nor an independent distributor. Major ties to Warner Brothers and even a large portion of their orders are fulfilled by WEA. Your telling me to “support the indie scene” is the biggest fucking joke I’ve hear in a long, long while.
I had been wondering about the Suicidal Tendencies album for a long time since it appears to sell consistently well. I didn’t know they were active or playing shows but obviously they don’t tour the midwest or release new records (thankfully). Our store consistently sells their LP/CD though. It’s a classic. Good for them. Excuse me for not living on the west coast. Let’s all just hope they don’t decide to rerecord this album for release a 3rd time.
Howdy Doody - Our store is neither a chain store nor big by any means. I know there probably are many independent stores who probably use Soundscan but we do not. I would say the majority of what we sell likely doesn’t have barcodes and we don’t have any sort of computerized inventory system. Living in the dark ages? Perhaps. But it works for us just fine and has for a good long while. Bands and labels that are super concerned about this sort of thing aren’t really the ones we care that much about. Any one-sheet or description given to me that boasts Soundscan numbers is probably one to be ignored.
Sometimes I read this forum for laughs I guess since it’s all so really far removed from where I am at (but here I am..). I do not doubt that people in this little community here love music dearly but when it comes down to it it seems like everyone is more caught up with sales than anything else. Yawn.
On November 15th, 2007 at 1:21 am
RYAN said:
I just went back and checked. Lumberjack’s numbers were posted here early this year.
On November 15th, 2007 at 11:26 am
Howdy Doody said:
I’m pretty sure he was told to stop posting the numbers.
On November 15th, 2007 at 5:07 pm
Virgil Dickerson said:
Wow, sorry not to post a comment sooner. After we posted the numbers from Lumberjack a few weeks going, they stopped sending me their top 10 list with numbers. They said that they weren’t supposed to post soundscans, but I think that they didn’t like people knowing that some of their top 10’s were not selling a ton.
On November 15th, 2007 at 5:36 pm
Frank said:
Virgil, what about your Indie Sales report? What happened to those numbers? You know better than what you wrote, why are you lying to everyone? Soundscan told you to stop posting numbers, am I correct?
On November 25th, 2007 at 9:29 pm
AFT said:
I’m tired of this site! You know what this site really needs? A list of 15 or so other sites that I could frequent that would be semi relevant to this one.
I guess a boy can dream.