State of the Union

>> Local labels Stomp and 2112 get it, together

By RUPERT BOTTENBERG

There's buyouts, there's takeovers, and then there's the Reese's Peanut Butter Cup approach to shifts in the business landscape. AOL and Time/Warner aren't the only ones snuggling up in the boardroom. Take the new Montreal record label Union Local 2112, the child of proud parents Stomp and 2112.

 "We merged, plain and simple," says Paget Williams (fact: Williams had no idea Rush had an album called 2112 when he christened his skatepunk label last year--he just used his street address).

 "You see, Stomp was going to do a sublabel called Union Press. We talked about doing a split release, about licensing and stuff, and the next day we just decided to merge." Bet Ted Turner wishes his life was so easy.

 "We said screw it," says Stomp's spontaneously nude Mike McGee. "Let's join forces and take over the world." Nice to hear that commerce degree paid off. Or was it the Thor comics?

 "Stomp do ska very, very well," continues Williams, "and there are certain things we do well. Both labels were understaffed and overworked, and we both had problems with distribution in foreign territories. So we want to concentrate on turning the label into something that is worldwide.

 "On the 2112 side, we're bringing Stealth, with Daryl Jennifer of Bad Brains. Right now, Daryl's in NYC recording with Mos Def. There's Jah Cuttah, who're working on a new release called Bless Us Jah Jah, and they're being nominated for two Canadian Music Awards. There's a Sno Jam comp we're working on, and a new Men O' Steel called Stainless, which is being produced by John Kastner, ex of the Doughboys. Then there's Reset, back catalogue from Ten Days Late and our first joint release, the new Subb."

 Stomp's purely ska acts, such as the Smashers and the Kingpins, will continue to fly the Stomp flag (now in its fifth year). Other acts on the label, however, were feeling increasingly out of place. To wit, the Undercovers and the Datsons.

 "They don't fit into the ska category at all," says McGee, toying idly with his nipple rings. "The Datsons are mod, and the Undercovers are new-wavey, and going in a rockier direction. Gus Van Go of Me Mom & Morgentaler will produce the Undercovers again. He's whipping them into shape already. There's also the new Gruesomes--not a 'best of,' but an entirely brand new album."

 The Gruesomes! There's some local history for you. No word yet on getting Man Without a Hat Ivan in on the fun, though, and no word yet on Ted Turner buying the whole damn kit 'n' kaboodle. One step at a time, people, one step at a time... :

 

Launch party with Subb, Men O' Steel, the Undercovers and the Datsons, at Jailhouse Rock on Tuesday, February 8, 7pm, $4