What were you doing 20 years ago? As a precursor to my rebellious (not really) teenage years, I shrugged off the necessity of daycare by hiring my own personal bus driver. It was the first day of morning Kindergarten, and my sister, four years my senior, was supposed to assure my transition to afternoon daycare (which was held in the same elementary school), as both of my parents were working at the time.
Instead of acquiescing, my prepubescent mind saw everyone else heading out to where the school buses were lined up, and I followed suit. Not knowing which bus to take, I selected one randomly. Somehow the driver figured out where I live (I’m not entirely sure that I was capable of repeating my own address at that age), and my mom, who was luckily home for lunch, greeted me with surprise and confusion.
To apply my own anecdote to the subject of this article, it takes a willingness to jump on random buses (in other words, take risks) in order to start a record label. The Chicago-based independent label Thrill Jockey did just that 20 years ago, and now they’re celebrating their success with a series of “special concerts, a comedy record of sorts, a very special poster series,” a short film series, and ongoing album reissues.
All of that begins in September. The “special concerts,” in particular, look to be fantastic overviews of Thrill Jockey’s history, as they feature, depending on the show, such label mainstays as Tortoise (of course), Trans Am, Barn Owl, and Future Islands. The electronic duo Matmos, who recently just signed with the label, will also be performing at the Baltimore and New York (Webster Hall) shows.
You think that’s it? Alongside even more posters and videos, Thrill Jockey assures us of additional concerts to be announced. Check out the varying lineups of their currently scheduled shows here and below.
09.13.12 - Baltimore, MD - Ram’s Head Live
Future Islands
Tortoise
Matmos
Dan Friel
Arbouretum
Pontiak
Special Guest Host: Ed Schrader
09.14.12 - Brooklyn, NY - Death by Audio
White Hills
Guardian Alien
Man Forever
Dan Friel
Rhyton
09.15.12 - New York, NY - Webster Hall
Tortoise
Future Islands
Matmos
Liturgy
D. Charles Speer
Special Guests: The Black Twig Pickers
11.09.12 - Portland, OR - Mississippi Studios
Trans Am
Liturgy
Eternal Tapestry
Barn Owl
Golden Retreiver
Mike Scheidt
Jason Urick
• Thrill Jockey: http://www.thrilljockey.com
More about: Tortoise
