Skip to main contentIt was only a matter of time, really: Voodoo Doughnuts is starting a record label.
I'm surprised it took this long. Having already helped turn Portland "weirdness" into a sellable, often phallic-shaped commodity, it makes sense that Voodoo would eventually get into the rock'n'roll business. Plus, owner Tres Shannon is no stranger to the Portland music scene: He ran the seminal X Ray Cafe back in the early '90s, which inaugurated the careers of Elliott Smith, Pete Krebs and Sam Coomes, among others. And, of course, vinyl records look a lot like doughnuts. It's a perfect match!
Voodoo Doughnut Recordings will launch in January. You can read the full FAQ/mission statement here, but the pertinent information is that the label will release one limited edition doughnut-shaped 45 per month through 2014. From whom, exactly? Well, anyone, apparently: Any bands willing to record a doughnut- themed single can submit a demo for consideration at vdrsubmissions@voodoodoughtnut.com.
The label's inaugural release show—featuring performances from the Doughnut Boys (a.k.a. Richmond Fontaine's Dan Eccles) and Sam Coomes' Quasi spinoff, the Deep Fried Boogie Band—is Jan. 30 at the Matador. Listen to the first Voodoo singles below.
WWeek 2015