A rare 3 track EP that Chuck Livid recorded 9 years ago has surfaced. The high point on the record “even the homeless sleep” started as a poem Chuck wrote his freshman year in college at MDC in downtown Miami.
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Here’s an exert from Chuck:
“even the homeless sleep” is based on my literal observations of the classes in downtown miami circa 2000. I observed a young homeless girl for one week struggling to survive in downtown miami while rich corporate suits couldn’t be bothered to give her a dime.
“even the homeless sleep” was heavily inspired by the Lee Ranaldo written & Sonic Youth backed “NYC Ghosts & Flowers” off the album by the same name. -Chuck
We get really, really awe struck when a band as talented as Lil Daggers sends us a demo to see if we can work together. For those of you unfamiliar with Lil Daggers, they are everything music lovers love about rock n’ roll. A relatively newer band, Lil Daggers’ charm is their self-proclaimed love for fun early Rock & Roll, R&B, Psychedelic, Soul, Garage, and Punk Rock.
Lil Daggers have garnered positive reviews from critics- ElectricMoustache.com calls Lil Daggers “Buzz Band of 2010” & whiteguyswithbeards.com says “What Elvis Costello would have sounded like if he was on Miami Vice”
From the time Chuck Livid was 13 and playing guitar in pop/punk bands, he knew he wanted to do something with music for the rest of his life. Little did he know he would form his own record label, Livid Records, and aid bands around the world.
In 2006, Livid was in The Shrubs, a Miami punk band that strived to be taken seriously. To receive press coverage while still maintaining control of the music, he created the label. Although The Shrubs disbanded, he discovered his businessman side and stuck with Livid Records for other bands that deserve a shot.
In the dog-eat-dog music industry, Livid pushes that although they are not Sony Records, they give their all to create a close community through promotion and technology, but mainly, taking it to the streets.
With the digital world bringing everyone closer together, a grunge band from Switzerland, Daze, hit Livid Records up on MySpace. With a picky sense of sound, Livid decided to bring them to the states and released the label’s first record, Slow Down to Speed Up.
Demos are a constant influx to the office, but unlike most corporate whores, Livid listens to everything that comes his way. Able to sense the energy and passion in a band, he chose to release The Illustrated’s album, Alphabaggage, Daze’s second record, Gainesville Days, and most recently, Glocca Morra’sThe Working Bones, A Health Decline.
Putting himself in bands’ shoes, he knows what it means to have an honest manager. “I try to guide bands in the right direction,” he said. “I’m not out to fuck anybody.”
The label also aims to support film and art. With Livid’s wife, Helena, spear heading illustration projects for bands, Livid tries to move all forms of art ahead and supports those who are passionate about creating. However, music will always be the focus at Livid.
“I want to help these bands no matter what, even if it costs me an arm and a leg,” Livid said.
Livid hears from countless bands every week, but the label is only looking to sign the bands that have motivation to take their sounds to the next level. Material gain is not what artists should be after, according to Livid. “I feel that a good label sees the band’s energy,” he said. “What I listen to specifically is the timing and oneness of the band.”
Livid requires bands to mail demos if they wish to be heard. Blasting MySpace pages is not taken seriously.
Livid also works to achieve quality audio recordings. Searching for the best-suited engineer to take care of the bands, Livid came across the inventor of the “Gainesville sound,” Rob McGregor. His clean, crisp tracks never disappoint, and he ensures that the band maintains their dignity.
“When [McGregor] records your music, he doesn’t try to dictate how you should sound,” Livid said. “What a lot of engineers don’t understand is that they’re being hired to record you and try to perfect your sound, not recreate it.”
The punk ethics that stream from bands like Dead Kennedys and The Ramones sport the “do-it-yourself” attitude. Growing up on those bands, Livid applies the lessons learned to his own label. He understands how bands work and can see both sides of the situation. Making money was and is never his top priority. What does matter to him, however, is that the band stays true to who they are.
“I always want our artists and listeners to realize that they’re not getting something that’s censored,” he said. “I think it speaks volumes if you’re a musician.”
To build a band, Livid believes, you cannot just jump on an eat-you-up-spit-you-out major label, but grow a community instead. With a firm public audience comes a solid business. Pushing a product on the consumer is a dead-end in his book. “I think it’s the most important thing when you show the band that you’re working with that you’re trying,” he said. “It’s not about dropping a million dollars. It’s about really getting out there.”
Although Livid refers to Livid Records as a business, there is no lying involved in trying to get to the top. He often advises bands out of his good conscience to what he thinks would be best, whether it benefits or hurts him. “I try to look at everything as an outsider,” he said. “I never look at what’s in my best interest. I look at what’s their best interest.”
Hi everyone! We’re going to donate 5 cents to the Red Cross for every Twitter follower we get. Their is no monetary limit for the donation- if we get 1,000 the Red Cross gets $50 if we get 10,000 followers the Red Cross will receive $500 and so on. This is on top of our $200 company donation commitment plus our contribution of 20 copies of Jon Cougar Concentration Camp’s My Hair Hurts LPs to Punknews.org’s Haiti Relief Auctions. This campaign will end at 12:01AM EST 01/22/2010.
In the last week we’ve received numerous requests from Hip Hop artists requesting a label/artist partnership with Livid Records. Please don’t bother, we do not accept solicitations for Rap or Country artists. That’s not to say we would never sign an artist from these genres of music, it is simply if we did it will be because it’s brought to our attention from trusted sources. We will not listen to or be bothered with your Hip Hop or Country demos.
Today I received an e-mail request which I will be posting below to illustrate my point-
Hip Hop artist (Details omitted): My name is RiLLa the hottest hardest workin hip hop artist in Palm Beach County. Please listen to my music at www.myspace.com/zrealmuzik. it is something different the the “normal”. Call me at 561 9****** if you are interested and we can work on how 2 benefit eachother. Thank you
Chuck: We don’t release hip hop.
Hip Hop artist: why wouldnt u expand ur label?
Chuck:RiLLa, You asked, “why wouldnt u expand ur label?” and here’s my response-
You stick to what you know. Being a punk/indie label our network is based on solid industry connections and fans that relate to what we do.
For example- Jay-Z doesn’t release Country records not because he doesn’t see financial potential but because the people he works with and listen to him expect & know what he already does.
I’d suggest you contact rap labels. This creates a more professional reception and will allow peers in your field to judge you fairly. Build your hip hop network and take it from there.
In closing, we would not know how to market you, we wouldn’t know where to begin critiquing your style and honestly we really would never care to begin selling what you’ve got to offer.
Thanks for your time.
Chuck
About the author: Chuck Livid is the owner of Livid Records based out of Boca Raton, Fl. Chuck’s been involved in the South Florida music scene since 1994.
