Yesterday marked the tenth anniversary of the Love Affair Records Super Show at the Varsity. I know not a whole lot of you's remember it, but man alive - what a night.
From LSU's Daily Reveille.. February 06, 2003.. .. .. ..
Artists, Label Create Love Affair To Remember..
Band to prove it's no disappointment.... By Mark F. Bonner, Contributing Writer .. ..
Blake Sansone, vocalist for local hardcore band Nail In the Brain, is so confident in his band's ability to perform he challenges the other singers on his record label, Love Affair Records, to outperform him on stage every time they perform together. .. .. "Beat me if you can. Try. Because you're not going to," Sansone says half serious and half joking. "I put on the best show in this town. If they can't own up to that and they can't do it better than me, then try." .. ..
Typically, this sort of boasting would seem spiteful by most band's standards, but the scattered members of Tabu, Judge Genius, Nail In the Brain and Poor Harvey who compose Love Affair Records just laugh and brush him off like they've heard it all before. .. .. Love Affair Records isn't a typical record label -- it's a family. The label is a proclaimed "brotherhood" of four bands which grew up together as friends bonded with the love of music. Excluding Poor Harvey, all the bands share members, meaning musicians in Judge Genius are in Nail in The Brain and Tabu and so on. Their mantra, "Love Affair Records, a love affair between musicians and their music" says it all. .. ..
"It was an idea that grew from the fact that all of the bands that I loved had my friends in them," Sansone said. "And so we tried to form a union where we would all come together under one name." .. ..
In actuality, Love Affair Records isn't an accredited music label, mostly because financial restraints would not allow the label to justly represent each band. But, the group does try to provide all of the promotional power that a real independent label would, even though neither the bands nor the label make much money. .. ..
"We don't make any money," said Judge Genius drummer, Justin Hilbun. "We haven't made money ever. Anything we have made has been turned back around to pay for CD's, fliers and stickers." .. ..
Being a big happy family has its share of problems as well. Since the label formed this conjunction, some resentments grew among other local bands that allege Love Affair Records is shutting themselves out of the local scene. However, Hilbun and the rest of Love Affair Records seem to disagree. .. ..
"Some of the local bands think we're exclusive," Hilbun said. "There are a lot of great local bands out here and we feel a brotherhood with them too, but we just started out and we all grew up together. I mean all of our bands share a single practice room." .. ..
The four bands from Love Affair Records will perform their biggest show as a roster Feb. 7 at The Varsity Theatre. The showcase has been designed to show anybody who will listen what Baton Rouge has to offer in local music. .. ..
But, most of all, the bands want respect. .. ..
"A lot of people think all the local bands are stuck at Ichabod's," Sansone said. "We need to prove something to people by tearing the place down and leaving a pile of ruins. To get a little bit of respect and love for the hard work we do would be appreciated, too." .. ..
The support all four bands have in the area is unprecedented, as whenever any of them play the turnout is always swarming. Last year when the Love Affair bands played the Spanish Moon they filled the venue to its capacity and are hoping to do the same Friday at The Varsity. .. ..
"When I'm onstage that's my home, that's where I feel most comfortable," Sansone said. "So, this Friday night I invite people into my house. Come on in. I won't disappoint. I guarantee it. Some people say I'm arrogant, but I'll back it up." .. ..
The Love Affair Records Showcase will begin at 10 p.m. at The Varsity Theatre with a $6 cover charge. For more information visit www.varsitytheatre.com. .
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