Go Kart Records
Encyclopedia
Go-Kart Records is an independent record label
specializing in punk rock
located in New York City
. It also has a European division in Mannheim
, Germany
.
The label is an outspoken critic of the Recording Industry Association of America
(RIAA), arguing that the association uses ineffective and heavyhanded business tactics and does not fulfill its claims to represent the music industry. In contrast to the RIAA, the label promotes music downloads, arguing that they help consumers sample music before buying. It has released five albums and numerous single songs for free download on its webpage.
In its May 1999 issue, Guitar World
magazine listed Go-kart as one of the "twelve most influential forces in punk rock today" along with Epitaph Records
, Ian MacKaye
, Jello Biafra
and NOFX
.
The company recently opened an office in Los Angeles
and started an offshoot division to release independent films under the moniker Go-kart Films.
Independent record label
An independent record label is a record label operating without the funding of or outside the organizations of the major record labels. A great number of bands and musical acts begin on independent labels.-Overview:...
specializing in punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
located in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. It also has a European division in Mannheim
Mannheim
Mannheim is a city in southwestern Germany. With about 315,000 inhabitants, Mannheim is the second-largest city in the Bundesland of Baden-Württemberg, following the capital city of Stuttgart....
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
The label is an outspoken critic of the Recording Industry Association of America
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
(RIAA), arguing that the association uses ineffective and heavyhanded business tactics and does not fulfill its claims to represent the music industry. In contrast to the RIAA, the label promotes music downloads, arguing that they help consumers sample music before buying. It has released five albums and numerous single songs for free download on its webpage.
In its May 1999 issue, Guitar World
Guitar World
Guitar World is a monthly music magazine devoted to guitarists. It contains original interviews, album and gear reviews and guitar and bass tablature of approximately five songs each month. The magazine is published 13 times per year...
magazine listed Go-kart as one of the "twelve most influential forces in punk rock today" along with Epitaph Records
Epitaph Records
Epitaph Records is a Hollywood, California based independent record label owned by Bad Religion guitarist Brett Gurewitz. The label was originally "just a logo and a P.O. box" created in the 1980s for the purpose of selling Bad Religion records, but has evolved into a large independent record...
, Ian MacKaye
Ian MacKaye
Ian Thomas Garner MacKaye is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, musician, label owner, and producer. Active since 1979, MacKaye is best known for being the frontman of the influential hardcore punk bands Minor Threat and The Teen Idles, the post-hardcore bands Embrace and Fugazi, as well...
, Jello Biafra
Jello Biafra
Jello Biafra is an American musician, spoken word artist and leading figure of the Green Party of the United States. Biafra first gained attention as the lead singer and songwriter for San Francisco punk rock band Dead Kennedys...
and NOFX
NOFX
NOFX is an American punk rock band from Los Angeles, California .The band was formed in 1983 by vocalist/bassist Fat Mike and guitarist Eric Melvin. Drummer Erik Sandin joined NOFX shortly after. In 1991 El Hefe joined to play lead guitar and trumpet, rounding out the current line-up...
.
The company recently opened an office in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
and started an offshoot division to release independent films under the moniker Go-kart Films.
Current artists
- The Candy Snatchers
- Cougars
- Counterpunch
- I Farm
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- Ten Foot PoleTen Foot PoleTen Foot Pole is an American punk rock band, formerly on Epitaph Records.-History:Ten Foot Pole was founded in 1983 as Scared Straight.Scared Straight was a Nardcore Punk band from Simi Valley, California...
- Torture The ArtistTorture the ArtistTorture the Artist, published as Vincent outside of the US, is a novel by Joey Goebel published in 2004.- External links :* John Hood's Bully Magazine review of Torture the Artist* Review* Review* Buy the Book online...
Former artists
- 4ft Fingers4ft Fingers4 ft Fingers are an English punk rock band from Cheltenham, United Kingdom, formed in 1996.-History:4 ft Fingers were formed in Cheltenham in 1996. The mid nineties was a time of a minor musical revolution in Cheltenham, spearheaded by bands such as Vicious Rumour and the Axiom centre...
- Anti-FlagAnti-FlagAnti-Flag is a punk rock band from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in the United States, formed in 1988. The band is well known for its outspoken political views. Much of the band's lyrics have focused on fervent anti-war activism, criticism of United States foreign policy, corporatism, U.S. wealth...
- Banner PilotBanner PilotBanner Pilot is a punk band from Minneapolis, Minnesota.Their music is heavily influenced by acts such as Jawbreaker, The Lawrence Arms, Screeching Weasel, and Hot Water Music.-History:...
- Boris the SprinklerBoris the SprinklerBoris the Sprinkler was a pop-punk band that formed in Green Bay, Wisconsin in 1992, known for their zaniness and abnormality. Their aesthetic seemed to borrow from Devo and The Dickies. They display a sci-fi bizarro style reminiscent of Buckaroo Banzai....
- Buttsteak
- The Buzzcocks
- Charged GBHCharged GBHCharged GBH are an English Street punk band, formed in 1978 by vocalist Colin Abrahall, guitarist Colin "Jock" Blyth, bassist Sean McCarthy and Drummer Andy " Wilf" Williams. GBH were early pioneers of English street punk, often nicknamed "UK82", along with Discharge, Broken Bones, The Exploited...
- ConflictConflict (band)Conflict is an English anarcho-punk band originally based around Eltham in South London. Formed in 1981, the band's original line up consisted of: Colin Jerwood , Francisco 'Paco' Carreno , Big John , Steve , Pauline , Paul aka 'Nihilistic Nobody' . Their first release was the EP "The House That...
- Down by LawDown by Law (band)Down by Law is a punk rock band formed in 1989 by former All frontman Dave Smalley, who is the their only permanent member. The band has recorded 7 studio albums. They stayed on Epitaph Records until 1998 and have since switched to labels. Down by Law has never achieved substantial commercial...
- Guff
- Icons Of FilthIcons of FilthIcons of Filth were an influential British anarcho-punk band that disbanded in 2004, after the unexpected death of its lead singer Andrew Sewell, or Stiggy Smeg.-Early history:...
- INDK
- LunachicksLunachicksLunachicks were an all-women punk rock band from New York City. The band formed in 1987 and has been on hiatus since 2000. Their music was described as "a frenzied mix of punk, metal, pop and rock". The band claimed influences including The Ramones, Kiss, and the MC5.- Biography :Theo Kogan, Gina...
- Manda and the MarblesManda and the MarblesManda and the Marbles were a pop punk/ New Wave band from Columbus, Ohio.- History :Founded in 1997, the group produced four albums: Rock's Not Dead, Seduction, More Seduction, and Angels With Dirty Faces. The band was originally a three-piece featuring Manda Marble on vocals and bass, Joe A....
- The MeatmenThe MeatmenThe Meatmen are an American punk band headed by Tesco Vee originally from 1980 to 1997, and reformed in 2008. They are currently still touring and recording.The Meatmen made fun of the hardcore punk scene of the time...
- The MenzingersThe Menzingers- Biography :The Menzingers formed in the wake of Scranton ska-punk bands "Bob and the Sagets" and Kos Mos...
- ParasitesParasites (band)Parasites are an American pop-punk band. The band was formed in 1985 by guitarist and singer Dave Parasite and bassist Ron Nole in New Jersey. Dave later relocated to Berkeley, California, forming a new band with local players...
- Pinkerton ThugsPinkerton ThugsThe Pinkerton Thugs are a punk band from Kennebunk, Maine. While the band officially became the Pinkerton Thugs in March 1996 , the band has been together since July 1994 under a number of different names...
- Toxic NarcoticToxic NarcoticToxic Narcotic is an American crust punk band from Boston, Massachusetts who formed in 1989. Though many label them crust or hardcore, they do not self-identify with any one specific subgenre of DIY punk. Their songs typically include anti war, violence, and green peace lyrics...
- Two Man AdvantageTwo Man AdvantageTwo Man Advantage is a hockey themed punk rock group, from Merrick, Long Island, New York. They met via Beer-League hockey and formed the band in 1997. Their shows are very wild as they will dress up and basically put on a "Mock hockey game" on-stage...
- The VarukersThe VarukersThe Varukers are a UK D-beat band formed in 1979 by vocalist Anthony "Rat" Martin, which produced its most influential recordings in the early 1980s. The band are one of the first to play in the musical style of the hardcore punk band Discharge, known as D-beat...
- Vision Of DisorderVision of DisorderVision of Disorder is a hardcore punk band from Long Island, New York, US. Vision of Disorder disbanded in 2002, but reunited from time to time over the next six years. In October 2008, they announced that they would record a new studio album...
- WestonWeston (band)Weston are a punk rock band hailing from Bethlehem, PA. Founded in 1990, they took their name from singer Dave Weston's family, since his parents allowed them to practice in their basement. The band never found mainstream success but their energetic and irreverent live shows earned them legendary...