Towncraft (album)
Encyclopedia
Towncraft was a compilation LP documenting the punk scene of Little Rock, Arkansas
and released by DIY record labels File Thirteen Records, Ahoalton Records, and Lower Case Records. In the summer of 1992, Little Rock saw an explosion of high school punk rock bands after the departures of locals Trusty
in 1991 and Econochrist
in 1989. A number of youth felt it necessary to document the scene. After several meetings at Denny's
with an attendance of over 30 adolescents, Towncraft was born.
Heavily influenced by the DIY ethic
, youth run garage sales, bake sales, benefit shows, and a handful of generous donators would come together to put the record out. The 500 copies of Towncraft, sold for $6 each, and were accompanied by a compilation zine, which included entries from 12 different local zine
s.
Jason White
, who was in Chino Horde
and co-writer of Fluke zine, went on to play with Green Day
starting in 1997, and is currently a member of Pinhead Gunpowder
, Green Day
, and The Big Cats. Colin Brooks
, who was in Substance, Sint, and G, played guitar in Red 40 alongside Ben Nichols (current front man of Lucero
) and currently plays in The Big Cats and Dan Zanes
.
The album is highlighted in a 2007 documentary also titled Towncraft
and is not to be confused with the soundtrack which also contains songs by bands from the original album.
Side B
Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock is the capital and the largest city of the U.S. state of Arkansas. The Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 699,757 people in the 2010 census...
and released by DIY record labels File Thirteen Records, Ahoalton Records, and Lower Case Records. In the summer of 1992, Little Rock saw an explosion of high school punk rock bands after the departures of locals Trusty
Trusty
Trusty was a punk band that formed in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1989. The band moved from Little rock to Washington, D.C. in 1992. They disbanded in early 1998.-The Little Rock Years:...
in 1991 and Econochrist
Econochrist
Econochrist was a political hardcore punk band active in the late eighties and early nineties. They moved from Arkansas to the San Francisco Bay Area to become part of the punk music scene there...
in 1989. A number of youth felt it necessary to document the scene. After several meetings at Denny's
Denny's
Denny's is a full-service coffee shop/family restaurant chain. It operates over 1,500 restaurants in the United States , Canada, Curaçao, Costa Rica, Honduras, Jamaica, Japan , Mexico, New Zealand, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.Denny's is known for always being...
with an attendance of over 30 adolescents, Towncraft was born.
Heavily influenced by the DIY ethic
DIY ethic
The DIY ethic refers to the ethic of self-sufficiency through completing tasks oneself as opposed to having others who are more experienced or able complete them for one's behalf. It promotes the idea that an ordinary person can learn to do more than he or she thought was possible...
, youth run garage sales, bake sales, benefit shows, and a handful of generous donators would come together to put the record out. The 500 copies of Towncraft, sold for $6 each, and were accompanied by a compilation zine, which included entries from 12 different local zine
Zine
A zine is most commonly a small circulation publication of original or appropriated texts and images. More broadly, the term encompasses any self-published work of minority interest usually reproduced via photocopier....
s.
Jason White
Jason White (musician)
Jason White is an American guitarist who has played in various punk rock bands. He is most notable for being the long-time touring lead guitarist for Green Day and guitarist for Californian punk quartet Pinhead Gunpowder. Jason White has been a touring member of Green Day since 1999 when they...
, who was in Chino Horde
Chino Horde
Chino Horde were an American band formed in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1990. They were an integral part of the DIY punk scene of the early 1990s. Chino Horde was influenced by fellow locals Trusty, the Bay Area's Monsula, New Jersey's Greyhouse, Michigan's Current, and D.C.'s Fugazi and Soulside. In...
and co-writer of Fluke zine, went on to play with Green Day
Green Day
Green Day is an American punk rock band formed in 1987. The band consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong, bassist and backing vocalist Mike Dirnt, and drummer Tre Cool...
starting in 1997, and is currently a member of Pinhead Gunpowder
Pinhead Gunpowder
Pinhead Gunpowder is an American punk rock band formed East Bay, California, in 1990. The band has consisted of Aaron Cometbus , Bill Schneider , Billie Joe Armstrong and Jason White for the majority of its existence...
, Green Day
Green Day
Green Day is an American punk rock band formed in 1987. The band consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong, bassist and backing vocalist Mike Dirnt, and drummer Tre Cool...
, and The Big Cats. Colin Brooks
Colin Brooks (musician)
Colin Brooks is a singer-songwriter, blues-rock guitarist and dobro player currently living in Austin, Texas. He is member of the Americana group the Band of Heathens....
, who was in Substance, Sint, and G, played guitar in Red 40 alongside Ben Nichols (current front man of Lucero
Lucero (band)
Lucero is an American punk/Texas Country infused rock band that is based in Memphis, Tennessee.-Biography:Lucero's punk rock roots flavor their now "country-ish" music, while their Southern roots give them the twang that they have come to be known by. They had their start in Memphis, TN. The band...
) and currently plays in The Big Cats and Dan Zanes
Dan Zanes
Dan Zanes was a member of the popular 1980s band The Del Fuegos and is currently the front man of the Grammy-winning group Dan Zanes and Friends.-History:...
.
The album is highlighted in a 2007 documentary also titled Towncraft
Towncraft (film)
Towncraft is a feature documentary on the independent music scene in Little Rock, Arkansas from 1986 to 2006. Produced by Matson Films, Towncraft investigates the music that emerges from smaller cities and the importance of these local scenes, as well as their relationship to the larger music...
and is not to be confused with the soundtrack which also contains songs by bands from the original album.
Track listing
Side A- "Vola/Bristle" (Chalk)
- "I'm your Son" (12 ft. 6)
- "Diehard/My Eyes" (Entrance)
- "Taken/Reflection" (Drain)
- "Do Nothing King" (Substance)
Side B
- "Composite" (Chino HordeChino HordeChino Horde were an American band formed in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1990. They were an integral part of the DIY punk scene of the early 1990s. Chino Horde was influenced by fellow locals Trusty, the Bay Area's Monsula, New Jersey's Greyhouse, Michigan's Current, and D.C.'s Fugazi and Soulside. In...
) - "Locked Inside" (Outlet)
- "Cut me Down" (five-0)
- "Wasson in Wonderland" (g)
- "Definition/Petal" (SintSintSint is a 2010 Dutch dark comedy horror film about Sinterklaas, a character comparable to Santa Claus in English-speaking countries. The film was directed by Dick Maas; in a return to the horror genre of his earlier movies De Lift and Amsterdamned...
)