Big Month for The Milkman's Union

It's time for the First Friday Art Walk here in Portland, and Eternal Otter Records will be celebrating with a free concert from The Milkman's Union in Congress Square. The event is sponsored by the Portland Music Foundation and goes from 5 to 6 pm. Stop by to listen to the music, pick up free download cards and records, and find out more about events coming up from The Milkman's Union, Eternal Otter Records, and The Portland Music Foundation. Here is the advanced word on those events:


Thursday, Oct 13th: The Milkman's Union celebrates the release of their new vinyl single "Texas Hold Me" from Eternal Otter Records with a show at Mayo Street Arts. The Milkman's Union will be joined onstage by a host of friends, including opener South China. Advanced tickets are available now. Show begins at 8 pm. You can also pre-order the single right now through Eternal Otter Records' new bandcamp page.

Thursday, Oct 14th: The Portland Music Foundation is throwing a CMJ kick off party at the EMPIRE Dine & Dance, featuring vinyl to get you dancing all night long, alongside songs from all seven bands participating in the Portland CMJ Showcase in New York City.

Thursday, Oct 20th: The CMJ Music Marathon is one of the largest music industry events in the world, and the Portland Music Foundation will be showcasing Maine's talents at NYC's Sullivan Hall on the 20th. The Milkman's Union will be in attendance, alongside Spose, Billy Libby, Kurt Baker, Sunset Hearts, The Mallett Brothers, and the Toughcats.

New 7" Single from the Milkman's Union now available for Pre-Order

Eternal Otter Records is happy to announce that The Milkman's Union new 7" vinyl single, "Texas Hold Me b/w Little Bird" is now available for PRE-ORDER!



The album will ship on October 12th, but you can stream it now on our NEW bandcamp site. I have been following The Milkman's Union since first catching them at the Apohadion playing "Little Bird". Lead singer/guitarist Henry Jamison is one of Portland's finest lyricist, and I am in awe of drummer Peter McLaughlin every time I see him play. And now they have just added pop-mastermind Jeff Beam on bass. As if the line-up wasn't already stacked enough, Aly Spaltro of Lady Lamb the Beekeeper lends her vocals on "Texas Hold Me".

The first 6 people to place a Pre-Order will also receive a bonus 7" single randomly selected from our back catalog - so order now!

The official release show for The Milkman's Union single will take place on Thursday, October 13th at Mayo Street Arts, with Jacob Augustine opening the night.

West Bath Bonfire!

Jesse Pilgrim is hosting a Bonfire show in West Bath this evening. It will be a great night of music featuring the following acts:

6:00 jesse pilgrim
6:20 good kids sprouting horns
7:00 billy carr
7:30 panda bandits
8:00 josh O'Donnell
8:30 milkman's union
9:00 great western plain
9:30 bony legs
9:50 butcher boy

Don't get lost in the woods!

Sunday Shoes / The Oak + The Ax

Aly Spaltro of Lady Lamb the Beekeeper returned home once again for a far more intimate show than her celebratory opening slot at the sold out State Theatre, where she opened for Beirut last month. Check out the Portland Daily Sun for the review I wrote of that show.

This time she took the stage at the charming and warm (very warm) Biddeford venue The Oak + The Ax. The last few times I have seen Lady Lamb play she has stuck pretty closely to a "hit" packed setlist, best showcased on the excellent "Live at Brighton Hall" download available from her website. But for this show - "among friends" - she broke out the deep cuts (including personal favorites "Solar, Solar System" and "Sunday Shoes") and debuted a number of new songs. She was also joined by the Milkman's Union's Henry Jamison (who opened the show) for one of the new "ditties", and Henry and his bandmate Peter McLaughlin joined on bass and drums for her final song.

It was a great time, and it was particularly wonderful to hear "Sunday Shoes" played - one of my favorite songs of all time and one of the first vinyl releases from Eternal Otter Records. One audience member even drove 2 hours to see the show in hopes of hearing the song - Aly dedicated the performance to him.

You can order a copy of "Sunday Shoes" (b/w "Metal Mouth" by TJ Metcalfe) here. We'll also send you an mp3 of a great live version of the song recorded for the vinyl release show.

We are also only 6 "Likes" away from 100 fans on Facebook. Become our 100th fan and you will receive a free copy of the single. You can checkout our facebook page here.

There is a lot in store for Eternal Otter Records this fall (including a new release from the Milkman's Union featuring Aly), and becoming a fan is a great way to stay up to date.

---

I also encourage you to head over to the Oak + The Ax tomorrow (Friday) at 8 pm for an excellent FREE show featuring NYC's Hungry March Band and Portland's The Dirty Dishes Burlesque Revue. Check out the faux newspaper I designed for the event:

Eternal Otter Records Update

Well, we've been silent for too long at Eternal Otter Records, but that doesn't mean nothing is happening. Far from it!

First off, we are wicked excited to see Lady Lamb the Beekeeper open for Beirut at the State Theatre! The sold out show starts at 8 pm. Check out the awesome poster designed by Kris Johnsen (there will be a few available for sale at the show).



Second, we are proud to announce that Eternal Otter Records will be releasing a new vinyl singles from The Milkman's Union this autumn. The A-side "Texas Hold Me" features guest vocals from Lady Lamb's Aly Spaltro, and the B-side contains the excellent "Little Bird". The Milkman's Union will be playing a set with Lady Lamb the Beekeeper on August 17th at one of our favorite venues, Biddeford's The Oak & the Ax.

Finally, I [WTE] am continuing to write a monthly music column, "Sounds of the City", for the Portland Daily Sun. A new article should be appearing sometime next week. Check out my last column here. Starting in November, I'll also be taking over from the incomparable Bryan Bruchman of Hillytown as the "Listen" column writer for Maine Magazine.

A lot more news to come - stay tuned!

New Music Column from Eternal Otter Records' Founder Will Ethridge

A new music column, Sounds of the City, debuted this past weekend in the Portland Daily Sun. Written by me (Will Ethridge, founder of Eternal Otter Records), it will run bi-monthly with Portland music news, show reviews, and song recommendations. Enjoy reading and send feedback!

Be a part of the next Eternal Otter Records release - Treble Treble Vol 3

Eternal Otter Records is getting ready to release its first full-length vinyl - Treble Treble Vol 3 - a compilation featuring Big Blood, Samuel James, Wesley Hartley & the Traveling Trees, and other diverse, strange, psychedelic, and atmospheric artists.

Find out more here, and receive gifts from Eternal Otter for supporting the project:

In the News

This week Portland Phoenix has a great article on the rise of cassette culture among local music labels. Among the featured cassettes is l'animaux tryst's beautiful Chakra Ledge, recorded last year at the Building of Song. Check out the article here. Eternal Otters' first cassette release, Panda Bandits' Revolver EP, will be available for online order in June.

Today's featured show in the Portland Daily Sun is "Maine Radio Project presents Aleric Nez". The show, featuring the category-defying Nez, takes place at vinyl record/vintage clothing store Moody Lords. It is a great opportunity to suppport community radio, local business, and hear a great Portland musician. Moody Lords is located at 578 Congress St above Strange Maine. Show at 8 pm. $5 donation at the door.

Tune into the Maine Radio Project today at 3 pm to listen to Moody Lords co-owner Andrew Change play tracks from his favorite vinyl available at the store.

Maine Radio Project presents Aleric Nez at Moody Lords

The Maine Radio Project is a free form internet radio station supporting the creative community of Portland, Maine and beyond. Next Friday, May 13th, they are hosting a show at Moody Lords featuring a performance by Aleric Nez.

Moody Lords is an awesome vinyl record and vintage clothing store, located at 578 Congress St above Strange Maine. Next week, the owners of Moody Lords will be presenting a special one hour broadcast of tracks from their favorite records available at the store. This special program will rebroadcast broadcast every weekday at 3 pm. Be sure to tune in!

Aleric Nez was recently nominated for Best Category Defying Act by the Portland Phoenix (You can still vote here!). Come find out why no category can contain him, and pick up a copy of his excellent new vinyl release, and search for more hidden treasures at Moody Lords.

Show starts promptly at 8 pm. $5.

Record Store Day! Special Deal from Eternal Otter Records

Saturday, April 16th is Record Store Day, and we are excited here at Eternal Otter Records! Across the country independent record stores will be celebrating great music with over a hundred exclusive releases from 7" singles, to special edition LPs, to exciting new compilations. Eternal Otter Records is getting in on the action by offering a special deal at Bull Moose Records in Portland, Maine.

If you buy Jesse Pilgrim and the Bonfire's excellent new CD "Trial & Error" from Bull Moose on Saturday, you will get to pick up a FREE copy of their Eternal Otter Records 7" vinyl single "Shackleton's Antarctic Adventure" when you check out.

Additionally, if you buy any of the great CDs from blues troubadours Samuel James or D. Gross, you get a free copy of the split single they released from Eternal Otter Records. Awesome!

This offer is only good at the Bull Moose location in Portland, Maine, while supplies last.

Portland Phoenix Music Awards 2011

It's time to vote in the Phoenix Portland Music Awards! Eternal Otter Records is very proud to have worked with a number of artists that have been honored with nominations this year.

We released the album Samples for Handsome Animals (only a few copies left of our final run - order here) by "Best Local Act" nominee Lady Lamb the Beekeeper. This is the last year you will be able to vote for Lady Lamb in the local category because she is blowing up! You can also grab the 7" split single Lady Lamb's Aly Spaltro did with her former bandmate TJ Metcalfe (now of Dead Man's Clothes).

Samuel James was also nominated for "Best Local Act" and "Best Blues Act" and you can pick up the split single he shares with D. Gross, another "Best Blues Act" nominee. You can vote everyday, so I recommend alternating between the two.

Jesse Pilgrim also picked up a nomination for "Best Roots Act", and you should definitely get your hands on his vinyl single "Shackleton's Antarctic Adventure", as well as his self-released killer new debut album Trial & Error. And if you missed his release show on Saturday then you missed one of the absolute best shows of the year.

Eternal Otter Records also wishes all the luck to the Lucid (Building of Song headliners), Meghan Yates (another Tower of Song/Building of Song alum), Dead Man's Clothes (who the Panda Bandits just played a show with at the Oak + the Ax), Jakob Battick + Friends (who invited the Panda Bandits to play Slainte and released an excellent new album), Portland Jazz Orchestra (who played the Casablanca screening we programmed at the State), and Big Blood & Olas, both made up of former members of Cerberus Shoal.

Jesse Pilgrim & the Bonfire CD Release

We are very excited for tonight's show at SPACE with Jesse Pilgrim & the Bonfire. Eternal Otter Records released their 7" single "Shackleton's Antarctic Adventure" last year, and we are now thrilled for the new release of their debut album Trial & Error (with Shackleton b-side "Lead Me Down", featuring Lady Lamb the Beekeeper's Aly Spaltro).

The show starts at 8, and Jesse Pilgrim & the Bonfire will be joined by openers Butcher Boy and Grant Street Orchestra, as well as Eternal Otter Records' Panda Bandits.

check out the promo video here

Also, if you missed it yesterday, check out this very funny rap album that Jesse put out for April Fool's day.

New Release: REVOLVER by Panda Bandits

"Arthaus Chaos Unit" Panda Bandits will be releasing their EP Cassette REVOLVER tomorrow at the Oak & the Ax in Biddeford this Saturday. The creation of Waisely "Scar" Lighthead & Marie "Minnie" Pistola (whose names just happen to be an anagram for William Thayer Ethridge & Alicia Ines Sampson), Panda Bandits have evolved from an "imaginary band", to "Johnny Cash tribute act", to "Portland's strangest animal collective". With this EP, you now can revisit all the hits, including "When the Panda Bandits Come to Town", "Henry Ford Is Coming Back", "Oso", and "You Know What I Mean, Jelly Bean?".

This is an extremely limited edition, so come out to the show to pick one up. Get your tickets here. Advanced ticket holders get $1 off the price of the cassette (normally $6).

Panda Bandits will be joined by recent Phoenix cover story rockers Dead Man's Clothes, returning from their SXSW tour, and the ever delightful Dirty Dishes Burlesque Revue. Check out this great interview the Dirty Dishes did with the Portland Press Herald. The event is called "Bad Seeds" and you don't want to miss it. Good Seeds get in for $10 (and get a flower at the door), Bad Seeds can slink in for $6. Doors 7:30 / Show 8:30

Panda Bandits on the March

Who are the Panda Bandits? They have been called "Portland's Strangest Animal Collective", "Like a fish gasping for water", "a celebration", and "some wonderful cult". Lead by Waisely "Scar" Lighthead and his Bandit Queen, Marie "Minnie" Pistola, they present to you the following trilogy of upcoming shows.



Fear Is A Man's Best Friend
Panda Bandits / Jakob Battick & Friends
Friday, March 11th, 9 PM at Slainte in Portland
FREE

Thunder meets Lightning as Jakob Battick & Friends team up with the Panda Bandits for a night of dark country magic*. Cohen and Cave disciple Jakob Battick celebrates the release of his Bloodworm Songs EP before he and his friends disband to various corners of the world (Russia, the Appalachian Trail, the dark recesses of the mind) for an extended hiatus. Check out the video for Three Orphans, the single from Bloodworm Songs.

Jakob Battick & Friends- 'Three Orphans' (Bloodworm Songs) from JakobBattick&Friends on Vimeo.

The Panda Bandits will be presenting material old and new, including work commissioned for last year's Vampire Musical Rock n Roll & the Immortal Soul, tales of revenge, stolen songs, and the Ballad of Marie Pistola. Get in the mood for a moody night with this promo video, directed by Jakob Battick.

Jakob Battick & Friends/Panda Bandits 03/11/11 from JakobBattick&Friends on Vimeo.

---



Bad Seeds
Dead Man's Clothes/ The Dirty Dishes Burlesque Revue / Panda Bandits
Saturday, March 26th, 7:30 PM at The Oak & the Ax in Biddeford
Bad Seeds: $6 / Good Seeds $10

For this show, the Panda Bandits will be releasing their debut cassette EP, titled REVOLVER. The seductive and subversive Dirty Dishes Burlesque Revue offer an inspired feast. And Dead Man's Clothes return home from their SXSW tour. Has there ever been a better reason to venture down the back alleys of Biddeford? Email your mailing address to theottersden@gmail.com to request a hand printed show invitation designed Kris Johnsen's Emblem Studios.



TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE NOW via BROWN PAPER TICKETS. $10 if you are a Good Seed. $6 if you are Bad Seed. Good Seeds will receive a flower at the door. All advance ticket holders will receive $1 off the purchase of the Panda Bandit's REVOLVER EP. Get your tickets here.

---



Jesse Pilgrim and the Bonfire CD Release Show
Jesse Pilgrim and the Bonfire / Panda Bandits / Grant Street Orchestra / Butcher Boy
Saturday, April 2nd, 8 PM at SPACE Gallery in Portland
$8 18+

Jesse Pilgrim and the Bonfire celebrate the release of their debut full-length Trial & Error. I've heard it, and this album kicks, punches, falls down, and gets up to take another swig of whiskey. Panda Bandits join a trio of fearsome openers, before the man himself takes the stage to burn down the house with the Bonfire.

Check out Jesse Pilgrim performing at last year's Building of Song Festival, and grab a copy of his 7" vingle single, "Shackleton's Antarctic Adventure", from Eternal Otter Records.

Building of Song 2010 - Jesse Pilgrim from House Productions on Vimeo.

Eternal Otter Records has a new Facebook Page - LIKE IT here to stay up to date on Eternal Otter Records and the Panda Bandits... you wouldn't want us to catch you unawares...

Regards,
Waisely Lighthead

* genre name stolen from Big Blood's excellent new album, Dark Country Magic.

Maine Radio Project Music Report - Episode 1

Tonight at 8 pm you can stream the first episode of the Maine Radio Project Music Report. In this one hour show, Alicia and I talk about the upcoming week in music here in Maine. In this week's episode we talk about Clash of the Titans moving to Port City Music Hall, upcoming shows from local acts Dead Man's Clothes, Marie Stella, Wesley Hartley & the Traveling Trees, and Jacob Augustine, as well as national acts like Astronautalis and Low Anthem. The show streams online at the Maine Radio Project, devoted to Maine's music, art, and culture.

Casablanca Tonight!

I am excited to announce that the State Theatre will be screening Casablanca this evening, followed by a live performance of the Portland Jazz Orchestra. Since programming 1930s Night at the State featuring The Wizard of Oz and Over A Cardboard Sea, Eternal Otter Records has had the honor of bringing classic films to the beautiful theatre. We look forward to continuing to bring great film and music to one of Portland's best cultural centers.

Tonight's screening begins at 7 pm. Tickets are $10


"Of all the gin joints, in all towns, in all the world, she walks into mine."

http://www.statetheatreportland.com/event/26373/

In the News

Happy New Year!

A couple of great articles came out today featuring artists who have released music through Eternal Otter Records. First, Lady Lamb the Beekeeper is featured in a stellar profile in Maine Magazine, recounting the story of her early recordings through her decision to set out for adventures beyond these borders. Read the article here.

The Lady Lamb the Beekeeper 7" single "Sunday Shoes b/w Metal Mouth" is currently available through Eternal Otter Records. Her former band mate, TJ Metcalfe, is featured on the B-side. There are also a limited number of physical copies left of Samples for Handsome Animals. Get them while you can as there are no current plans for a second printing! Samples for Handsome Animals will also be going off iTunes soon, but is now available directly through Lady Lamb's bandcamp page.

Samuel James, who released a split 7" single with D. Gross last year, is also profiled in the Portland Press Herald today. Check out the article here. Order the record here. See Samuel James and D. Gross play live at Blue in Portland on January 20th.