We love AmRep and we’re pretty sure a lot of you do too. If so, there’s a good chance you’ll also dig The Color of Noise, a film about HAZE XXL (Tom Hazelmyer) and Amphetamine Reptile Records. The label has put out releases from the likes of The Jesus Lizard, Helmet, Melvins, Unsane (notably the HOF inducted Scattered, Smothered & Covered), Killdozer and countless others, so not surprisingly director Eric Robel’s film is “an exceptional look at the integrity of the American underground starting in the late 80’s through the mid 90’s, specifically targeting forerunners of the grunge movement, the collision of punk rock and printmaking, and beyond.”
While you can buy tickets to see a screening in select cities (not to mention view an art installation beforehand that will feature various works by Hazelmyer, including hand-carved and hand-printed fine art linocuts that are often found on hand-made, ultra-small edition art records), we’re also giving away a pair to a screening of your choice. Just email us by 8:00pm EST on Friday (9/12) and tell us your favorite AmRep record and why, and our favorite entry will win. Tom and Eric will be at the shows doing a Q&A after every screening.
If you need a good starting point to dive into the label’s back catalog — or a leg up on your entry — Hazelmyer was nice enough to tell us about his five favorite AmRep records, which you can check out below the trailer.
Halo Of Flies’ “Rubber Room” 7″ (1986)
Okay it’s self serving as it’s my band. But this was the one where it all came together. After several aborted attempts, this was the first record I put out and it got done the way I wanted it to.
Helmet’s Strap It On (1990)
Aside from changing the face of rock, being involved from the beginning with this one taught me how to handle a tiger by the tail and not get mauled (well at least too much).
Melvins’ “Night Goat” 7″ (1992)
We did a bunch of great bands, but this song is truly one of the fucking greats. All time periods, all genres. We got to be a part of that.
Helios Creed’s The Last Laugh (1989)
Chrome are up there with The Stooges and The Birthday Party as one of my all time favorite bands. I got to work for/with and help and for one of my idols at a time he really needed it. It was a great run we had with about five LPs.
Cows’ Cunning Stunts (1992)
The perfect storm. A great band fucking nailing it. If there’s ever the perfect AmRep LP, this is it from the cover to its contents, we all fucking nailed it and then some.
Screenings:
First leg
9/17, Strange Matter, Richmond, VA (doors 7pm, screening 8:30pm)
9/18, Rock and Roll Hotel Roof, Washington DC (doors 6pm, screening 7:30pm)
9/19, Otto Bar – Upstairs, Baltimore, MD
9/20, Underground Arts, Philadelphia PA (doors 7pm, screening 8:30pm, Ladder Devils and Multicult 11pm)
9/21, Highline Ballroom, New York, NY (doors 6pm, screening 8pm)
Second leg
10/15 Riverview Theater, Minneapolis, MN
10/17 Eronel, Debuque, IA (tickets here)
10/18 Shakespeares Pub, Kalamazoo, MI
10/19 Tangent Gallery, Detroit, MI
10/20 Beachland Ballroom, Cleveland, OH (tickets here)
10/22 CMJ Conference Center, New York, NY
10/23 Club Cafe, Pittsburgh, PA (tickets here)
10/25 Studio 35, Columbus, OH
10/26 Double Door, Chicago, IL (tickets here)
10/27 High Noon Saloon, Madison, WI (tickets here)
