Lovedrug… and major labels
When The Militia Group inked a deal with Columbia Records, Lovedrug was sent to the studio to demo new songs. Columbia listened to the songs and sent them back into the studio, repeating this pattern for two years while the band filled the dates in between with tours. The wait is soon over, and Lovedrug's Everything Starts Where It Ends will be released on March 6, 2007 through Columbia Records and The Militia Group. This album follows Pretend Your Alive, released on The Militia Group in 2004. But how has this major label deal affected the band?
By the time Everything Starts Where It Ends was completed, Michael Shepard remained as the only original member of Lovedrug. Matt Depper and Matt Putman expressed disdain for over compressed recordings that major labels are notorious for, and formed Snailhuntr, recording in Adam Putman's studio. The Snailhuntr album is complete but waiting to be released.
The former members of Lovedrug are also involved in The Bear Colony, a music collective that includes: Vince Griffin, Brooks Tipton, Adam Putman, Matt Putman, Matthew Depper, Chase Pagan, Kyle Smith, Nic Tse, Johnathon Ford, Bryce Chambers, and Stephen Tucker. The project was formerly called Brothers + Sisters, but the name was changed to The Bear Colony due to another band claiming the name. The Bear Colony will be celebrating their CD release party on December 28 at the Esperanza Plantation (their record label), with Questions in Dialect, Tommy Bryan Ledford, and El Obo performing at the show.
At one point Michael Shepard was considering a solo career, being the predominant songwriter in Lovedrug. In spite of the struggles, the band will continue on with a little more polish than when they began… but isn't that the typical major label story?
Lovedrug – Ghost
Lovedrug – Blackout
Lovedrug – Spiters (no intro)
Lovedrug on:
iTunes | Insound | Amazon