A&Enews
Rogers native Hunter Mack took a novel approach in securing the latest release on his limited edition vinyl label, Gold Robot Records. He wrote Will Oldham a letter. And he included some of cousin (and longtime man on the scene in Fayetteville) John Harmon’s poetry. An e-mail correspondence between Mack and Oldham followed and, as Mack says, “without asking or even hinting,” Oldham, using his Bonnie Prince Billy handle, put some of Harmon’s lyrics to song and agreed to let Mack release them on his imprint.
This is the ninth release on Gold Robot, which Mack started almost a year and a half ago. Mostly, he’s released Bay Area projects from friends. In the coming months, he’ll put out a record from a young band from Idaho, an EP from a San Francisco band called Railcars that Jamie Stewart of Xiu Xiu produced and a six-song EP from Lady Genius, a Bay Area pop band that’s starting to get big.
He says he’s committed to limited runs, “because it’s a side project — no one’s making any money — it’s easier to sell 500 of something than 5,000.” All his releases thus far, save the Bonnie Prince Billy record, are also available digitally.
Check also Macktronic, the mp3 blog Mack’s run for years.
The local hip-hop website Iamthelife.net has launched. Users can view video, read blog posts and download and stream music from artists like Epiphany, Suga City, 607, Sean West and DK and Souljah T.
Memphis rappers Three Six Mafia are scheduled to come to the Fayetteville Town Center on Sept. 19. Tickets are $38 and will be available on Aug. 23 through hutchentertainment.com or by calling (877) 837-6616.