Music

Where's the LowLife 7"?

by Sam Pfeifle

Fans of LowLife, a mainstay of the patches-and-safety-pin DIY hardcore scene, have been thinking about more than just the influence of the WTO and meat-eaters lately; they've been eagerly awaiting the release of a new four-song 7" -- a vinyl EP -- since the band announced it was recording in late May. But to date, nothing has appeared. What gives?

According to the most recent posting on LowLife's Website, they've gotten a raw deal from Portland street-punk indie label Blood and Whiskey Records, run by Shannon Mauldlin. As LowLife's Website states, "After weeks of talks and arrangement between Blood and Whiskey and LowLife, they all of a sudden seem to feel they don't have the time or money to work with us."

Mauldlin finds this to be overstating the matter. "From the posting on their Website," he says, "one gets the impression that there have been meetings and serious discussions regarding the release of a 7". Nothing could be farther from the truth. Hell, I have never even met these kids." All their exchanges were via email.

LowLife see it differently. "He asked us very clearly if we wanted to do a 7" on his label," says lead-guitarist Shawn. "We agreed. When the record was done, he wanted to know the cost of everything. We told him the recording was $1000, and the duplication would be between $700 and $1000 for a first pressing of 1000. After we told him that, he wasn't interested."

Mauldlin is surprised by the vitriol. "Honestly, this is the first I have heard of it," he says. "I told them that I would have to take care of some of my other projects first because of time and money. I suppose that they don't understand that I am bankrolling all this stuff."

In the meantime, LowLife's four recorded songs will sit idle until another label picks them up or they scrape together the cash to print the 7" themselves.