Brandon Proff submitted this month’s Beer of the Month, enjoy:

It’s been a while since we have done a Beer of the Month post, which I find humorous considering all the awesome beer-centric activities Suburban Home has been taking part in since then.

In September, Virgil and I along with a hand full of SH pals went to the Great American Beer Festival at the convention center here in Denver. Suffice it to say, this yearly event is worth every penny. There were over 2,000 beers to try out, some of which are extremely hard to find either geographically or because the brewery makes a very small amount seasonally. No one could ever get through even half of the beers available in 3 nights let alone one, so we tried our best to hit the breweries who we had either previously experienced something great of theirs or had heard of something special that we had to try.

I can’t for the life of me remember all of the beers we tried, but some of the highlights of the night for me came from breweries like Bull & Bush, Pizza Port, Jolly Pumpkin, Dogfish Head, McCoys, Deschutes, Oskar Blues, Upslope, and the list goes on and on and on. I highly recommend any of those breweries if you happen to be near them or can find their beer in your area.

In October we did a crazy 1 day / 9 stop Brewery tour in celebration of Chad Price’s recent album release. Chad was a trooper and successfully played sets at Odell, Avery, Upslope, Oskar Blues, Great Divide, Breckenridge, Road 34, and Left Hand. In spite of a few minor hiccups everyone was incredibly accommodating and we had an great time, which brings us to our beer of the month:

Odell’s Bourbon Barrel Sout

I stumbled on this 750 ml bottle one night in Boulder and quickly grabbed one as I am a nerd when it comes to all things Imperial. I know there’s a lot of hullabaloo about the validity of the Imperial title when it comes to beer styles but personally think that’s all petty for the most part until someone who knows what they’re talking about explains it all to me. I’ll embrace it for now.

Odell’s site says “This limited edition offering begins with a full-bodied imperial stout that has notes of sweet milk chocolate, smooth vanilla and roasted coffee beans… We transfer it to Kentucky bourbon barrels where it’s aged for four months to let traces of oak and caramel come forward. The bourbon barrels have a remarkable effect on the beer. In turn, the beer has a remarkable effect on the senses.”

If you have ever tried an Imperial stout, you know that they tend to be roasted, bitter, and have an alcohol burn. The spectrum of aroma and flavor variations is huge for this style of beer. Odell’s take is fantastic because they didn’t let the ABV get out of control like some of my other favorite imperials like Three Floyd’s Dark Lord or Goose Island’s Bourbon County stout. The 10.5% is incredibly well hidden by the chocolate and coffee flavors and aromas. The bourbon aging makes it silky smooth. It’s dangerously good and anyone enjoying an entire bottle by themselves should be prepared to get cozy, as you’re going to want to take a nap afterwards.

Bourbon Barrel Stout is available now wherever Odell beer is sold. GET SOME!

11/6/2009 Tampa, FL @ Crowbar
11/9/2009 Jacksonville, FL @ Landshark Cafe
11/10/2009 Charleston, SC @ the Roof
11/11/2009 Charlotte, NC @ The Milestone
11/12/2009 Philadelphia, PA @ the Khyber
11/13/2009 Asbury, NJ @ Asbury Lanes
11/14/2009 Virginia Beach, VA @ the Regal Beagle
11/15/2009 Newark, DE @ East End Cafe
11/16/2009 Baltimore, MD @ Charm City Artspace
11/17/2009 Richmond, VA @ Mojos

We are so excited to see that one of our releases, Yesterday’s Ring “Diamonds in the Ditch”, was voted #8 on the monthly Punknews “Your Favorite Records” of October. Considering the album came out of April of this year, it really speaks volumes about how great this album is that 6 months later it made it onto their charts. Thanks Punknews readers for voting for this album and for those of you who have yet to give this record a listen, please give it a listen today. In a recent review of the album, Twangville said “When it comes to this type of Country/Punk hybrid, it’s not likely that anyone is going to revolutionize it and turn the sound on its sonic-ear anytime soon. There are bands that pull it off and bands that don’t quite cut it. With Diamonds In the Ditch, Yesterday’s Ring pulls it off easily.” I have posted a full album stream at the bottom of this page, give it a listen. I think you will be pleasantly surprised by how much this album rocks and how it bridges the gap between Alt-Country and Punk Rock.

Also on the Punknews Reader’s chart for October, Chuck Ragan’s new album, “Gold Country” was voted #1. Congrats buddy and kudos to you for making such a great album. Get the Vinyl Exclusive color of “Gold Country” from us now. The record is so good. The Fake Problems / Ninja Gun split made it onto the list, too; if you haven’t picked up this 7″, I highly recommend you do. That Ninja Gun track is one of my new favorites. There are a number of other great records that made the list, check it out here.

I am so excited to bring you our November Suburban Home Buddies of the month, Vanessa Jean and Patrick Speckman, 2 of my favorite people from Northern California. You may or may not know these fine folks as they are the creators of Lubricated Magazine, a zine that gives Suburban Home so much support. I had the excellent experience of meeting both Vanessa and Patrick (Sister and Brother in case you were wondering) when they came out with friends to Denver to celebrate Suburban Home’s 14th Anniversary. We had one hell of a time and the celebration made me realize something about Suburban Home. The people who tend to like our bands and support our label are some of the most interesting, down to earth people I know. They tend to like to booze and have a good time. Vanessa and Patrick embody those qualities and much more and they make me wish that California was a lot closer to Colorado. When deciding who to ask to be our November buddies of the month, it was a no brainer as Vanessa and Patrick go out of their way to see our bands, to support our label, and to just be 2 of the raddest people on the planet.

Please read on as Vanessa and Patrick discuss their introduction to Suburban Home, bands they would sign if they ran Suburban Home, their favorite Suburban Home releases, interesting Suburban Home related stories, and more.

Thanks Vanessa. Thanks Patrick. I love you guys. I am also jealous of you guys as they are seeing 3 Revival Tour shows this week. So jealous.

Your name and the city you live in. What do you do for a living?
VJS: Howdy. My name is Vanessa Jean Speckman and I live out of a suitcase in the Bay Area, California. I live for a living, but for monetary purposes, I work in the Photography and Styling Department for a Western Living magazine and I also work for a Non-Profit Art Organization that preserves and archives Folk Art. My brother and I make a zine, Lubricated, on the side but that’s for fun and we don’t make a dime off of it.
PS: Patrick Speckman – Ben Lomond, CA. I’m an electrical contractor.

How did you find out about SH, what was the first SH release you ever purchased?
VJS: I had been a fan of Armchair Martian for many years. I think it was in February of 2007 when my ex-boyfriend took me to see a show at Thee Parkside in San Francisco. I was kind of drunk and confused because I saw Fat Mike and Joey Cape hanging out with the dude with the glasses from Armchair Martian. Then the dude with the glasses from Armchair Martian got on stage and picked up the guitar and rocked out with the headlining band – Drag the River. Tim Barry and Josh Small were also on that tour and opened for Drag the River that night. Connections were made and the rest is history.

My first purchase from Suburban Home was Drag the River’s, “It’s Crazy”.
PS: I’ve been an Armchair Martian fan for years – my sister gave me some Drag the River, and we made the Snodgrass connection. I think I started hearing more and more from Tim Barry about the same time.

What is your favorite SH release? Favorite SH artists?
VJS: That’s a tough question. I think it changes with new releases and re-visiting old ones. But at the moment, it’s Two Cow Garage’s “Please Turn the Gas Back On”.
PS: This is impossible – right now I can’t stop listening to Two Cow Garage and In the Red. The Takers album is amazing.

What other labels do you follow?
VJS: Hillgrass Bluebilly Entertainment, Side One Dummy, Fat Wreck Chords, Lookout, No Idea, Bloodshot, Asian Man…
PS: I was born and raised on Fat Wreck Chords. Bloodshot, No Idea, Lookout, BYO, Asian Man, Side One Dummy, Hillgrass Bluebilly, Fat Possum.

What are some of your favorite non-SH artists?
VJS: Possessed By Paul James, Chuck Ragan, Deer Tick, Glossary, Chris Wollard, The Enablers, Trampled By Turtles, Justin Townes Earle, Steve Earle, Scott H. Biram, Lenny And The Piss Poor Boys, William Elliott Whitmore, Red Clay River, Hot Water Music, Thin Lizzy, Bad Astronaut, Magnolia Electric Company, Gram Parsons, The Flying Burrito Brothers, The Replacements, Charlie Parr, FENCES, Armchair Martian, Fleet Foxes, Lucero, Bon Iver, Townes Van Zandt, Old Crow Medicine Show, New Roanoke Jug Band, Avail, Homemade Knives, Tom Vanden Avond, The Shitkickers, Leatherface, Gunmoll, Left Lane Cruiser, Nothington, Cory Branan, Frank Turner, Anchor Down, The Anchor, Tom Waits, Michael Dean Damron, Chad Rex, Lagwagon, Split Lip Rayfield, Uncle Tupelo, Stiff Little Fingers, 88 Fingers Louie, Former Cell Mates, The Correction Brothers, Edith Piaf…
PS: Chuck Ragan, Red Clay River, Malcolm Holcombe, Chris Wollard, Tow Waits, Hot Water Music, Lagwagon, Possessed by Paul James, Lucero, Left Lane Cruiser, Scott H. Biram, William Elliott Whitmore, Charlie Parr, Michael Dean Damron, Chad Rex, Jerry Reed, Nothington, Leadbelly, Rex Hobart, NOFX, the Only Sons, Trampled by Turtles, the Fox Hunt, Split Lip Rayfield, The Devil Makes Three, Slobberbone, Glossary, The Enablers, The Anchor, Deano Waco, The Pogues, Nick Cave, The Shitkickers, Phil Collins, Frank Turner, Tom Vanden Avond, Justin Townes Earle, Strung Out, Wayne Hancock, No Use for a Name, Anchor Down, Armchair Martian, Avail, Bad Astronaut, Mike Watt, The Animals, Uncle Tupelo, Snuff, the Descendents, Leatherface, Gram Parsons, Flying Burrito Brothers, Roky Erickson, 88 Fingers Louie, blah, blah, blah.

What is your musical format of choice? CD, Vinyl, Digital?
VJS: If it’s not live, then I like vinyl that includes a digital download coupon.
PS: My Ipod gets a lot of use – it’s too convenient. But nothing would ever replace my shelves of vinyl and CDs – everything eventually ends up on the Ipod though.

Where do you buy your SH releases?
VJS: Either from Vinyl Collective or from the bands when they are on tour.
PS: I try to get them from the bands, if not, from cyber space.

If you ran SH, what band would you sign?
VJS: Any off of the laundry list mentioned above, but especially Possessed By Paul James.
PS: As many of the people I listed above as possible.

Which SH artists have you seen live, which artists that you haven’t are you looking forward to seeing?
VJS: I think I’ve got ‘em all covered. The Takers were the outstanding band of bandits that I had yet to see, but that got checked off my list in Denver at the Suburban Home 14th Anniversary Weekend.
PS: After the Anniversary Weekend last month, I think I’ve got everyone pretty well covered. I just hope that I can keep seeing them play often and for a long, long time.

We at Suburban Home realize that we are a small label and are always interested in hearing suggestions on what we can do better, any suggestions?
VJS: Get some of the Suburban Home bands and the staff together and climb onto a tour bus and head west and come hang out with us. Seriously.
PS: Don’t stop – ever.

Have you ever called the Drunk Dial Hotline? IF no, why not?
VJS: I have yet to call the Drunk Dial Hotline because I have been too drunk to remember to dial the Drunk Dial Hotline. I will one of these days, I promise.
PS: Nope – too drunk.

Do you drink beer? Do you have a favorite beer? If not beer, what is your drink of choice?
VJS: If I’m drinking beer, I drink Orange Beer. PBR with Orange Juice. But you’ll usually find me shooting Jameson.
PS: Yes, I drink beer – usually shitty stuff like Budweiser or PBR. Guinness if I’m feeling real classy for some reason. I also like whiskey, which goes great with beer.

Do you have any interesting SH related stories?
VJS: Some highlights would definitely have to be the 14th Anniversary Weekend out in Denver… late night hotel post-party parties with Virgil, Snodgrass, Little Chad, Tim, and Ninja Gun. Or spending time on the road up and down California with Tim, Josh and Austin this past Spring. I also have a collection of fond memories at our old house, Locals Only, when a lot of our Suburban Home buddies came through town and visited… Jon Snodgrass wearing a hard hat and playing Beirut in our garage until sunrise with Thin Lizzy blasting at volume 11 (which was on more than one occasion)… Chad Price falling asleep on top of the camping gear in the garage utterly content… all day BBQ and hang time with Two Cow Garage in the backyard… My heart is full of fond Suburban Home related stories. I respect and appreciate all of their musical efforts and endeavors – and I respect and appreciate them as my friends. Exactly like the way I feel towards Virgil and the crew. Y’all have become MY friend through music. Thank you. Thank you for what you do and create, and thank you for doing it with such authenticity and integrity. Please, keep doing what y’all are doing for many, many years to come.
PS: I don’t know – hangin out at 4am with Snodgrass, Chad Rex and Virgil at our Anniversary Weekend hotel room, listening to Thin Lizzy and watching Jon rock out. I then realized that every time I’ve hung out with Jon, it’s 4am and he’s rocking out to Thin Lizzy. Always a good time.

Red Collar “Pilgrim” LP red vinyl silk-screened jacket (w/ metallic ink)
Red Collar “Pilgrim” LP red vinyl silk-screened jacket
Red Collar “Pilgrim” CD

RED COLLAR TO RELEASE PILGRIM ON LIMITED EDITION VINYL ON DEC. 1ST VIA LOOSE CHARM RECORDS

PRE-ORDER AVAILABLE NOW

PHYSICAL DISTRIBUTION DEAL INKED WITH SUBURBAN HOME RECORDS

“This Durham, NC band follows up their promising initial EP with an even better debut album, injecting the EP’s anthemic, post-hardcore sound reminiscent of Fugazi and Mission of Burma with a healthy dose of blue-collar Springsteen rock, a natural fit for the band’s class-conscious idealism, expressed in catchy songs with bristling guitar hooks and shouted gang choruses.” – KEXP.org

Red Collar will release a limited edition vinyl version of their acclaimed debut album Pilgrim on December 1, 2009 via Loose Charm Records. The 500-copy run will be hand-numbered red vinyl packaged in screen-printed sleeves, and the first 100 copies will also be printed with metallic silver ink. The original album sequencing has been reworked to present more of a Side A/Side B feel and while – due to space – the record will contain only nine of the 11 album tracks, every copy will come with a download card for all 11 tracks in addition to one bonus track, a cover of Jawbreaker’s “Jinx Removing.” A pre-order is available now on Red Collar’s website and via Vinyl Collective, and will also be at the band’s show at the Troika Music Festival in Durham, NC, on November 7th at the Trotter Building (11:30pm set time). Full Pilgrim vinyl track listing is below.

Side A
1. The Commuter
2. Radio On
3. Tools
4. The Astronaut
Side B
1. Pilgrim
2. Rust Belt Heart
3. Used Guitars
4. Tonight
5. Catch A Ride

Additionally, Red Collar has inked a physical distribution deal with Suburban Home Records. Now Pilgrim – which has previously been available only digitally, by mail order through the band’s website, and at their shows – will be sold in stores nationwide. “We here at Suburban Home are excited to be distributing Red Collar’s album, Pilgrim. The band works hard and their live show is jaw-dropping,” said Virgil Dickerson, owner of Suburban Home. “It has always been our idea to help artists who are already doing great things on their own to get records into stores and homes all over the world. We hope to see the band do even bigger and better things and hope to be there to help them accomplish those milestones.”

Red Collar is renowned as one of the Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill Triangle area’s finest bands and self-released Pilgrim in February of this year. Intelligent, evocative, and hard-hitting, the album showcases the band’s visceral energy while also revealing their songwriting skills and gift for hooks – facets sometimes easily overlooked when a band is so well-known for their ferocious, kinetic live shows. Pilgrim has received praise from KEXP.org, RCRD LBL, Playback STL, Jersey Beat, BlogCritics.org, and the Philadelphia Daily News, among many others, with MagnetMagazine.com remarking, “The North Carolina natives are known to play each show like it’s their last, and their studio sound doesn’t fall short. Red Collar’s debut album, Pilgrim, gives you everything there is to love about rock.” A video for album track “Hand Up,” which the band made themselves with handheld camera footage from a hometown show this past July, is also now online here.

We are excited to work with Red Collar and hope to help them find more fans across the world. We will soon be posting a full album stream of the album as well as videos. The record is great and the band has so much great stuff happening.

THE REVIVAL TOUR Fall 2009 Collection double CD w/ FREE Program (Chuck Ragan,Tim Barry,Chad Price)

The Revival Tour needs your support. Due to some really terrible weather, the tour was grounded in Nebraska and was forced to cancel 3 shows (Denver, Salt Lake City, and Bozeman). The tour lost a lot of money not being able to make it to the shows due to bus and driver rental, fuel, daily expenses, and missed revenue. Because of this, Chuck Ragan asked if we wouldn’t mind selling copies of their double CD through our store in an effort to raise some money to help offset some of the expenses they were forced to incur. We happily agreed. Nearly every penny from the sale of the 2 disc set will go to the good folks on the Revival Tour.

We are proud to offer to you the Revival Tour Fall 2009 Collection. The compilation is a double CD featuring some of the greatest acts in independent Americana, Folk, Singer-Songwriter, and Alt-Country. I have been listening to this comp all weekend and it reminded me of the days where you anticipated new compilation CDs as a way to discover new artists. Sure, I was familiar with a majority of the acts on the 2 CDs, but I also found a lot of acts I wasn’t as familiar with. Not only that, some of the acts I know well featured alternate or unreleased versions of songs.

The comp starts off with a Jim Ward song I had never heard and much to my surprise it is one of my favorite tracks on the first disc. The first disc also features familiar tracks by Chuck Ragan, Frank Turner, and Austin Lucas, but I was excited to hear tracks by Jenny Owen Youngs, Possessed by Paul James, Steve Brodsky (of Cave In), The Zydepunks, Anderson Family Bluegrass Band (Chuck has been raving about these youngsters for a while now), and the Water Tower Bucket Boys. It was great to hear Dave House (of Loved Ones) contribute a solo song; he apparently has a full album recorded which I am looking forward to hearing. Probably my other favorite song on the first CD “The Day is Past and Gone” by Bob Lucas (Austin’s Dad). The song is pretty much just vocals not unlike something that might make the soundtrack of O Brother Where Art Thou. You can see where Austin gets his songwriting chops from.

Disc 2 starts off with a killer Kevin Seconds’ track which goes into one of the biggest surprises of the compilation, a track by Audra Mae. The folks at Side One recently signed her and I can see why they are so excited. Her voice is out of site and the song is so timeless. The comp also features tracks by Digger Barnes and Jon Gaunt who you always see backing up the rotating cast of the Revival Tour, but on this comp, they both have songs of their own with them on lead vocals, and both tracks are great. I love the Digger Barnes album and am hopeful this will get him some much deserved attention. I guess you can say I am pretty partial to disc 2 as 1/3rd of the track listing belongs to Suburban Home acts. Chad Price’s version of Sweet Angel is an alternate version than the one that appears on “Smile Sweet Face” as it features backing vocals by Jon Snodgrass. The Joey Cape track is his song from the split 7″ with Jon Snodgrass which appears on CD for the first time, and the Tim Barry track is a teaser from his upcoming album which won’t see daylight til the end of January. Disc 2 also introduced me to tracks by Haywood Yards, Tom Cook Band, and Tin Horn Prayer (which features Andy of Suburban Home/Only Thunder and Mike of the Blackout Pact). The whole collection ends with a track written and recorded at last year’s Revival Tour, “Revival Road” which features Chuck Ragan, Ben Nichols, Frank Turner, Tim Barry, Todd Beene, J Gaunt, D Barnes.

Buy this compilation to support one of the greatest tours happening right now. Buy this compilation because of all of the incredible people behind the tour. By this compilation because you won’t be able to find a better collection of Americana/Folk/Alt-Country. Listening to this compilation brought back the same feelings I had when I first heard “Fat Music for Fat People”, “Hopelessly Devoted to You”, and “Mailorder is Fun” and has inspired me to consider putting together more compilations and mix tapes.

We have 150 copies of the Compilation and hope to sell every one. Every order will get a FREE Revival Tour program guide and the first 10 orders will get a Revival Tour Coozie (all photographed).

I just met up with the folks from the Revival Tour to get some of the Revival Tour programs and double compilation CDs. For those of you who don’t know, they not only had to cancel their Denver date due to weather, but they had to cancel Salt Lake City last night and Bozeman, Montana tonight. They have been stuck in Nebraska waiting for I-80 to reopen and they are hopeful that they can make it out to Seattle tomorrow night. Because they are in a bus, they are losing lots of money not having shows. Their spirits are high, because those are the type of people they are, but if you have been on the fence about going to out to see the tour, please make sure you go. This is the greatest tour each year and it needs your support. I am so bummed I missed the tour in Denver, but that was out of my hands. I got to meet Bob Lucas, Austin’s dad, and am so bummed I missed him. It was really great to see all the guys and gal (Audra Mae), and I hope you all get to do the same.

Chuck gave me a box of Revival Tour double CD samplers and I will be putting them up for sale on Monday. I will also be sending out the Revival Tour program with orders. Even if you don’t normally buy CDs, I urge you to purchase this album. Not only is it one of the greatest collection of Americana/Roots/Folks/Alt-Country, but I have decided to give every penny we receive from the sale of the Cd to Chuck and the Revival Tour. Even if you didn’t or don’t plan to make it out to one of the shows, you should consider buying a comp CD and supporting what these guys do.

Expect more info on Monday, but please make sure these guys and gal are in your thoughts. They are some of my favorite people and I hope they can make it out to Seattle’s show tomorrow night.

I figured that like me, many of you, might be interested in the numbers of how the raffle worked, how many tickets the winners bought, and the disbursement of tickets sold. Make sure you buy tickets for Raffle Tickets Round 2.

1. Alexis Charlebois-Laurin – Grand Prize – $500 Gift Certificate in the VC/SH Store (bought only 2 tickets)
2. Dan Manning – First Prize – $250 Gift Certificate in the VC/SH Store (bought only 1 ticket)
3. Fran Chismar – Second Prize – $125 Gift Certificate in the VC/SH Store (bought 2 tickets)
4. Richard Roe – Third Prize – $75 Gift Certificate in the VC/SH Store (bought 1 ticket)
5. Nick Corp – Fourth Prize – $50 Gift Certificate in the VC/SH Store (bought 10 tickets)

Here is the breakdown of tickets sold.

42 bought 1 ticket
41 bought 2 tickets
7 bought 3 tickets
2 bought 4 tickets
7 bought 5 tickets
1 bought 6 tickets
14 bought 10 tickets

Friends, I will be away from my computer for most of the remainder of the day. We just cracked open our last bottle of Stranahans and are ready to pack some orders. Seabron is drinking hers in her Tea. The rest of us have it on the rocks. With the snow coming down the way it is and a mountain of orders awaits, we figured what better time to crack open a bottle of Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey. Here’s hoping you are staying warm and having something to drink.

1. Alexis Charlebois-Laurin – Grand Prize – $500 Gift Certificate in the VC/SH Store
2. Dan Manning – First Prize – $250 Gift Certificate in the VC/SH Store
3. Fran Chismar – Second Prize – $125 Gift Certificate in the VC/SH Store
4. Richard Roe – Third Prize – $75 Gift Certificate in the VC/SH Store
5. Nick Corp – Fourth Prize – $50 Gift Certificate in the VC/SH Store

Alright friends, we have 5 winners of the Vinyl Collective/Suburban Home Raffle. We shot a video that you can see above of how we picked the winners. You can tell I wasn’t very prepared to do this video, but you get the idea anyways. Congratulations winners. Seabron will soon be in touch with Gift Certificates. For those of you who didn’t win, there is always Round 2.

To answer a few of your questions, yes, my desk is always this messy; 2. we decided that we will be giving the Grand Prize winner the option to break up their Gift Certificate however they like; and 3. yes, I am wearing a beanie; it is cold and snowy outside.

Thanks everyone for participating. I think this will continue to be a neat way to win records.