A surprise signing came in the form of LK 295, yet a due paid band to climb aboard for the ride – Michigan’s ‘Small Brown Bike’. With already a healthy and hugely loyal underground following, Small Brown Bike had spent the better part of seven years tearing up a trail of touring interspersed with a host of dynamic releases with the majority courtesy of the respected No Idea Records.
Mike Reed (Small Brown Bike) : “Initially we just played shows around Michigan every month or so. Then we started to do more touring outside of the state when our first record came out in 1999. Our big break came in 2000 when we opened for Hot Water Music and Saves the Day for a couple weeks on the East Coast. That gave us our first taste of what it was like to be on the road. After that, we toured around 1-2 months a year. We did a lot of opening spots, but we were also trying to headline our own tours and stand on our own. Sometimes it went good and sometimes the rooms were empty. We were doing about 3-4 months a year around the U.S. and Canada by the time “ Nail Yourself to the Ground” came out. After several releases with No Idea we wanted to see what other options were out there. It just felt like time to move on and we wanted a bigger budget to have more time in the studio for the next record. We gave our management company a list of labels that we liked and let them focus on the negotiating process. We had a few offers, but we ultimately went with Lookout because they were great people and we got along really well. Plus we all grew up listening to their records and they had developed the label in a cool way over the years. Around that time was Ted Leo, Pretty Girls Make Graves, Engine Down, Communique, The Oranges Band, and The Reputation. So many great bands who all sound completely different from each other. Variety was key. We really liked that.”
If a band were ever to ‘step up to the plate’ for a release, ‘The River Bed’ (LK 295) full length CD (Vinyl licensed for release to No Idea by request of the band) was a case in point. Although the band had hinted at and given a sneak preview on the ‘Nail Yourself To The Ground’ EP release for No Idea , at what was to come, the album truly was a documentation of a band hitting it’s peak. The emotions and sonic sensations woven throughout the 10 tracks on offer, bled with pure passion and heartfelt callings in the guise of a collection of individually identifiable classics in the making.
The album was plain and simple a release differing from the history for Lookout, but all encompassing in its positive direction the label could be taking, that of an outlet persevering the next step up for beloved bands such as Small Brown Bike. Although succesful in their own way, the bands previous recordings were an obvious evolution to the crafted songs on display for the Lookout debut. Although not toned down in the energetic display, the ten tracks were stepped down a notch, seeping themselves into more subtle approach incorporating dissonant and haunting riffage, along with the occasional country and Americana flourish to full effect.
Mike Reed (Small Brown Bike): “It took us a long time to write that record because we were on the road so much. It was just hard to find time to settle down, focus, and practice. So we developed a lot of those songs on the road and would throw them in the set when we could. Some of those songs were in the set list for at least a year before the record came out. We ended up splitting up a lot of recording days and I think it took about a month to finally get all of the tracks finished. Not everyone was in studio at the same time, which made it difficult to get on the same page sometimes. As soon as tracking was done, I drove out to Nebraska for mixing. As soon as mixing was done, we went right back on the road. Looking back on it now I think we should have waited to get back on the road and let the record come out first.”
Although a big jump over the years in terms of stylistic approach from the bands debut ‘Our Own Wars’, it would also prove to polarize fans of the band. The biggest issue however came when the band promptly split up following the release of ‘The River Bed’ without any supporting tour, leaving a disgruntled Chris Appelgren behind.
Chris Appelgren : “When Small Brown Bike broke up after the album came out without touring, talk about a big bummer. We had given them a significant advance, and they knew they kind of screwed us for ever making our money back on their album. Mike and Ben though , who I dealt with mostly, have always been very sweet and respectful. The record is great but it was a stylistic departure and not a fan-favorite, but I love it”
Mike Reed (Small Brown Bike) : “That was a bad time for the band and I can understand why Chris wasn’ t happy. We just fell apart. Part of the problem was we did a lot of touring before the record even came out and didn’ t take a long enough break to focus on recording. The pressures of touring, writing, recording, and trying to have somewhat of a life at home were becoming too much. None of us were really making a living off of the band, so we were stuck between being a full-time band that could support ourselves or a part-time band that had to find jobs when they got home from tour to make rent. We just burnt out and decided our personal sanity and friendships were more important than continuing the band.”
A few related bands cropped up following the demise of Small Brown Bike – Mike Reed teamed up his wife and Small Brown Bike member Dan Jaquint for the excellent, ‘Lasalle’, echoing the pairs previous band. The Reed brother also teamed up with Jeff Gensterblum for ‘Able Baker Fox’, as well as the Ben Reed formed outfit ‘Great Sea Serpents’.
The band was released from second record obligation by Appelgren, yet did reunite into the fold, full time once more to write music in 2009, returning to longtime home No Idea Records.
Mike Reed (Small Brown Bike) : “ The River Bed has some of my favorite songs on it. I know some fans didn’t like the direction we were going, but I’m proud of our progression. It’s cool now because we play songs from it and people love those songs - singing and smiling along. It’s rewarding to see that response.”
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