Flyer Credit: Jon Styer

THIS SATURDAY! which happens to Record Store Day and the same day as the Rocktown Beer and Music Festival, will also and most importantly be the Record Release Show for The Cinnamon Band’s brand new 7” on Funny / Not Funny Records.  Everyone who purchases the record at the show will be entered in a contest to win a copy of the test press pictured below! The winner will be chosen at random and he or she can either pick up the test press at the end of the show or leave their contact information at the merch table. The test presses come with alternate black cover and are limited to 5! If you forget to snag a copy tomorrow we are also giving away a second copy of the test press for everyone who Pre-Orders online from our store.

So it goes without saying how amazing this Saturday is going to be for the town of Harrisonburg.  If you are unable to make it this Saturday and still live in Virginia, The Cinnamon Band will be performing at The Jefferson Theater in Charlottesville, VA on 4/20 with the wonderful Sharon Van Etten. Don’t live in Virginia? Then how about checking out this brand and amazing new video for Black Love off their new record! 

Video Credit: Will Renton

PRESS!! What is being said about our recent releases:

F/NF 018: Cinnamon Band - Black Love / Tough Love 7”

“It’s pop, but it’s stripped-down, raw but lightly produced, and filled with a southern-tinged style of vocals set to harmony.” - FencePost

F/NF 017: The Diamond Center - California / Bells 7”

““California” features a sea of fuzzy and swirling guitars, scattered carefully between the gorgeous and blissful vocals that sound masked by a glowing veil of smoke.” - The Styrofoam Drone

““California” quickly — I’m talking instantaneously — became my favorite Diamond Center song. ” - You Hear That ?!?

““California” starts out sounding every bit of the Old West; a little dark and gloomy, a little sinister – midnight campfires, shadows cast everywhere by the full moon.” - SIRENS of DECAY

“The Diamond Center are purveyors of very fine lush, shimmering neo-psychedelia.” - The Mad Mackerel

F/NF 016: The Demon Beat / Elephant Child Split 7”

“Both tracks [Teenage Wasteland & Under the Bridge pt. II] look to knock you right on your ass, coming together with heavy, crunchy guitars and a solid, hard rocking attitude.” - The Styrofoam Drone

“If you’re a fan of heavy hitting, distortion filled garage rock, then this effort is just perfect for you!” - MusicBoxPete

“This is not funny: The Demon Beat slay on new split release.” - WVRockscene

F/NF 015: Naked Gods - No Jams LP

“You probably haven’t yet heard of Naked Gods, but that may soon change.” - Verbicide Magazine

“The opening 32 seconds of No Jams‘ opening track “Teenage Colony” is more than enough to get you hooked on Naked Gods.” - FencePost

“North Carolina beard-pop band Naked Gods keep it realz yo’. Foot tapping music. Yeyeeee.” - Gold Soundz

MACRoCk is just days away, and we are very excited for the festivities to begin!  We have a number of bands playing this year and we are also hosting the 2nd Annual Acoustic Showcase, that takes place during the Label Expo on Saturday afternoon.  We hope that everyone is planning on making the trip to our hometown to support independent musicians from across the country.  If you are in town make sure to swing by the Label Expo on Saturday to say hello to us as well have our entire spread laid out for you! 

Bands on Funny / Not Funny Records @ MACRoCk 

Date, time, and locations below:

Thursday April 5th
Borrowed Beams of Light MACRoCk Pre-Show @ Blue Nile

Friday April 6th
The Demon Beat 5:00 - 5:20 Downtown 34
Elephant Child 6:20 - 6:40 Downtown 34
The Diamond Center 6:20 - 7:00 Artful Dodger
Invisible Hand 10:20 - 10:50 Clementine Cafe

Saturday April 7th
Adam Smith (Invisible Hand) 2:30 - 2:55 Blue Nile (Acoustic Showcase)
Cinnamon Band 6:50 - 7:20 Court Square Theater
Eternal Summers 11:10 - 11:50 Clementine Cafe

Monthly Mix

March 2012 from funnynotfunnyrecords on 8tracks.

Funny / Not Funny Record’s Monthly Mixtape installment this month is curated by F/NF co-founder Ben Schlabach.  Inspiration for this mix comes from MACRoCk, a music festival that takes place in Harrisonburg VA every April.  MACRoCk has been a staple in my life since I was around 16 years old.  I have seen things change over the years but one thing that has never changed is the excitement of MACRoCk season.  Planning my list of must see bands, catching up with old friends, maybe even making a new friend or two, it is one of my favorite weekends of the year! 

Heavy Cream - Run Free
This band reminds me of mid summer house parties, maybe because I saw them for the first time at a mid summer house party, or maybe because I love jamming 3 chord ragers in the summer.  None the less, they bring a fun live show, that is worth a watch. Friday 11:10pm - Downtown 34

Invisible Hand - Don’t Wait For Your Third Eye
If you have been to our website you clearly get the connection between us and the Hand, they have been apart of Funny / Not Funny since the beginning.  I am very excited about seeing them at MACRoCk because they haven’t played Harrisonburg in a number of months, and I need a fix. Friday 10:20pm - Clementine Cafe

Juston Stens - Edge of the Moon
I haven’t seen Juston before, I did catch his old band, Dr. Dog, do a set at a festival three or four years ago.  The tunes I have jammed thus far make me believe he should put on a good show.  It is also awesome to catch a set at Court Square Theater, AC + Comfy Chairs make for a nice break from running crazy from showcase to showcase. Saturday 5:30pm - Court Square Theater

Oldermost - Lose Your Mind
Ex Harrisonburg dudes, now living in Philly.  Always entertaining, nice upbeat folk pop!  I haven’t seen them play since last MACRoCk so I am overdue on catching another one of their sets. Friday 6:10pm - Court Square Theater

Elephant Child - Morlocks
I am pretty sure every time I have made a mix for the Monthly Mix series I have included Elephant Child, and I am not ashamed of it because they continue to kill it over and over.  My favorite part of this jam is the “yeeeeaahhhh” part at the end, it nevers gets old! Friday 6:20pm - Downtown 34

The Turlocks - Coaster Glasses
Harrisonburg’s newest super group, featuring members of the Super Vacations, The Alphabet, the Brooms, Uncle Bengine and the Restraining Orders. Check them out if you like old rock and roll, or if you enjoy watching an absurd amount of dudes fit onto the smallest stage at the festival Saturday 9:40pm - The Little Grill

Algernon Cadwallader - Springing Leaks
They have been playing MACRoCk for the last few years and I for one am pumped they will be back again this year.  They put on a great live show, catchy might be an understatement, but it is about all I can say…they are catchy, maybe even catchy as hell. Saturday 10:20pm - Downtown 34

Lizard Police - Why You Stompin’ Around?
In my quest to plan my schedule and research bands I came across Lizard Police.  Based out of Tulsa OK, they bring a mix of punk and melodic hardcore, some songs sound angry, some poppy, all of them come off solid!  They are coming from across the country, so I will make the trek across town. Saturday 9:30pm - Downtown 34

Pre-Orders! Release Dates! Last Chances!

Look at this beauty who showed a bit early! An inspiring sneak peak at a record that we will continue to accept pre-orders on until the official release slated for March 13th.  Which means you still have time to enter to win the smokin’ test press of this release whose photo is featured in one of our previous posts.

Pre-order F/NF 017: The Diamond Center 7” here.

In more urgent news, TODAY is the official release for The Demon Beat / Elephant Child 7”!!! and in celebration for this joyous occasion everyone who orders this 7” before midnight TONIGHT will be also be entered into the contest along with everyone who pre-ordered the record for a chance to win the test of this release as well!

Order F/NF 016: The Demon Beat / Elephant Child 7” here.

Monthly Mixtape:

Funny / Not Funny Record’s Monthly Mixtape installment this month is curated by F/NF co-founder Harper Holsinger. Inspiration for this mix stems from his upcoming flight to Texas for SXSW! Speaking of SXSW, we have numerous bands touring down for the festival and will be once again putting together a showcase at the Light Bar.  More information and details on that coming VERY soon.  In the meantime enjoy these ear snacks:

Purling Hiss - She Don’t Mind
What is it with cassette’s? Had some of their albums but it was not until I picked up a copy of Dizzy Polizzy that I fell in love with this band.  Maybe it is because my car only has a tape deck? Maybe it is because we as a label put out cassettes? Maybe it is because tapes are just rad? 

Creepoid - Staircase
Saw Creepoid last night. Hung out with them in Richmond this past Thursday. Not only do these cats put together some incredible tunes but they are a truly nice and fun gang to chill with. Picked up a copy of their LP that No Idea Records just repressed for them.  Recommend you do so as well as the entire thing is filled with gems.

Black Mountain - Angels
First saw this band per recommendation from a friend in 2005 at MACRoCk and was blown away.  One of the only bands that I ever saw in PC Ballroom whose sound was not completely destroyed by the room’s acoustics.  Angels is a slow jammer from their sophomore album entitled In The Future.

The Diamond Center - Bells
This track has been stuck in my head ALL year!  Nothing seems to be able to dislodge it.  Good thing it just happens to be by my friends The Diamond Center who I have had the pleasure of seeing live numerous times this year already. Good thing it is on a 7” we are releasing this month which you can pre-order here. Good thing this band will be SXSW so I can continue to get my fix and hang out with these amazing people. Good. Good. Good. Just good.

Silver Pines - Time Father
Haunting jams from San Marcos, Texas which is a hop, skip, and a jump down the road from Austin.  Fairly certain all the members of this band have moved on to other project and for what reason I do not know. First and best track of their LP entitled Forces.  Do you own a copy? Can I buy it?

Pocahaunted - Touch You
Bethany from Best Coast’s old band, who has since continued on, picked up additional/replacement members, and put out the album entitled Make It Real. An album which is their latest, would be better named Make It Weird, and the home to the track listened above.

The 13th Floor Elevators - You’re Gonna Miss Me
CLASSIC. You know it, you love it, you boogie to it. So why not another spin?

Pow Wows - Seeing Black
Scuzzy garage tunes from four dudes in Toronto, Canada. Seeing Black is my jangly debaucherously fun favorite off their album entitled Nightmare Soda.  With hints of The Monks, listening to this track makes me want to attend a garage soul dance night. Rumors are we might get one in town soon, stoked.