Pitchfork shares an exclusive clip from The Smart Studios Story, the official film of Record Store Day, currently on a screening tour of the US. The second half of the film shares the never-before-told backstory of Nirvana's connection to Butch Vig in Madison through Sup Pop Records in Seattle. After the label's owner, Jonathan Poneman heard Killdozer's Twelve Point Buck, he began sending projects to the small, unassuming studio in the Midwest. Watch the clip here

 

The Smart Studio Story is a powerful yet unpretentious feature traces the roots and rise of independent music in America to an early recording hub of the Midwest underground music scene, Smart Studios – the legendary recording facility founded by Butch Vig and Steve Marker that became a pillar of the alternative rock sound globally.

 

Directed by Wendy Schneider

Exec Producers - Butch Vig, Steve Marker, Wendy Schneider

Principal Cast:

• Butch Vig
• Steve Marker
• Dave Grohl
• Billy Corgan
• Shirley Manson
• Donita Sparks
• Jimmy Chamberlin
• Doug “The Duke” Erikson
• Chris Walla
• Tom Hazelmyer

 

The fall screening tour is precursor to the November 25th Record Store Day Black Friday release of the DVD and American Noise Volume 1 – a vinyl compilation of early era tracks recorded at Smart Studios between 1983 and 1990. Each vinyl release will include artists featured in the film representing some of the earliest work of Butch Vig with seminal artists Killdozer, Tar Babies, and Die Kreuzen. The limited run is a companion to the documentary and includes numerous songs featured in the film.

 

American Noise Volume 1 Track Listing:

Side One:

1. Appliances - Bob Hope
2. Killdozer - Ed Gein
3. Tar Babies - Wasted Words
4. Die Kreuzen - Holes
5. Cattleprod - Don’t Mind Walking
6. Poop Shovel - One Pass Away
7. Rectal Drip - Naïve Folk Singer

Side Two:

1. Ivory Library - Through You
2. Fun With Atoms - Last Cigarette
3. Other Kids - Madtown
4. Spooner - Borderline
5. The Weeds Easy - On The Eye
6. Singing Irishman - Thanks a Million

 

Variety Reviews “The Smart Studios Story”: “The Smart Studios Story” is a whirlwind tour of a busy if largely subterranean epoch whose long, often fleetingly glimpsed talent roster should pique the curiosity of alt-rock archaeologists. A release of the full tracks would probably require three or four discs — and there would be precious little dross in the lot."

 

Tour Dates:

11/04: Mineral Point, WI @ Opera House

11/09: Boston, MA @ Regent Theater

11/11: East Greenwich, Rhode Island @ The Greenwich Odeum

11/13: Brooklyn, NY @ St Vitus

11/14: Washington, DC @ Black Cat

11/15: Philadelphia, PA @ MOCCA

11/16: Lansdowne, PA @ Vinyl Revival

11/22: Durham, NC @ Motorco

11/27: Madison, WI @ Sundance at Hilldale

11/29: Minneapolis, MN @ Turf Club

12/02: Seattle, WA @ Grand Illusion

12/03: Seattle, WA @ Grand Illusion

 

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