We are thrilled to announce The Smart Studios Story, the official film of Record Story Day, will be heading on a screening tour across the U.S. The 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. 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 pressing of iconic tracks recorded at Smart. In addition, a never-before-seen clip has just been released featuring Billy Corgan via Rolling Stone.

 

American Noise Volume 1, the companion vinyl to the film, is the first of a series. Each vinyl release will include artists featured in the film. Early works by seminole artists Killdozer, Tar Babies and Die Kreuzen are included on the first compilation along with Vig’s first band, Spooner and a variety of Midwest indies whose sound became synonymous with Smart.

 

If you’ve ever been touched by the music of Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, Garbage, L7,Death Cab For Cutie (among many, many others), you’ve been touched by the music created at Smart Studios. Drawing on in-depth-interviews with musicians and producers, never-before-seen archival footage and a powerful soundtrack, The Smart Studios Story tells the story of the pivotal Midwest link to the global rise of Alternative Rock in the 1990’s and the unassuming Madison, Wisconsin recording studio at its center. The post-70’s explosion of independent music in America has many traceable roots, each with a compelling story. This is one of the most significant stories that has never been told until now.

 

The screening tour will kick off on September 29th in Milwaukee and will continue across the U.S. for two months. For more information on the screening dates and to purchase tickets, you can visit the Smart Studios Story website.

 

Principal Cast:

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

 

Tour Dates:

9/29: Milwaukee, WI @ Oriental Theatre

10/3: Cleveland, OH @ The Grog Shop

10/4: Athens, OH @ The Union

10/5: Columbus, OH @ Gateway Film Center

10/6: Chicago, IL @ Brew & View at The Vic

10/7: Detroit, MI @ El Club

10/17: Austin, TX @ The North Door

10/18: Houston, TX @ The Alamo Drafthouse Cinema

10/19: New Orleans, LA @ Zeitgeist Multi-Disciplinary Arts Center

10/20: Hot Springs, AR @ Low Key Arts

10/22: Los Angeles, CA @ Echoplex

10/23: Dallas, TX @ The Alamo Drafthouse Cinema

10/23: Long Beach, CA @Frida Cinema

10/24: El Paso, TX @ The Alamo Drafthouse Cinema

11/11: Boston, MA @ Brattle Theater

11/13: Brooklyn, NY @ St Vitus

11/14: Washington, DC @ Black Cat

11/15: Philadelphia, PA @ MOCCA

11/22: Durham, NC @ Motorco (Tentative)

11/27: Madison, WI @ Sundance at Hilldale

 

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

 

The Smart Studios Story:

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

Spotify