#morphiusrecords

This past summer, the world lost a great comedian and entertainment icon in Joan Rivers. Both self-deprecating and intensely critical, Rivers' career spanned over 60 years and included work as a standup comedian, TV actress, TV host, producer and writer. Many knew her as gossipy and abrasive, but she was always funny and on point. She was a true entertainer and her presence at red carpet award shows is certainly missed. 

We are lucky to distribute one of Rivers' very early recordings, being released as The Next to Last Joan Rivers Album on Stand Up! Records. It's the first time the performance has been re-mastered and the first time it's being released on CD. Originally from 1969 and recorded live at The Upstairs Downstairs, the album is great starting point for anyone interested in diving into the epic, career-long catalog of Rivers' work that includes classics like What Becomes a Semi-Legend Most? 

While better known for her TV career as both an actress and a host, Rivers' persona and bravado that we all grew to love after watching her on for years on entertainment TV, came from early albums like The Next to Last Joan Rivers Album. 

Today we’re THROWIN’ BACK to February, 2013 when our good friends, Sockets Records, closed their doors. It was a sad day for the DC music scene, but instead of harping on the negative, let’s think about all the great music we still get to enjoy because of Sean Peoples vision and Sockets Records. 

We were lucky enough to work with Sockets and press some of their seminal releases by bands like Deleted Scenes, Hume, Buildings, and Imperial China. 

Deleted Scenes have also recently called it quits and we’re thankful for all the great music they have shared with us. 

We’ve included some of our favorite tunes for you to enjoy from Sockets’ bands below, including Deleted Scenes’ beautiful, acoustic version of “Bedbedbedbedbed.”

Sockets founder, Sean Peoples still lives in the DC area and is a Producer and Program Associate with the Woodrow Wilson Center where he produces the Environmental Change and Security Program blog. 

A few years ago a group of DC-based musicians opened a DIY venue and community living space in The District called The Paperhaus. Those same musicians also formed a band of the same name and on the eve of the release of their debut album will play a show at 9:30 Club with Loud Boyz, Baby Bry Bry & The Apologists, and DJ Ayescold.

Starting as a duo nearly five years ago, Alex Tebeleff and Eduardo Rivera have been staples in the DC music scene for a while now and Paperhaus has become one of the most popular local bands. Earlier this year, they added two new members and have been touring nation-wide in anticipation of their debut, full length album. 

We highly recommend making the short drive down to DC to see them play the 9:30 Club, certainly one of the best venues in the country, but if you can't they are playing a show at Metro Gallery this month with local favorite, Ed Schrader and legendary guitar virtuoso, Yonatan Gat (formerly of Monotonix).  

Also, take a trip down to DC to go to a show at The Paperhaus venue. Since its inception, there have been several other DIY spaces that have popped up in DC, partially due to the creative community that Paperhaus, both the band and the venue, have cultivated. 

The new Paperhaus album includes themes of self expression, awareness of being, and community and strikes a nice balance between catchy indiepop, 60s psych rock and 80s punk. 

Below you can listen to the single, "So Slow" which premiered on Alt Citizen on Monday morning. 

Paperhaus was #madebymorphius and you can pre-order a copy of it from seeofsound.com/morphius or on iTunes. 

TOUR DATES:

THROWIN' BACK

In 1997, Morphius Records released Third Harmonic Distortion’s self-titled debut album. The raw, energetic banger was compared favorably with  landmark albums by Archers of Loaf, Built to Spill, Drive Like Jehu, and other 90's powerhouse bands. On Morphius’ upcoming 20th anniversary release, Morphius XX: Celebrating 20 years of Breaking Records (out Dec. 2nd), we're reissuing a hidden track that appeared on this CD but was hidden so well that most of their fans never heard it.  The song is called "Cleaning The Grit," and features vocals by JV "Buck" Carey.  Buck played drums on all the band's other songs, and you probably know him from his awesome playing on most of Arboretum's albums, but this lone track he sang on was pretty amazing.

You can get your copy of Third Harmonic Distortion s/t from seeofsound.com/morphius