the sundresses released

The sundresses could be Cincinnati’s poster child for DIY music. At the very least, they’ve demonstrated that we live in an age where it is possible to produce and release an album with no help from traditional industry business models. The sundresses prove that this Saturday with a whole house CD release show at the historic Southgate House in honor of their second album, Barkinghaus.

A combination of Americana, jazz, blues, punk and sometimes a touch of heavy metal the sundresses’ unique sound is carefully crafted by the band’s three members, Brad Schnittger, Jeremy Springer and Makenzie Place.

“On paper, this band just shouldn’t work,” says Schnittger taking a break from a friend’s wedding in Tennessee to talk about the upcoming show. “I’m an outright capitalist, Remy’s a communist… and then there’s Mackenzie.”

The band came together not long after September of 2001. Schnittger and Springer, determined to start a band as a vehicle for their frustration with the country’s status quo picked up their bassist and trombonist, Place and have considered themselves “three against the world” ever since. It’s been this independent attitude that has helped drive their determination to succeed - but only on their own terms.
 
Schnittger doesn’t mince words about how he feels about today’s record industry.

“Any bands signing ‘record deals’ are like pigeons pecking for scraps thrown by a blind man. That or they're lottery winners. Congratulations.”

After shopping Barkinghaus to over fifty record companies, the sundresses decided no deal they could get out of a label was any better than the deal they had with themselves all along.

“We have a different sound. A lot of labels are scared they don’t know what to do with us. We’re not a typical insert band, insert sound, insert marketing plan,” says Schnittger.

So the band started their own record label, All Night Party, LLC with the idea that they will create a company powered by artists and assisted by suits. Not the other way around.

“The real test is to be creative artists while being savvy business people.  It’s not that we think the label isn’t above us, but the difference is the band is in the driver’s seat.”

The formula for success is simple but intense and seemingly never ending: create good work, book, promote, and perform. Repeat.

The sundresses have added their own entrepreneurial know-how to the recipe, an ingredient they’re hoping will pay off big in the end. Striking the right balance between the creative and the business side of running a band, while also maintaining full time jobs and relationships is a daunting task.

“We’re getting older and we needed to figure out how to do this thing so that we could do it for ourselves for the rest of our lives,” says Schnittger.

The marriage of art and business can be difficult to negotiate, but the sundresses are determined that taking a smart business approach to what they do is the only way they will succeed.

Take their touring schedule for example. Traditionally, a band will quit their jobs and tour for weeks or until they run out of money, whichever comes first. The result is usually burn out and an opportunity for a fan base to forget all about you.

The sundresses have adopted a different approach in what they call their weekend warriors touring schedule. The band books out of town shows every weekend, playing 8-12 shows a month while building and sustaining a growing fan base. Because of its relativity to other music markets, Cincinnati is the ideal home base for the band in that they can save on gas and still reach multiple music-lovin’ cities including Chicago, Nashville, Columbus, Cleveland and Indianapolis all within a five hour drive.

And it’s working. “People do remember us,” says Brad.

By 2009, the band expects all members will be able to quit their day jobs and work for their label full time. Within three years, the band hopes to add other bands that share their frustration with the status quo to their roster.

Although their sound might confuse some labels, it’s that uniqueness that’s getting them noticed.
Following their ninth time out as a band, the sundresses were asked to play the celebrated SXSW festival in 2004 and have been invited back ever since.

Cincinnati… that’s where the rock is, isn’t it?
It’s not just Cincinnati’s proximity to other cities that helps the sundresses in their quest to make it on their own.

“Cincinnati is an unbelievably great city for music, especially within the last five years. There’s a whole tier of music here just under the radar - more than most cities we’ve toured,” remarks Schnittger.

And it’s getting noticed by others as well. At their most recent SXSW show, an organizer commented to the band:

“Cincinnati… that’s where the rock is, isn’t it?

The sundresses couldn’t agree more.

“When people move to town they’re always surprised, saying ‘I can’t believe how many great bands there are.’ For us, it’s day to day.”

The city is also blessed by good venues. Gypsy Hut, The Comet, and Northside Tavern, all serve as incubators for Cincinnati’s ever changing sound. Not to mention large scale events like CityBeat’s Midpoint festival coming up in two weeks.

“Musicians in Cincinnati get a long… they have a good culture of respect. In NY or LA, you’re constantly worrying about making something cool where here you’re a little more rooted.”

And the new album?

“I think it’s great,” says Schnittger. “What did you expect me to say?”

Described as American rock and roll - political and sexy, beautiful and mean, broke and mad as hell, Barkinghaus is a tribute to a great music city. Although the sundresses shy away from calling their music overtly political, Schnittger remarks, “I think you can draw political context out of anything. Whenever you create something it’s going to mirror your ideology. But there are also a lot of other things that go into it – economics, geography and philosophy. But how boring would it be if each song was in your face with ‘go out and vote?’”

Brad sees the sundresses as having grown up a little bit on this last album which is more polished than their previous recordings and features a fuller sound with more instruments while still preserving their DIY approach to music making. Many of the tracks were recorded in various studios around town and even in their living room before being mixed.

“One of our goals for this record is to put the spotlight on Cincinnati as a hidden and untapped resource for great new music. We want to reduce our dependency on foreign rock and roll.”

The sundresses host their CD release party at the Southgate house this Saturday. Also joining them will be local favorites, The Turnbull ACs, Mallory, The Lions Rampant and a reunited Roundhead. Doors open at 8:00pm.

The Sundresses are: Remy Springstreet, Makenzie "Mayor" Place, and Brad Schnittger, aka Gordon Amerika.  (Left to right in the  B&W photograph above)