The Smart Studios Story connects the dots between Butch Vig and Steve Marker‘s Madison, WI studio and Seattle’s “grunge” scene in the upcoming film directed by Wendy Schneider. Pitchfork shared this exclusive clip featuring interviews with drummer Dave Grohl, and Sub Pop’s Jonathan Poneman discussing Nirvana’s early sessions at the studio. Like Seattle and the Northwest in the mid to late 80’s, the Midwest was home to an unpretentious but burgeoning underground scene and Vig’s recordings of band’s like Killdozer and Die Kreuzen were instrumental in introducing Poneman to the young producers’ trademark sound.
Look for The Smart Studios Story to make a whirlwind tour of select US theaters beginning this November, with a stop at Seattle’s Grand Illusion for a two night screening December 2nd/3rd. In addition, a DVD of the film, as well as American Noise Volume 1–a compilation of tracks recorded at Smart Studios between 1983-1990–will come out on the upcoming Black Friday Record Store Day, November 25th. You can check out album art and track listing for the record below, as while as the film’s screening schedule.
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 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
