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Split Rail Records signs first two band contracts |
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Tuesday, 20 February 2007 |
 | Wangler
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by MALLORI MORRIS
Intern News Reporter
For the first time in Appalachian State University’s history, two bands signed with university-owned Split Rail Records at a signing party Friday afternoon.
More than 75 students, faculty and staff were in attendance to watch the signing of the bands and meet the members.
“I think it went wonderfully,” Kim Wangler, advisor for Split Rail Records and music industries professor, said.
 Active Image | David Mulvaney | Chief Photographer
Junior Paul T. Nickens looks on as junior technical photography major and fellow band member of Defending Brooklyn, Bryan M. Tarnowski, puts the finishing touches on the new Split Rail Records contract.
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Wangler worked with students last semester in her music industries
class to collect demos and choose a band to sign with the record label.
Based on a vote from the class, Defending Brooklyn and Philmont were
the two bands chosen for Split Rail Records’ first signings.
Defending Brooklyn, a melodic rock/experimental band as described by
its members, met at Appalachian and has been together for almost two
and a half years.
Jesse M. Clasen, a junior advertising major, junior Paul T. Nickens,
Bryan M. Tarnowski, a junior technical photography major, Gordon White,
an alumnus of Full Sail College in Orlando, Fla., and Dustin E. Walker,
a junior international business major, are the five members of
Defending Brooklyn.
Defending Brooklyn signed the biggest contract Split Rail Records offers.
The contract guarantees Split Rail to record, promote and distribute the band’s music under the label, Wangler said.
“This contract is really lenient with the artists. I feel comfortable,”
Clasen, who performs guitar and vocals for Defending Brooklyn, said.
Wangler said she hopes the band can begin recording music in the Hayes School of Music studio as early as this week.
“We need to remember to keep a level head, and we’ll record a better
album,” White, a guitar player for Defending Brooklyn, said.
White currently lives in Greensboro and works as an engineer with a recording studio.
He met the other four members after hearing their music and instant
messaging them about joining the group as a second guitar player, White
said.
The band has played once at Legends but tries to stay low profile to
generate a greater hype when they do perform around the area.
The band also took a small East Coast tour two summers ago, Clasen said.
The other band signed with Split Rail Records is Philmont, a punk rock
band that generally plays out of the Charlotte, Greensboro and Raleigh
areas.
Split Rail Records President sophomore Bryan A. Chisholm said Philmont only signed a distribution contract with the label.
A distribution contract means that Split Rail Records only provides
marketing and distribution services to the band and no recording or
booking privileges, Chisholm said.
Philmont has been together just over two years.
Josiah J. Prince, a junior music industries major, Scott Taube, an
alumnus of Eastern Carolina University, and Abe Hege, an alumnus of
University of North Carolina at Greensboro, are the members of Philmont.
Philmont has already recorded its first album and has a release party scheduled in Charlotte’s Tremont Music Hall March 3.
Taube, a guitar and vocal member, said he is looking forward to
reaching the whole country with the band’s music and getting better
exposure.
Alicia M. Torres, a junior music industries major, said Philmont had a
pretty big following, especially in Charlotte, before singing with
Split Rail Records.
Philmont is primarily a Charlotte-based band but does occasionally
perform in Boone. They have also been heard as the background on MTV’s
“Next,” Torres said.
Torres is the president of Music Entertainment Industry Student
Association at Appalachian, an organization known nationwide for
enhancing student involvement in the music industry business.
MEISA is hosting this year’s music festival March 6 at Geno’s Sports
Bar. Eleven bands will perform at the festival including Philmont and
Defending Brooklyn.
Torres said the two bands will appear as crowd drawers and will not compete for the prizes.
Prizes include airplay on WASU, a cash prize and an interview with
Artist and Repertoire representatives for Split Rail Records.
Split Rail Records is currently accepting demo tapes from bands and artists.
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