While major labels continue to stumble and crumble, independents like Paper Bag Records are celebrating 10 years of existence at the peak of their power.
“I feel lucky, to be honest,” says label owner Trevor Larocque. “There’s lots of ups and downs running something for 10 years and having partnerships with all of these bands. But I feel positive and excited.”
After nine months of planning, Paper Bag Records has brought its roster of artists – including Elliott Brood, Born Ruffians, Woodhands, the Acorn, YAMANTAKA // SONIC TITAN, Cuff the Duke, Slim Twig, PS I Love You, Austra, You Say Party and Young Galaxy – together for PBR10, a three-night celebration at the Great Hall in Toronto on Thursday, Sept. 27, Friday, Sept. 28, and Saturday, Sept. 29. It’s an all-star party for the label and a dream come true for Larocque, who has an eerie ability to make his visions a reality.
“I basically went out and looked around at the bands I liked and wondered if they wanted to work with me,” he says of his process in starting Paper Bag. “I approached each of the bands I wanted to sign and signed them all. I feel grateful that they wanna partake in what we’re doing. I was trying to create a family home for bands in the city.”
That’s not to say that Larocque is always able to work with bands he loves. Reflecting upon 10 years, there are a couple of cases where things didn’t quite work out.
“After we signed Broken Social Scene and Stars, Torq Campbell from Stars had said, ‘Oh, you should think about working with good friends of ours, Metric,’” Larocque recalls. “I got this EP in the mail with a nice letter and an 8x10 of three of them in a limousine and a big kiss, with real lipstick in the bottom corner saying ‘XO Emily.’ I thought, ‘Oh, this is interesting,’ and I listened to it and it was great. But, at the time, they were too similar to Stars for me to be interested. I was interested in getting different sounds and I said ‘No.’”
There was also the proverbial big fish that got away. A fish from Montreal, in fact.
“Arcade Fire was one I went pretty hard after and I didn’t get,” Larocque admits. “They told me in the meeting that they had an interest in being on Merge. This was very early on; that EP hadn’t even been released. I saw them with Wolf Parade at the Rivoli and had dinner with Win [Butler] and Régine [Chassagne]. Both bands were really sick and they made me ill for two weeks after that meeting. But we discussed things and it all sounded fine. They said, 'If Merge is interested, that’d be a dream of ours,' and I was like ‘Cool, that makes sense to me.’ Then they signed to Merge and I think we were all kinda surprised that it actually happened,” Larocque says, laughing.
“There’s no regrets though,” he continues. “It’s all learning and growing and necessary.”
Aside from PBR10, Larocque is very (perhaps even most) thrilled about curating a label tribute to David Bowie’s The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, which was released 40 years ago. A labour of love, Larocque asked every current Paper Bag artist to contribute to cover versions of the record and some of them will perform Bowie songs during PBR10.
“It’s out on limited edition vinyl,” Larocque gushes. “The bands did an amazing job and really went for it. It’s a classic record, everyone loves David Bowie and people can relate to it. I’m a huge fan and I can’t believe everyone took part. It means it’s a happy home.”
Here’s the PBR10 lineup for all shows happening at the Great Hall this week:
Thursday, Sept. 27 (SOLD OUT):
Elliott Brood and friends
Born Ruffians
Woodhands
The Acorn
Luke Lalonde
Friday, Sept. 28 (SOLD OUT):
The Rural Alberta Advantage
YAMATANKA // SONIC TITAN
Cuff the Duke
PS I Love You
Slim Twig
Saturday, Sept. 29:
Austra
You Say Party
Young Galaxy
The Luyas
Related:
Paper Bag Records turns 10: Grant Lawrence's Top 5 Paper Bag Records bands
You Say Party emerge for Paper Bag Records anniversary show
Paper Bag Records announce new David Bowie covers compilation