Lincoln’s Legends Podcast and Mayor Jim Langfelder Talk Southtown

Posted on October 1, 2015 by blacksheepspringfield

Lincoln’s Legends Podcast, which focuses on people doing things and creative minds here in Springfield, just released an hour-long interview with the mayor of Springfield, Jim Langfelder. Jeremie Bailey of the podcast talks to the mayor about Lake Springfield, local music, downtown development, and even mentions everything going on in Southtown. Dumb Records, Black Sheep, and Skank Skates came up in the topic of development going on around the city. Check out the full podcast right here, we also did our best to type up some of the the Southtown portion of the interview below:

Jeremie: Speaking of stimulating growth, have you had a chance to check out the Southtown community?

Mayor: Along South Grand?

Jeremie: Mhm, the Southtown entity for the Black Sheep, Dumb Records, the recording studio…

Mayor: I haven’t been inside there, no. I went to the festival that Bourbon Street had, the one on Brown Street there a couple of weeks ago. I went there one of the days, but I haven’t gone into the skate… the skate what is it?

Jeremie: Skank Skates

Mayor: Skank Skates, right.

Jeremie: They just celebrated their ten-year anniversary. It’s very near and dear to my heart. I used to play music, I’ve always been inspired by it. We have some of the most talented people in that area. And if you do have time, it sounds cliché, but there is something happening every single day there.

Mayor: I’ll have to go online and look you up on the youtube!

Jeremie: They’re all on the channel! But we actually have the second oldest skate park ever.

Mayor: Oh, really? Oldest in the country?

Jeremie: Yes, the country. They actually just finished their Kickstarter, they got more than they were asking for, they are documenting from VHS to digital of every pro-skateboarder or BMX rider that’s been through there since the 80’s. So there’s Skank Skates, there’s the music venue which bands from all around the world come and play. It’s all ages, it’s straight-edge as much as you can get, no drugs or alcohol along the premises. There is a record store you can sell LPs. Yes, records! 45’s, that’s what I’m saying not mp3’s!

Mayor: Like Recycled Records?

Jeremie: Yeah! But the amazing thing is, they are all young, they are all in their 20’s. And the amazing thing is the one that was in charge for the longest, who is 33, he had been there the 10 years. It just blows my mind the fact that in our city, in the same four block radius you can come in as a band- you can write, record, sell, and play your own music, along with the skate shop right next to it. There’s not a lot of people that say they have that in their city but it’s all sprawled out.

Mayor: See these are the types of stories we want to tell on the cable access channel with the city! Before it was always utilized to promote city government. What we want to do is promote Springfield through that means. Well, I’ll have to come check it out!

Dumb Records Featured On WUIS’s “The Scene”

Posted on September 4, 2015 by blacksheepspringfield

The weekly feature on WUIS local radio station based out of UIS (91.9 FM) called The Scene has a very special episode this week featuring Dumb Records and Brian Galecki as a guest host. Rachel and Scott of The Scene came into the store earlier this week to record a full episode of The Scene- the first episode outside of the usual recording place at UIS! The three talked about the store, some cool shows coming up around town this week, and also picked out a few records that they like. You can check out a recording of the full episode online right here. Rachel and Scott also talked about plans for a feature audio-documentary coming up on WUIS closer to the time of the Black Sheep 10 Year Anniversary happening in just a couple of weeks.

Brandon Carnes Featured On WUIS’s “The Scene”

Posted on August 12, 2015 by blacksheepspringfield

Black Sheep co-owner Brandon Carnes has been featured today on the weekly radio show segment “The Scene” which airs on 91.9 WUIS FM. Brandon was in to talk to hosts Rachel Otwell and Scott Faingold about numerous projects including Looming, The Black Sheep, South Town Studio, and Diaper Rash. Here’s what The Scene had to say:

For as much as we talk about him and the several things he has a part in ( ie:Black Sheep,F**k Mountain, Looming, South Town Studio…) it’s actually pretty amazing Scott and I haven’t had Brandon Carnes in-studio yet. He couldn’t have come at a better time. This week, he tells us about Looming’s record release show on Friday, his incredibly absurd and offensive project called Diaper Rash (which some would also call quality performance art), and what it’s been like taking over Black Sheep in Southtown. Tune in!

You can stream the interview right here, which also includes a few clips of Looming songs and also discussion on other music and entertainment going-ons in Springfield this weekend.

Don’t forget that Looming will be playing a big album release show for Nailbiter this Friday at Black Sheep (in just two days)! Also playing the show is Springfield emo band Park. You can still pre-order tickets tonight and tomorrow for just $8 or pay $10 at the door the day of the show. Find tickets at Dumb Records or online right here. Also find a facebook event for the show with more info right here.

The Illinois Times: “Southtown Gets A Kickstart”

Posted on May 8, 2015 by blacksheepspringfield

Yesterday we shared with you the article in the A&E section of the State Journal Register focusing on Black Sheep hitting our ten year mark, and all of the other projects we have going on this summer. It looks like Black Sheep and Southtown also made it to The Illinois Times in an article that was published yesterday: “Southtown Gets A Kickstart.” This article focuses more on Project Southtown and what the newly launched Kickstarter campaign is about. The Illinois Times talked to Southtown volunteers Brian Galecki and Brandon Carnes on the project. From the article:

Over the years there have been many attempts to revitalize Springfield’s long-dilapidated Southtown neighborhood, including having it designated by the city council “a housing and urban redevelopment area” back in 2006 under Mayor Tim Davlin. But it has taken a gaggle of idealistic youngsters to really start turning the neighborhood around.

Now the owners and operators of such businesses as Skank Skate, Black Sheep Café, Dumb Records and Southtown Recording Studio are officially seeking nonprofit status in order to continue improving the neighborhood while protecting its legacy. They are doing so through a crowd-sourcing campaign called “Project Southtown” via the website kickstarter.com. There, supporters can make donations towards the project, which has a variety of ambitious goals.

Check out the full article in this week’s issue of The Illinois Times or also online right here. The Project Southtown Kickstarter campaign still has 48 days remaining and we are currently at 82% of reaching our minimum goal! Don’t forget to donate here if you haven’t already!

Black Sheep, Dumb Records, South Town Studio Featured On The Vincent-Tennell Show

Posted on March 27, 2015 by blacksheepspringfield

Quite some time ago (late last year even), our friends and volunteers Brian Galecki, Nighthawk, and “Dumb Al” went in to Public Access Channel headquarters. They were then interviewed by The Vincent Tennell Show on behalf of The Black Sheep Cafe, Skank Skates, and Dumb Records. Sadly, the Nighthawk portion of the interview did not make the cut (you’ll have to keep an eye out for that in the director’s edition). Brandon Carnes also went on to the show separately to talk about South Town Studio. In both videos all of our Southtown representatives get to talk about what all of our businesses and community is all about.

Today we are bringing you both of those videos. You can find them both streaming below. Each interview features some bonus video clips for your enjoyment.

The Buzz Interview Wir Können and Looming

Posted on March 2, 2015 by blacksheepspringfield

To get ready for a show that happened last night at Error Records in Champaign/Urbana, Champaign weekly newspaper The Buzz got the chance to interview two Springfield bands- Wir Können and Looming. In both interviews, The Buzz talks to bands about what their future plans are, what their bands are about, and how they feel about Springfield and Champaign music scenes. Check out the Wir Können interview “Growing Up With Music” right here, and check out the Looming interview “Looming in C-U” right here.

Here’s a bit from Brandon Carnes in the Looming interview:

I’d love to go anywhere they’ll have us. I think it’s really cool that there’s a pretty positive relationship between the Champaign music scene and the Springfield music scene right now. We have tons of Champaign bands come here [Springfield] all the time and kids come to shows in Springfield from Champaign. I also play in a hardcore band called Diaper Rash and we played at Dingbat Dungeon a few weeks ago. It seems like there are just tons of people going back and forth. There is obviously the relationship between Error Records and Dumb Records. The intercity relationship is really cool right now and I think it’s helping to really grow our community on both sides of the highway.

Brandon Carnes Featured On Lincoln’s Legends Podcast

Posted on February 21, 2015 by blacksheepspringfield

The new Springfield podcast called Lincoln’s Legends Podcast has been very active recently, featuring interviews with new people doing interesting things every week. Recently the podcast had Brandon Carnes of South Town Studio, Looming, etc. in as a featured guest on the show.

The interview was released in two parts- one as a regular interview on the Lincoln’s Legends Podcast, which can be found right here. The second part of the interview was on our very own Black Sheep Radio Show as episode #109. You can download that episode right here. The interview goes very in depth with Brandon’s history in Springfield music, and in the Black Sheep Radio Show Brandon talks to Lincoln’s Legends host Jeremie Bailey about his new podcast. Check out a teaser video for the interviews below.

Dumb Records Featured On New “Lincoln’s Legends” Podcast

Posted on November 10, 2014 by blacksheepspringfield

A brand new Springfield-focused online podcast called “Lincoln’s Legends” has featured an interview with Brian Galecki of South Town record store Dumb Records for one of their very first episodes. What is the new Lincoln’s Legends podcast supposed to be about? Here is a description from their site:

Welcome to the show dedicated to the artists and professionals that make Springfield, Illinois a melting pot of creativity and entertainment. Each episode is recorded at a different location featuring a brand new topic. If you’ve got a pulse and a passion… We want to hear from you!

You can find the Dumb Records episode of the podcast streaming on the player embedded below, or you can go here and stream it directly from the Lincoln’s Legends site. In the interview Jeremy Bailey of LLP talks to Brian about how Dumb Records started, its role in South Town, and about the first ever South Town Record Fair that is coming up on Saturday.

Lincolnslegendspodcast.com also features more interviews with a few other artists and professionals right here in Springfield, Illinois, and there will be more to come. You can also check out the new Lincoln’s Legends Podcast facebook page right here.

The Buzz: “Records Relocated”

Posted on September 9, 2014 by blacksheepspringfield

This past week Champaign/Urbana weekly newspaper The Buzz featured a nice cover story on Dumb Records sister record store now located in Urbana, Illiniois, Error Records. The article is an interview with Nathan Landolt of Error Records (and also co-owner of Dumb Records). Error Records recently moved their location to Urbana. The new location features a record store, music venue, practice space, and skate shop much like our South Town Springfield setup. From the article:

Our previous location was just kind of secluded. It was not exactly easy to get to. It was not really out of the way; it just was not convenient for people. That and the building was pretty old, so we wanted to get out of there. Then we heard this building and space was opening up and it’s a downtown location, which is much better. Also, I think that Urbana is much more progressive, and they have welcomed us with open arms, asking all these questions about if I was actually going to do it or not, so it was really nice to feel welcome.

You can check out the full article right here.

The Lamp: “Black Sheep Cafe Attracts Young Music Fans To East Side of Springfield”

Posted on June 4, 2014 by blacksheepspringfield

Lincoln Land Community College newspaper The Lamp recently featured an article on The Black Sheep Cafe, where they interviewed owner Kevin Bradford and also Drew Kodrich of Mouthsex and Asthma. Check out that article below:

Finding a place where you can listen to live music with good company is hard to come by in the Springfield area. Yes, there are many bars where people who are over the age of 21 can go, but what about teenagers or those who are under 21? The Black Sheep Café is a place where there is all kinds of live music and there is no age requirement. The music scene in this venue has been built over the years.

The Black Sheep Café opened in September of 2005. Kevin Bradford, Brian Galecki, and Cory VanMeter run it collectively. The Black Sheep is located on 1320 S 11th St, in the old Southtown neighborhood.

“The show times are random,” said Kevin Bradford. Weekends are the busiest and the cafe is usually open from 7-11 p.m., depending on how long each band plays.

There is a $5 cover charge and everyone is welcome. The fact that everyone is welcome, goes along with the name of the cafe.

The Black Sheep stands for those who might feel like “the black sheep” in society. It symbolizes those who might not feel like they fit in anywhere, but they are welcome there.

“We are like a family,” Bradford said.

There is also a record store called Dumb Records, which is located right next door and a skate park newly opened called Skank Skates; they have also opened a studio nearby too.

“We’ve kind of made that area our own,” Bradford said.

The Black Sheep is very community based and that is a main theme for this music venue.

“We’re making good out of bad,” said Bradford.

The area that The Black Sheep is in is not an area where most people go or wish to go due to the looks of it; the area that it is in is not well taken care of.

Bradford and the rest of the staff are trying to make that area more popular.

Many different bands play at The Black Sheep; most play the punk music style. Four to five bands play every night and each band plays for an average of 15 minutes.

Many of the bands are local, which allows for people to see the talent that is right in their hometown. Some of the local bands are Asthma, Kowabunga! Kid, and Jag.

Drew Kodrich is in a band, Asthma, which performs at The Black Sheep Café.

“I really enjoy playing there,” said Drew Korich, who is in the band Asthma. It performs at The Black Sheep.

Kodrich has been going there for a few years.

“The atmosphere is great,” Kodrich said. “Most of the bands play originals.”

The Black Sheep has had many touring bands also come through. They had a band from Japan play there called Ultrabide.

There have been many European bands and South American bands play there as well.

“We have loose booking,” said Bradford.

They allow the bands to book themselves and to be free to play. Normally the bands do not get paid to play, unless they are touring.

Most local bands want to play at The Black Sheep, so they contact them and book themselves to play. If the bands are more popular, the owners contact them to play.

“We are trying to make Springfield better,” said Bradford.

It allows for people to listen to music in a safe place, where they can feel accepted. It is a much safer place than it ever has been before. Many different music styles have come through, which allows for many people to enjoy what music is being played.

“The Black Sheep is known for good things,” said Bradford.

Dumb Records

Record Store And All Ages Show Space In Downtown Springfield

Category Archives: interviews