Many more to come!

7/7 Minneapolis, MN at Eagles 34
https://www.facebook.com/events/2038796636448121/

We here at Dirtnap Records are particularly excited to bring you the self-titled debut LP from Proud Parents, our first release by a Madison (our hometown) band in 18 years!

FIRST 200 on “galactic blue” vinyl, available mailorder only! All copies come with download code. Free posters, while supplies last!

Order HERE.

Starting in Madison, WI as the musical culmination of a decade of friendship and playing in punk bands, Claire Nelson-Lifson and Tyler Fassnacht (Fire Heads) began writing the first of Proud Parent’s jangly, garage infused pop tunes in Claire’s living room. Shortly thereafter Heather Sawyer (the Hussy) joined on drums and vocals, turning the songwriting duo into a trio, and they quickly garnered a devout following both locally and regionally, and gained a reputation throughout the midwest as a live power-pop force to be reckoned with.

Now a full fledged four piece, originally with Alex Seraphin on bass and now with Maggie Denman, the band has established its own unique dynamic with three lead singers whose voices and songwriting stand strong individually, yet blend together with such comfort and ease that it is hard to imagine them apart.

After two live tapes (out on No Coast Records and Rare Plant) and a full length cassette Sharon Is Karen (also out on Rare Plant), Proud Parents is ready with their first self-titled LP on Dirtnap Records. This record also marks the first release in eighteen years by a band from the label’s hometown of Madison, WI.

Proud Parents begins and ends with a bang as the band blasts through a dozen tightly wound tunes full of infectious, harmony ladened choruses, ripping guitar solos and hooks for days as Claire, Heather and Tyler converse, support, and share lead vocal duties like passing around a bag of Halloween candy. The album, recorded and mixed by Bobby Hussy (the Hussy, Cave Curse, Fire Heads, TIT) at his own Hex Empire, is about self-reflection, jumping from saccharine adoration, to heartfelt confession. It touches on themes of isolation, be it intentional or otherwise, anxiety, loss and moving on, with each singer coming at the songs with their own distinct perspective, using humor, red herrings, pets and metaphors to mask the demons. The songs may deal with specific emotions both complex and straightforward, but as a whole Proud Parents stands as a testament to friendship, asking for help, and trying to get better.

Proud Parents are proud of you, and you should be too.

All shows with Jeff Rosenstock!

Surprise! After some delay, Dusk “The Pain Of Loneliness (Goes On And On) b/w Go Easy” 7″ is finally out in physical format!

First 200 on grey vinyl, available only from Green Noise Records! All copies come with 320 kps download coupon. Order now, these won’t last!

Dusk was formed in 2014 by Amos Pitsch (bass guitar, vocals) and Colin Wilde (drums) as an informal recording project – mostly of obscure soul covers and country-rock indulgences – and later gained traction as members Julia Blair (described by Pitchfork Media as a smooth country-soul alto), Ryley Crowe (electric guitar, vocals) and Tyler Ditter (electric guitar, vocals) joined the fold at the onset of serious songwriting and recording. They recorded a series of demo recordings and later a 2 song single for Forward Records. They’ve toured America twice thus far; once doubling as the backing band for Tim Buchanan in Oklahoma City-based cosmic-cowboy punk band Cherry Death, and the other time doubling as an extended lineup of Pitsch’s other group, Wisconsin punk band Tenement.

“The Pain Of Loneliness (Goes On And On)” was written by Amos Pitsch, and “Go Easy” was written by Tyler Ditter. Both cuts were arranged by the band and recorded mostly live at Crutch Of Memory, Dusk’s home-base and recording studio in Appleton, Wisconsin.