Date Signed: June 2024
Label: Domino Recording Company
Band Members: KT, vocals; Mikey Durham, guitar; Hoff, guitar; Ausar Ward, bass; Chris Salado, vocals, drums
Type of Music: Punk
Management: Cyrus Lubin, cyrus@famousclass.com; Randy Castello, randy@tightbros.net
Booking: Kate Bell - Ground Control, katebell@groundcontroltouring.com
Legal: Matthew Wilson, matthew.wilson@agg.com
Publicity: Erin Thompson - Domino, erin@dominorecordco.com
Web: upchuckatlanta.com
A&R: Carlos Lopez Jr. - Domino, carlos@dominomusic.com
Exploding like a supernova onto the Atlanta punk rock scene in 2018, Upchuck stirred up attention fast. The hubbub earned them a look from Cyrus Lubin, owner of Brooklyn-based indie Famous Class Records, who snatched them up right away. After the release of their debut, they hooked up with label mate Ty Segall to produce their sophomore platter.
More notice followed, including endorsements from fellow punkers Henry Rollins and Iggy Pop, who each played cuts on their radio shows. That, in conjunction with a heap of positive press, led the band to wanting more. Luckily for them, Lubin is also the Director of US Physical Sales & Production at Domino Recording Company, where he began talking enthusiastically about the band.
Their curiosity piqued, Lawrence Bell (Domino’s founder) and Carlos Lopez Jr. (Domino’s Head of A&R) attended one of Upchuck’s shows. Just as the quintet took the stage, the club’s sound guy bailed. Lopez and Bell sensed the group’s potential despite the subpar performance. Bell expressed to lead singer KT that they reminded him of why he started Domino in the first place.
Though other labels made overtures, Upchuck never considered signing with anyone else. “It just felt safe, like they would understand us,” KT remarks, recalling the day they meet everyone at Domino’s office. “They definitely understand the vision.” The band unanimously decided to jump on board. All they needed to do was have their attorney review the contract before signing the paperwork at a Benihana in their hometown. Lubin took on the role of manager once everything fell into place.
Later on, KT scrutinized Domino’s roster, which includes scads of names familiar to connoisseurs of hardcore, including Buzzcocks, My Bloody Valentine, and Sebadoh. “I didn’t even know,” marvels the front woman. “I’m glad there are people like us on the label.”
