It's certainly not an uncommon sight… band members in a major label waiting room making pinky promises and crossing fingers, as Antigone Rising's Kristen Henderson and Cassidy were one fateful afternoon at Atlantic Records early last year. While most in such positions secretly offer various combinations of their souls, first-born and/or whatever tattooed appendages are not necessary for performing in exchange for the ever-elusive deal, Henderson says she and Cassidy were actually on-hand to plead for an unconditional release.
"Ultimately, we were going to die on that label if they kept us," she explains. "We felt in order to move forward and do what's best for the band, we needed to get out of the contract."
At first, the label brass reportedly demurred. But after what they deemed less-than-fruitful sessions with some Nashville-based songwriters and an overall failure to "hear the single," Atlantic did eventually part ways with the female pop-rockers from Jersey and Long Island.
With their new-found freedom, Henderson says that she and bandmates Cassidy (vocals), sister/guitarist Cathy Henderson, drummer Dena Tauriello and bassist Jen Zielenbach went on to record "the best studio album [Antigone] has ever made," Tales From Wonderland. Noted producer Jay Joyce captured the unique energy behind the band's patented throwback roots-rock anthems and otherwise Southern sensibilities. But without a label affiliation, the recently completed Tales have yet to be told to the masses.
True to form, though, the band, named after a Greek mythological figure ultimately sealed alive in a cave, has vowed to bring the new tunes to daylight one city at a time—amassing an ambitious touring schedule replete with a Feb. 28 engagement at the Iron Horse.
And as the quest for "a perfect fit" with a new label ensues, Henderson says that she and Antigone do have the added solace of having at least one major component to the industry puzzle—distribution—covered, courtesy of a caffeinated connection the band has had on the back burner for some time now.
"Back in 2005, Starbucks had us as the first band in their Hear Music Debut series, and that album went on to debut at number 92 on Billboard's Top 100 comprehensive chart, selling some 15,000 copies a week throughout the summer," she explains. "They have offered to do the same for us now, and have been extremely flexible… and it's a real blessing for us to know we have a place on their shelves."
Meanwhile, Valley reggae-rockers The Alchemystics and Danny Pease & The Regulators moved one step closer to label-dom, placing first and second respectively at the Jan. 19 Bodog Battle of the Bands in Boston, besting some two dozen bands. The one-two finish allows both to progress to the competition's regional finals round at Fillmore East in New York City March 5—one step closer to both a coveted slot on the Bodog Battle reality TV series and the grand prize: a million-dollar recording contract with Bodog Music.
"We're quite honored to represent our area at the finals, and [to have] all of the support all of our friends and family have given us during this quite lengthy process," declares the Alchemsytic-man known solely as Force. "And we plan on showing everyone at the competition why Western Mass. is an area to watch closely."
Since a large component of the Battle is ticket sales, it's safe to say that both Danny Pease & The Regulators and The Alchemystics would like as many hometown fans as possible to catch their March 5 sets—in person. For more information on how to do just that, visit their Myspace pages at /dpregulators and /thealchemystics.
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