*Phil Klygo and Germaine Koh of (weewerk)
Based out of Toronto, (weewerk) is an indepentent record label, artist management, and promotions company. Founded in 2002 by Phil Klygo and Germaine Kok in the apartment above Rotate This, (weewerk) started off as an art-and-music salon event organization. Since the label is small and only has one person in charge, decisions can be made quickly, overhead is low, they can be very accomidating, and artists are able to keep their artistic integrity in their music as well as in their live shows. In the battle of big label vs. little label, (weewerk) is holding their own, and then some.
The labels biggest artist would have to be Great Lake Swimmers, who released their first self-titled release in 2003 with the help of the (weewerk) crew. At that time, a lot of attention was bestowed upon the new start-up label because of their DIY attitude and commitment to the independent Canadian music world.
Some other (weewerk) artists include The Barmitzvah Brothers, Elliott Brood , Great Lake Swimmers, Two-Minute Miracles, The United Steel Workers of Montreal and The Burning Hell.
Besides the Great Lake Swimmers, my favourite (weewerk) band would have to be the Barmitzvah Brothers. Fun and poppy quartet from Guelph. This past October they released their fifth album, Let’s Express Our Motives: An Album of Under-Appreciated Job Songs.
Quote From The Label: “…we just put up our newly designed website yesterday.” (Phil Klygo)
*The Burning Hell. Photo by Angus MacPherson
Next Show: This Friday night, (weewerk) is having a CD release party for The Burning Hell, Jan, 18th, 9:PM, The Studio (235 Carlaw, #202), $10. I have a feeling that this is going to be quite the party since my invitation stated that it was BYOB. There will be live music until late and an old-fashioned rave complete with glow sticks and Vick’s. (what does Vick’s mean?)
The Burning Hell combines quirky instrumentation, happy little melodies, and cute lyrics with a ukelele. Have a listen to the track posted below. With all the schooly yard talk about dinosaurs, this track could have easily fit in on my newly acquired Juno soundtrack. Everybody loves Juno, right? Then chances are that you might get a kick out of The Burning Hell too.
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