It is SPRING BREAK and Special Passenger Records is about to be all together for a whole week of awesomeness.  We are just so excited that Rachel, Hannah and Delia will all be in Jackson for the week, Lizzie is coming home from a TN, FL, GA & MO tour and Annie and Amanda are DTP as usual.  Dubb Nubb will be recording an ep on Monday with the amazing Zoe and Wil from Knoxville and there will be shows and parties and parades all week, including a showcase with all four bands on the label.  Here is the schedule:

Sunday, March 21st:  House show at Lizzies with Dee Bird, Liver Mousse and South China.  Delia will play a set of ukulele tunes, then Jackson’s fav couple group  and some new friends from Maine will play/impress you.  Also, it’s Matthew Brantley’s birthday!!!! rsvp here

Dee Bird

Tuesday, March 23rd: Dubb Nubb show at Sneaky Beans with Drew Kennedy and Casper & the Cookies!!!  Dubb Nubb will debut a couple of new songs that will get you so excited for their upcoming ep.  Drew Kennedy is Texas coutry and Casper & the Cookies is adorbs indie from Athens, GA.  This will be on the front patio at the bean and the weather will be perfect, duh.  It starts at 6:30pm so you will be able to enjoy the show and the sunset and still go out afterwards. rsvp here!

lil' bit and the show poster!

 Friday, March 26th: SPECIAL PASSENGER RECORDS SHOWCASE!!!!!!!!!!  Hal & Mal’s Patio, 9pm $5 cover.  Featuring Dee Bird, Lizzie Wright Super Space Ship, Dubb Nubb & The Bachelorettes.  This is the first Bachelorettes show in 5 months and possibly the only time all 4 spesh pass bands will play together in Jackson.  We are so excited about this show and we hope everyone comes out. rsvp here

by justin schultz

Saturday, March 27th: Dubb Nubb plays a house show in Oxford, MS!!!  Our friend CTC invited the nubbs to play at his house show/music video shoot on our way home for the Pesach.  His band is called Cory Taylor Cox and the Time Machine and he is probably one of the nicest people we have met.  rsvp here.

The Family Portrait Project

Dear Musical Friends—

Last Spring, the Bachelorettes and friends released a compilation album called The Special Passenger Project—a Jackson and beyond CD that included 17 songs inspired by the phrase ‘Special Passenger.’  The success of this project inspired us to begin our label, Special Passenger Records and we are just so excited to announce a brand new project called Family Portrait.

Family Portrait will be a compilation cd + zine of collaborations between family members. We are fascinated by family bands and hope that this project inspires you to create music with family members who you may not have played with before. If you and your family members like to make music together, or want to try for the first time, we would love to include it on our album.

The CD will be released with a zine that will include portraits of the performers and special pages designed by each group. In addition to submitting a song for the project, we are also asking you to send in a photo of your fam-band, and a page for the zine. Your page can include anything you would like, such as stories, lyrics, drawings, jokes, etc.  It should fit in a 5″x5″ square. Also, keep in mind that the photos and zine pages with be copied in black and white. The deadline to submit final recordings, pictures and zine pages is April 15th, and the project will be released on May 30th at the Special Passenger Family Reunion, a bbq picnic & day of fun.

Please let us know as soon as possible if you are interested in being a part of this project. All songs should be original material, written for this album.  We are so excited about this special project and we can’t wait to hear from you!
Thanks,
Annie & Amanda
Special Passenger Records

e-mail us here:
annie.blazer@gmail.com
akrainey@gmail.com

Special Passenger Records presents:

The Wedding Album

A hand made zine + cd telling the story of the beautiful band wedding of The Bachelorettes and Senryu

The zine has photos and drawings and tells the whole story from love at first listen, to that magical day at the Eudora Welty Commons when the two bands tied the knots.

In the back is a mini cd with three songs that were performed at the wedding.

There are vow songs by Senryu and The Bachelorettes, as well as a toast song by Katie and the Bass Drums, the best band/band of honor.

You can order The Wedding Album by clicking here! We promise that it will  fill you with the kind of love that only eight people can make.

We released this project on Valentine’s Day weekend at Zombie Prom with our beloved husBand Senryu.  It was certainly a Night of the Living Dead to Remember.  Thanks to everyone who came out to prom and a huge thanks to Patrick for taking photos and Tre and Melvin for DJing.  Check out the photos on Mississippi Happening!

TODAY IS OUR SIX MONTH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY!!!!!!!  Exactly six months ago we married the dreamiest band we could find, Senryu, at the Eudora Welty Commons in Jackson.  Sigh.  It was the most magical night of our band’s life.

To celebrate six blissful months of holy band matrimony, Special Passenger Records is releasing a project called ‘The Wedding Album.’  The album contains a zine with photos, drawings, and the story of our romance and knots tying, as well as a mini CD with The Bachelorettes and Senryu’s vow songs and the Katie and the Bass Drums toast song.  We are only making a limited run of 100 albums so you better pick one up at the release party on February 13th at Ole Tavern on George St.  Oy, yeah and we should mention that it’s a ZOMBIE PROM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Yeah, a Zombie Prom!!  With J.P. Harris and the Tough Choices, Zombie Prom DJ Loki, and of course headlining is our very own husBand SENRYU.  The show starts at 10pm and costs 5 bucks to get in.  Show up in your best Zombie Prom attire, and we will be voting for a Zombie Prom King & Queen!!!  If you can’t do your own zombie makeup there will be a makeup artist at the door to help you out for some tip dollars.

We are so very excited to eat your brains and then slow dance with each of you.   RSVP here.

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner!

At a loss for what to do for your sweetheart this Valentine’s Day? Consider a singing valentine from The Bachelorettes. On February 14, The Bachelorettes will show up at your loved one’s door with a single red rose, a cupcake, a handmade valentine with a message from you, AND a special song for your special someone. Make this an unforgettable Valentine’s Day, and let us serenade your sweetheart!

Click HERE to order your Valigram on our Etsy page!!

Please include your message in the purchase order and we will hand-write it on a valentine for you. Also, please indicate the time and address for us. We are available from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Valentine’s Day. Order early to ensure your time slot!

We can’t wait to sing for you and your Special Passenger!!!!

LOVE,

The Bachelorettes

Chag Sameach from Special Passenger Records!  Tonight marks the first night of Hanukkah and we wish everyone a happy holiday.

The Hanukkettes, playing 'Oy Hanukkah' in Yiddish and English

Last Thursday, we celebrated Hanukkah and put the ‘dirty’ in December at One to One Studios in Jackson.  There was an amazing turnout of over 100 people and it was a beautiful mix of Jews and non Jews of all ages.  The Manischevitz shot bar was a hit, as well as the photo booth and the Jewish education table in the gallery.  The Hanukkettes rocked out four traditional Hanukkah songs and we showed Katie and the Bass drums a hilarious first Hanukkah ever.

Katie and the Bass Drums gets some Jewish girl lovin

We also sold quite a few of our Hanukkah projects and have been getting a really great response about the album.  You can still buy them on our etsy, as well as at the Orange Peel and Sneaky Beans in Jackson.  It makes the perfect Hanukkah present and there are 8 whole nights ahead of us!!!

Jackson friends learning how to play dreidel

Check out these links to blogs and websites that posted about our project:

Matthue Roth of Chibi Vision wrote a post on his website about writing his song, The Maccababies.   He also blogs for myjewishlearning and he wrote this thought provoking piece titled Were the Maccabbes Jerks, inspired by a conversation we had about my Sunday school class.  Matthue is awesome.  Just look at his website, ok?

Our good friend Melvin posted his song, Enjoy Hanukkah on his music blog.  Check out the rest of his blog for mix tapes and dj news.

Punk Torah, aka Patrick A, aka Bleeding 4 Skinn wrote a review of the project.  He also posts regular Divrei Torah videos and other posts with alternative Jewish commentary.  He is a self proclaimed Torah badass and a professional Judaica dealer.  OY!

Last week, Mississippi Happening did a Hanukkah special podcast!!!! It is an hour long show with interviews and songs from the project.  If you haven’t heard the album, you can hear the songs on the show and learn more about the project and Katie and the Bass Drums.  We LOOOOOOOOOOVE Mississippi Happening!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lastly, we were reviewed in the JACKSON FREE PRESS!!!! Andi Agnew wrote a great piece reviewing the Hanukkah project as well as the Merry Christmas Jackson album.  The article begins with my quote about being people’s only Jewish friend.  Hopefully after our Hanukkah party that has changed for some folks!!!

The Hanukkettes -- A Great Miracle Happened There!

I am off to light the menorah with my family in St. Louis.  Have a wonderful Hanukkah everyone, and thanks so much for supporting The Bachelorettes,  Special Passenger Records and the Jews in Jackson.  We love y’all very much.  Enjoy Hanukkah!!

Sunday night after Thanksgiving, I returned to Jackson from a lovely weekend in St. Louis and immediately called Zac Fallon.  Thanksgiving was over which means it’s time to talk about Hanukkah.  Zac is the gentleman you see above and the brains and body behind Knoxville, TN’s Katie and the Bass Drums.  He is also headlining the Special Passenger Dirty December Hanukkah Bash.  This is why:

me: have you celebrated hanukkah before?
zac: ive been to a seder, but i dont think that counts

me: then why the hell are you headlining a hanukkah party?
zac: well, you asked me to.  also, i like to party, no matter what religion.  if you call me and ask to headline a ramadan arty, id be like yep.  its all about the party.

me: your hanukkah song, ‘hole in a sheet’ is the last track on the special passenger hanukkah project.  it also arguably wins for most offensive song. what was the inspiration for your hanukkah song?
zac: well, you called me and asked me to write a hanukkah song and so i really started thining about what i would say to a jewish girl.  since i dont know a lot about jews, a hole in a sheet came out.

me: did you know that jews dont actually have sex through a hole in a sheet?
zac: i did once i looked it up.  i learned that its actually a rumor. im so educated now!

me: describe your ideal date with a jewish girl
zac: i think my ideal date with a jewish girl and with a gentile girl are very much the same.  im gonna get super serious–  good music, a good meal, lots of makin out and maybe i get her number.

me: the party you are playing on thursday is called the ‘dirty december hanukkah bash.’ how will you put the dirty in dirty december?
zac: i honestly don’t know yet.  im not good at planning ahead

me: well are you looking forward to spending hanukkah in jackson?
zac: i am totally excited.  i plan on leavin at the crack of dawn so i can spend as much time in jackson soakin up the atmosphere before the party.

me: so i had this crazy idea to raffle off different things at the party, like some hanukkah albums, special passenger merch, massage oils and a chance to make out with katie and the bass drums. how do you feel about auctioning off a make out?
zac: i feel like somebody is getting a deal.  lots of people have paid a lot of money for things that dont even involve kissing me, and someone is going to get something that does involve kissing me for the cover charge. you can’t beat that.

That’s right ladies!  Someone is gettin’ lucky! You will automatically be entered to win a chance to make out with Katie and the Bass drums just by attending an awesome Hanukkah party at One to One Studios on Thursday night.  Also, he puts on an awesome and hilarious show that you don’t want to miss.  There will also be a Hanukkah cover band called The Hanukkettes, a Manischevitz shot bar, cute Jewish girls, and other giveways.

Download the Katie and the Bass Drums ep for free!

Order you Special Passenger Hanukkah project here, or pick one up at the party for HALF PRICE!!!

See you on Thursday! RSVP HERE

We got the last Hanukkah songs in last night and are so excited to release the Special Passenger Hanukkah Project.  It is going to be beautiful, sentimental, funny, cute, informative, interactive and maybe a little sassy.

Click here to order your Hanukkah project!  We will wrap them up and ship them out December 1st.  The project includes a dreidel, gelt, temporary tattoos, a Special Passenger button and mini zine, and of course a CD!  All this for only $10.  We are only making 200 of these, so reserve yours now!   We will also be selling them on December 3rd at Fondren After Five and at the release party (see below), as well as at Sneaky Beans and Orange Peel.

Check out the track listing and click the links to listen to several of the songs:

Hannukah Harry    Dubb Nubb
Schlepping to Mecca    Coyote Bones
Dear Judah       Lizzie Wright Super Space Ship
Be My Maccabee        The Bachelorettes
the Maccababies      Chibi Vision
Four Potatoes       J-Tran
Enjoy Hanukkah      Os Chavez feat. MC Language Master
O Me, O Lights         Daycare
I’ve Never Known You in December      Dee Bird
I Only Know One Phrase In Yiddish       Little Red Lung
Yehuda     Bleeding 4 Skinn
Hole in a Sheet      Katie and the Bass Drums

*note–several of the songs contain adult content, so we will be offering an edited version upon request.

DIRTY DECEMBER HANUKKAH BASH!!! DECEMBER 3RD AT ONE TO ONE STUDIOS!!!!!!!!! $5 COVER AND BUY THE ALBUM FOR $5 THAT NIGHT ONLY!!!!!!! THE HANUKKETTES & KATIE AND THE BASS DRUMS FROM KNOXVILLE, TN!!!!!  MANISCHEVITZ SHOT BAR AND LATKES!!!!!!!!  COME GET DIRTY JACKSON!!!!!!!!!! RSVP HERE

William Patrick Butler, our official photographer, just posted his amazing photos of our Special Passenger recording session at Olympic Records Studio back in April.

Check out all of the photos on his blog: Scenes Around Jackson.  Here are a few favorites:

We love you Patrick!!!

Special Passenger Records is currently looking for bands to participate in The Hanukkah Project, a compilation cd and so much more to be released this winter.  The finished project will be a hand printed box of presents including Hanukkah goodies, Special Passenger buttons and a cd with original Hanukkah songs.  It will be silly, cute, handmade and collaborative, which is exactly what Special Passenger Records is all about.

A Dubb Nubb Hanukkah!

We plan to release the project on Thursday, December 3rd at a big Hanukkah party at One to One Studios in Jackson, MS.  This party will feature The Bachelorettes and Can!!Can from Atlanta, GA.  Of course, there will be latkes, dreidel and a Manischevitz shot bar.

Elliot Wilson, Dee Bird & my mom..hopefully 2/3 will be on the album!

Please contact Amanda (amanda@speshpassrecords.com) if you are interested in submiting a song for this project or if you have any questions.  The deadline to commit is November 1st and we will need your songs by November 15th!