.Best Local Label

Ipecac

Not too many labels can boast having Buzz from the Melvins as their A&R guy, but Alameda’s Ipecac (www.ipecac.com) ain’t following any other standards of conformity, so it’s no big whup. The label was formed in ’99 when Mike Patton (Faith No More, Mr. Bungle, Fantomas) and Greg Werckman (formerly of Alternative Tentacles) wanted to find a place to put out Patton’s various weird side-projects that weren’t exactly “label friendly.” Then Buzz called up and said his band needed a label, and Ipecac began to build up its roster. “From there,” says Werckman, “we started to just put out stuff that we liked, and it’s drawn us to all different types of bands.” All types indeed: Japan’s Ex-Girl, Kid606, and the Lucky Stars couldn’t be more different from one another. Fantomas has already accrued a dedicated following, but look out for Tomahawk, featuring members of the Jesus Lizard, Melvins, and Helmet. There are plenty of labels that put out a wide variety of stuff, but Ipecac can honestly say that none of its stuff sucks — unheard of! The main question is, Why Alameda? Well … Werckman calls it “the music capital of the world.”

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