Shameless Records Canada

Two anniversaries approaching in March 2012 – as Shameless Records would be celebrating 10 years of indie label life in Edmonton, and mainstay band The Wheat Pool hits the 7 year mark.

Two anniversaries that have turned into two farewells.

After almost ten years of trying to create a jumping board for up and coming indie bands, I have decided its time to put the little dream aside and make room for new things. What began as a hobby grew into a little monster, and gave me some of the best times of the last decade of my life. I’m proud of the things we all did together, but it is just time to stop slamming into brick walls, and get creative somewhere else. No regrets. I have tried to be a champion of the independent artist, and of the Edmonton music scene. In return I have been given incredible amounts of joy and respect and couldn’t ask for more.

Thank you to all the bands and artists who have given me the opportunity to come alongside – to make records, put on shows, travel to and fro. The friendship is so worth the work.

To make it a double whammy, my band The Wheat Pool have also announced their retirement. After seven years the band has decided that we are no longer in the same places individually we once were, and it prevents us from being a great band moving forward. So we are moving on, continuing as friends, not a band. We are deeply grateful for the memories and friendships from Victoria to Halifax. What a great country to have covered.

The band wraps up the anniversary/farewell on Friday, March 23 at the Pawn Shop in Edmonton, AB. Tickets will be on sale soon. We hope you can all make it out for the party.

You can read the full press release/explanation on the band website: http://thewheatpool.com/

Personally, I have created space in my life for what is next. I am continuing my work building websites for bands at Shameless Design, making videos for bands at Heavy Grain, and assisting musicians in the great province of Alberta as vice-prez of the Alberta Music Industry Association .

The finality of these two dreams hits me really hard, so its hard to even write these announcements. But I am moving forward. I create new things, its what I do, so I can’t wait to get busy creating. And i can’t say it enough – thank you to everyone for richness of life these dreams have given me, and the parts you have all played in them.

Glen Erickson
President/Janitor/Guitarist

“Wish You Were Here is an intimately dashed-off aural postcard, pure feeling and meaning, distilled, and a reminder of the power of emotion, which is what brought F&M out of their homes and into the world many roads ago.”

The husband-wife-band return with a follow-up to 2010’s “Sincerely, F&M”. WYWH began as an addendum, an extra, and evolved beautifully into a partner to that record. We are excited to announce its release today.

The evolution of a “working class band” has been well documented, but continues to find new forms as our industry changes. F&M is a great example of this. Navigating the process of no band, then forming a band with friends and family, seeing friends and family leave the band, re-forming with new and hired band members, seeing new band members come and go, growing up, finding jobs, paying bills, touring more, making records.. you can see the challenge to doing this the “working class” way. Yet here we are in the fall of 2011, and F&M is not only still with us, they are evolving in a way that makes us take notice.

WYWH is the evidence of a few human beings shaking off the ties that bind, taking the risk of being themselves, and distilling the evolution of life into the place where most of us find clarity – the quiet place.

F&M is on the road right now supporting the new record, making friends across Canada. You should check them out while you can. Congratulations to the band, for forging ahead and making us proud. All the links to the music and band posted here.

+ Official F&M website, tour dates
+ Buy the CD
+ Buy on iTunes

August 30 – Montreal, Quebec: Burritoville – 2nd Floor (with Galen Hartley)
August 31 – Toronto, Ontario: The Supermarket (Agency Group Go Pop! Night Showcase)
September 3 – Winnipeg, Manitoba: Le Garage Café (with Feed The Birds)
September 10 – Duncan, British Columbia: The Duncan Garage Showroom (with Mike Angus and trainsleeper)
September 11 – Victoria, British Columbia: Fort Café (with trainsleeper and Mike Angus)
September 13 – Kamloops, British Columbia: Pogue Mahones Music
September 15 – Vancouver, British Columbia: Raw Canvas (with trainsleeper)
September 17 – Penticton, British Columbia: VooDoos (with Cort Smith and Mike Angus)

CD Release Shows for Edmonton and Calgary soon to be announced!