THE FRONTIER SAGA
Frontier Records was founded in 1980 by Lisa Fancher. It was one of the first independent labels to document the nascent hard-core punk rock scene of Los Angeles before branching out into other scenes and sounds such as the so-called "Paisley Underground" and (always) guitar-based bands such as Thin White Rope, The Young Fresh Fellows and Heatmiser.
After learning the indie label ropes from her mentors Greg and Suzy Shaw at Bomp! Records, Fancher first hit the jackpot with the release of Group Sex by the Circle Jerks (it should be noted that very first Frontier release was the self-titled EP by the Flyboys). The success of Group Sex set the label up for iconic punk releases by the Adolescents, T.S.O.L., China White and Suicidal Tendencies (whose defining anthem "Institutionalized" made its appearance here). Also of note from this era was the discovery of the ultimate Goth band, Christian Death, and the release of its masterpiece, Only Theatre of Pain. The importance of these albums cannot be overstated. It's hard to imagine the future worldwide success of the Offspring, Green Day or Blink 182 without them!
Frontier Records took a turn for the Technicolor in the mid-'80s with such bands as the Salvation Army and the Long Ryders. The Salvation Army's psychedelic pop may have been perplexing to punk purists, but their genius was more than welcome to the label's musical expansion. A name change to Three O'Clock and two more Frontier releases (Baroque Hoedown and Sixteen Tambourines) were followed by the boys moving on to what they thought were going to be bigger things.... The Long Ryders can take credit for kick-starting the alt.country scene a good ten years ahead of the pack (not intentionally, of course).
By 1986, the Frontier staff had their hands full with Thin White Rope, Naked Prey, the Pontiac Brothers, EIEIO, Flying Color and American Music Club. All of them were ahead of their time and/or critical darlings, but only AMC survived long enough to see a measurable degree of financial success (if that's what success is measured by). The Pontiac Brothers took the Stones/Faces ball and moved it onto their own court, writing retro-without-becoming-clothes-horse parodies. If they'd lasted a couple years longer, the world would have been their oyster....
Of Thin White Rope, not enough superlatives can be said. Truly one of the greatest guitar bands that ever made ears ring, they disbanded in 1992 after a show in Ghent, Belgium which was recorded and released as The One That Got Away.
The first Frontier band to come from the mighty Pacific Northwest was Seattle's Young Fresh Fellows. They've defied description for nearly two decades, covering just about every conceivable musical style, and succeeding admirably at it. From the sublime to the silly, their earnestness burrows its way into the most cynical of souls. Bare Naked Ladies: we think you should be paying tithes to the Young Fresh Fellows!
Following YFF's auspicious lead came Portland's Dharma Bums, a rockin' little band with a huge heart and a monster sound to match. Portland's Heatmiser's distinctive brand of groove-oriented punk rock has won them a slavish following and reams of press praise for their two albums (Dead Air and Cop & Speeder) and interim EP (Yellow No.5). Elliott Smith's tragically short, critically lauded solo career ensures continuing interest in these three emo-core classics.
Never at a loss for recognizing talent, the keen ears at Frontier have found some out-of-print classics demanding re-release. It began with the former Smoke 7 junque-rock icon, Born Innocent by Redd Kross, soon followed by Dangerhouse Volumes 1 and 2, which include most of the crucial songs issued by the legendary L.A. punk label.
Ten years after Thin White Rope's demise, Guy Kyser has made the world a better place by recording a new record with his wife and new bandmates. Out March 19, 2002, Mummydogs has impelled rock critics to reach for ever longer and more complex descriptors when “god-like genius” really says it all.
2003 was definitely the year of the Weirdos as Frontier coaxed a second volume of Weird World from the band. Sorry, the Weirdos only release records every 12 years! The band was so re-energized that they have reformed and have planned to make their first foray to Europe.
The label comes full circle in March 2005 when it celebrates its 25-year anniversary with the release of an album of mostly previously unreleased Adolescents material: The Complete Demos 1980-1986 on CD and colored vinyl, of course (collectors will want to keep their eyes peeled for a special numbered limited edition of the LP with a slightly different cover)!
From the beginning, Frontier has maintained a small, focused roster, creating a trustworthy bond with our very lifeblood: the independent stores, magazines, radio stations and record buyers that have supported us all these years. Here's to us, and cheers to you!
