January 28, 2006,
THE INDIES: REDEYE SEES FLURRY OF NEW LABEL SIGNINGS

By TODD MARTENS

Redeye Distribution in Haw River, N.C., has been beefing up its garage rock roster with some new additions. The NARM distributor of the year, small division, has been furiously signing budding indies of late, and continues to diversify its roster far beyond its roots in sister company Yep Roc Records.

This month, the distributor will announce that it has added Gearhead Records and Three One G to its exclusive roster. The two labels anchor a slew of new signings by the distributor, which in recent months has brought in the New Jersey-based Gern Blandsten label and Public Enemy.

San Francisco-based Gearhead Records grew out of Gearhead Magazine, starting in 2000 and previously handled nationally by Koch Entertainment Distribution. The label has released albums from such acts as Electric Eel Shock, the Hellacopters and the New Bomb Turks.

Three One G was founded by the Locusts Justin Pearson, and the San Diego-based label has released acts including Melt Banana and the Blood Brothers. It was previously distributed by the Lumberjack Mordam Music Group.

Also new to Redeye is Brooklyn, N.Y.-based Kanine Records, which is leaving the Platform Group; Huntington Beach, Calif.-based TKO Records, which was most recently with Road to Ruin; and Los Angeles-based Buddyhead, which had been with Lookout Records