OUT TODAY! Electric Cowbell Records imprint Richmond Relics announces its second release: a sprawling remastered four-album reissue series collecting the complete recorded output of Alter Natives, originally released on SST Records between 1987 and 1989: Hold Your Tongue, Group Therapy, and Buzz. Also included is the band’s first demo cassette, Friends of the Farm, newly remixed and remastered. The collection features alternate mixes highlighting both the group’s original power trio configuration—guitar, bass, and drums—as well as expanded versions incorporating saxophone and flute. The full catalog will be released worldwide on digital and streaming platforms on February 13, 2026.
Alter Natives formed in Richmond, Virginia in the spring of 1985 with no formal agenda beyond creating original music. Drawing freely from punk, surf music, hardcore, psychedelic rock, and jazz, the band developed a fiercely independent instrumental approach, ultimately abandoning vocals in favor of open-ended musical exploration. Playing relentlessly as a trio and rehearsing constantly after securing space in the downtown Richmond Dairy building, the group quickly became a vital presence within the city’s unusually dense and supportive mid-’80s underground ecosystem. Their live shows attracted a rare cross-section of audiences—punks, metalheads,skaters, jazz fans, artists, and students—united by a shared openness to experimentation.
“The Alter Natives were a mind-warping experience, one I’ll forever be grateful for— check ‘em out and get your brain bent for the better.” D. Randall Blythe from Lamb of God
@sonic.reducer.kexp shares the playlist of the recent episode carefully put together by the magnificent @brianmyfatass and featuring 'Scam' by UNSANE - off the upcoming reissue of 'Occupational Hazard'👏
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#UNSANE #OccupationalHazard #LambUnlimited #airplay #radiopromotion #radiopr #publicrelations #publicity #musicnews #musicpr #KEXP #SonicReducer #DJBrianFoss #DisciplinePR
Tradition, soul, and a sound like no other 🎶 The Klezmatics are celebrating their 40th Anniversary at Sony Hall, January 9th with @lamangabk and @lavlightgospelchoir . Get your tickets at sonyhall.com
Chicken scratchin’ coming attractions. @jnotart playing it live at @nomadbar . Josh from @invincibleczars plays it on the recording of I Know You Know I Know on @recordsflak which hits the streaming services Friday. Distributed by @virtual_label
What???
@Thyroids went undercover to shoot a scene for @ms.jeancaffeine ‘s “I Know You Know I Know” video out now! On @recordsflak . Thyroids scene filmed by @pabloaarauz . Links in bio! . #cameo #thyroids #jeancaffeine #newvideo #newsingle #wigs #recordsflak #eggpunks #ogpunk #texasmusicians #minivan #virtuallabel #music
Willie Nile paints his sound the color fire on 'The Great Yellow Light', pleading with all of us to wake up and look around us. Guests include #SteveEarle, #PaulBrady, plus #TheHooters' Rob Hyman and Eric Bazilian.
🔗 in bio for #tourdates, stream the album, ✔️out the video and more!
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#newmusicalert #newmusicfriday #newreleasesnow #nowplaying #nowstreaming #nowspinning #outnow #hotpick #willienile #newyorksingersongwriter #singersongwriter #newrockmusic #rockandroll
“I Know You Know I Know” #Coming soon to a streaming service near you. June 27) Presave info is in my Instagram bio. @recordsflak release distributed by @virtual_label #newrelease #presave #catchysongs #newsingle #jeancaffeine
Tim O'Brien and JAN FABRICIUS come together in harmony on 'Paper Flowers', one of the most quietly powerful albums you’ll hear this year.
🔗 in bio to ✔️ it out!
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#newmusicalert #newmusicfriday #newreleasesnow #nowplaying #nowstreaming #nowspinning #outnow #hotpick #timobrien #janfabricius #bluegrass #bluegrassmusic #americanamusic #folkmusic #contemporaryfolk
Check it out! Song #17 on the 80 from the 80s project features the wonderfully talented John Cameron Mitchell (Hedwig and the Angry Inch) singing “The Love Cats.”
Vocals — John Cameron Mitchell
Drums — Christian Linsey
Everything else — Michael Hearst
You can find the full version on all the usual streaming providers or at MichaelHearst.com
The song was originally released by The Cure in 1983.
Big thanks to Claudia Gonson, Virtual Label, Aaron Scamihorn, and of course JCM and Christian.
Check it! Song #17 on the ‘80 from the 80s’ project features the wonderfully talented John Cameron Mitchell singing “The Love Cats.”
Vocals — John Cameron Mitchell
Drums — Christian Linsey
Everything else — Michael Hearst
You can find the full version on all the usual streaming providers or at MichaelHearst.com
The song was originally released by The Cure in 1983.
Big thanks to Claudia Gonson, Virtual Label, Aaron Scamihorn, and of course JCM and Christian.
It’s release day for song #7
“You Can Call Me Al,” featuring Krystle Warren.
Find it on your favorite music streaming/download service. Link in bio.
There’s also the mini podcast: Link in bio.
While you’re at it, check out Krystle’s new album, Extended Play. Absolutely love Krystle’s voice (and she’s such a lovely lovely person!)
*****
80 From The 80s
In case you missed it, I’m recording my own versions of songs from the 1980s with a whole bunch of guests. Eighty songs in all, with a song released every other week, for a project called 80 FROM THE 80s.
This song was originally released by Paul Simon in 1986.
Big thanks to Krystle, Claudia Gonson, Aaron Scamihorn, Virtual Label, Miguel Gallego, Tara Blosser, and Peter Wright. @paulsimonofficial
