Big Mother Gig



Big Mother Gig
Smiling Politely
Self-Released


ADDS 11/1/16
DIGITAL ONLY
This is Big Mother Gig’s 1996 Smiling Politely, recorded by Jeff  Hamilton (Violent Femmes) and Paul  Kneevers. It has been re-mastered in 2016 by KRAMER and is being released digitally for the very first time (previously only available on cassette).  We will have Big Mother Gig’s brand new EP Almost Primed for you in 2017.    
The last time Milwaukee alt-rock quartet played together, Bill Clinton was president, Pitchfork was just launching and people bought CDs. Musically, they pulled from a small set of influences: Midwestern indie acts Replacements and Hüsker Dü with a splash of classic hard rock like AC/DC, The Who or Led Zeppelin.
Formed in 1992 on the snowy Marquette campus, amassed 3 releases, played 150 times in smoky bars across the Midwest and drank a lot. By 1996, they were getting airplay on 102.1 (WLUM), 91.7 (WMSE) and 102.9 (Lazer 103) and played SummerFest. 
At their final show, Dave Pirner from Soul Asylum proclaimed them “energetic” while A&R reps expressed interest. Within a few weeks, however, convinced that Milwaukee bands never make it, Jankovich moved to New York to seek a career in music. Within 6 months, Milwaukee bands got sucked up in a signing spree as the majors exhausted Chicago and drove about an hour north. Citizen King, The Promise Ring and more made a national impact with their records and live shows. Still others got caught up in the major label system, never to even release an album. 
In the years since, Jankovich went on to modest success with his indie electronica acts Burnside Project (Bar/None, Sony) and Pocket (remixes for Radiohead, Beck) and eventually formed his own music promotion company. Guitarist Riz Rashid returned to his homeland of Malaysia where he built a career in marketing, launched a guitar import business and led some of Malaysia’s most exciting indie rock bands. Bassist Matt Deede and Drummer Brady Roehl largely left the music scene, focusing on their careers and having families. But a funny thing happens to the past. That question of “What If?” kept sneaking up on them. 
In 2013, after nearly two decades of silence, the 4 band members reconnected for an upcoming book and offers soon came in to reunite. After resolving logistical issues, they decided to give it another shot. On August 30th, 2016, exactly 20 years since their final show, they re-released their discography, previously only available on cassette. The local press was enthusiastic and it was covered by the Journal-Sentinel, Milwaukee Record and WYMS-FM (88.9.) Support came flowing in from commercial radio stations and more show offers rolled in. They booked a massive reunion show in March, Then a SXSW tour the week prior and wrapped up a brand new 6-song EP, “Almost Primed (coming in 2017).”


RIYL: Hold Steady, Beach Slang, Deer Tick, Titus Andronicus, Superchunk, Replacements, Bob Mould

TRY: #1, 2, 3, 11, 10, 13

DIRTY: #4



Download full album here:

 https://www.piratepirate.com/downloads/ 
More Info Here:

http://bigmothergig.com/

https://www.facebook.com/bigmothergig/