In a move that could either have prickly producer Steve Albini beaming with joy or puking in terror, former Silkworm/current Bottomless Pit frontman Tim Midgett has started an online campaign to help keep his buddy's Electrical Audio studios up and running.
While the Chicago-based Electrical Audio - owned, built and maintained by Shellac member Albini since 1997 - doesn't appear to be in danger of closing anytime soon, Midgett maintains that the building currently has a whopping $230,000 left on its mortgage. So a donation page has been put up by Midgett called Pay Off Electrical Audio, on which anyone feeling generous can spend a little cash on the studio that has brought us records from the likes of Bonnie "Prince" Billy, Nina Nastasia, Neurosis, Joanna Newsom, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, and so many more.
"I know this campaign will be an embarrassment to owner Steve Albini, but it will be an embarrassment to the rest of us if it fails," Midgett explains on the donation page, adding that it won't take that many people to make this work. "2000 people, $115 each, and it's done. If you can't pledge that much, no problem, no minimum. If you can double up, hell, you'll get two thank-you letters."
There is also a no-risk clause in the campaign: if the $230,000 isn't met, your credit card will not be charged. Sounds fair to us.
Only time will tell if indie fans rally to keep Electrical Audio alive and well. Oh, did we forget to mention that Albini recorded Nirvana's In Utero? Donate now!
Thanks to AV Club for the tip.
While the Chicago-based Electrical Audio - owned, built and maintained by Shellac member Albini since 1997 - doesn't appear to be in danger of closing anytime soon, Midgett maintains that the building currently has a whopping $230,000 left on its mortgage. So a donation page has been put up by Midgett called Pay Off Electrical Audio, on which anyone feeling generous can spend a little cash on the studio that has brought us records from the likes of Bonnie "Prince" Billy, Nina Nastasia, Neurosis, Joanna Newsom, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, and so many more.
"I know this campaign will be an embarrassment to owner Steve Albini, but it will be an embarrassment to the rest of us if it fails," Midgett explains on the donation page, adding that it won't take that many people to make this work. "2000 people, $115 each, and it's done. If you can't pledge that much, no problem, no minimum. If you can double up, hell, you'll get two thank-you letters."
There is also a no-risk clause in the campaign: if the $230,000 isn't met, your credit card will not be charged. Sounds fair to us.
Only time will tell if indie fans rally to keep Electrical Audio alive and well. Oh, did we forget to mention that Albini recorded Nirvana's In Utero? Donate now!
Thanks to AV Club for the tip.
