For Bridge Nine’s 20th anniversary and our newly relaunched Spotify page, we’ll be featuring a curated playlist of songs from our catalog chosen by a B9-related artist every month. Check out this short essay and playlist from Derek Archambault of Defeater and Alcoa:
“I was first introduced to Bridge Nine in high school via a Proclamation 7-inch Chris had released. Like most kids back then I bought things solely based on friends’ recommendations and word of mouth. Some friends also had the straight-edge shirts that Bridge Nine made so the name was always around…I always loved the X’d-up Crimson ghost design and still have the pin somewhere.
The band that B9 released that I was over-the-moon excited about was American Nightmare. I saw their second show in Massachusetts and couldn’t get enough from then on out. Back To School Jam, the 7″ retiring show, halls, whatever. The band meant so much to me then and still does today. There are several more bands on B9 that pulled me in the same way and connected with me so well. I have many memories of late night drives, parking lots, shows, friends and feeling pretty much invincible with these bands. I don’t know if it was a record label association or if Chris and company always just put out the right bands for me, but I have always loved the label.
When Defeater originally got asked to join the roster in 2008, I was floored. The whole thing still seems like a dream sometimes. I don’t take any of it for granted and I am always humbled that we have been a part of such a great label and scene for so long. Alcoa being a part of the Bridge Nine family is just another extension of what makes the label great. Although the band is so far from what got the label started, Bridge Nine stands behind it and fans of the label have been gracious enough to as well.
Here are my favourite songs from the Bridge 9 catalog in somewhat of an order:”
20. Polar Bear Club – Convinced I’m Wrong
19. Crime In Stereo – …but you are vast
18. Violent Sons – Heavy Burden
17. Strike Anywhere – Summerpunks
16. Ceremony – The Doldrums (Friendly City)
15. Dead Swans – Thinking Of You
14. Have Heart – Hard Bark On The Family Tree
13. The Hope Conspiracy – No Love Goes Unpunished
12. Ruiner – 40 Miles North
11. Terror – Don’t Need Your Help
10. Panic – I Walk The Same Way Home Every Night
9. Some Kind Of Hate – Calling All Bastards
8. Verse – The New Fury
7. No Warning – Short Fuse
6. American Nightmare – There’s A Black Hole In The Shadow Of The Pru
5. The Trouble – We Are The Blood
4. Give Up the Ghost – You & Me [Archers Of Loaf cover]*
3. Carry On – Waiting On Forever
2. No Warning – Too Much To Bare
1. American Nightmare – Sore Throat Syndrome
* – not available on Spotify; check it out on: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bdeWlR6lhs
Playlist HTTP link: Derek Archambault’s Favorite B9 Tracks
