Mike Alvarez
- Fullerton, CA 2010. Max and the Makeups
promo
tour for self titled EP. Photo by Lea Schiller
Producer/Musician Mike
Alvarez formed Not Records
Tapes music recording company in Austin Texas in 1984.
Before moving to Los Angeles in 1988 to expand his
work in music, film and television, he produced the
likes of Haunted
Garage, Daniel
Johnston,
Roky
Erickson, The
True Believers with Alejandro
Escovedo, Texacala
Jones, Hindustani music masters Swapan
Chaudhuri and Stephen
Slawek, and many other influential, independent
and amazing artists. Not Records Tapes serves as a
music publishing company
for several artists.
Not
Records Tapes is the producer of the legendary Woodshock
Music Festivals in Dripping Springs Texas from 1983
through 1985 and at the Daughteres of the Confeceracy
ranch in 1986 (Go figure - they didn't know punks
were coming). See Michael Corcoran's "Woodshock
85', the firth of Grunge"
Not
Records Tapes is the founding company of NRT
Entertainment Group (NRTEG), which includes film
production and finance.
Alvarez
has been a professional musician since 1970, beginning
in high school as a guitarist for the Mc Allen, Texas
rock group Medusa ("Medusa
Seduces" was our slogan)
In 1981, Alvarez joined Austin's Max
and the Makeups and has been an independent music
producer, singer-songwriter-guitarist, and entertainment
entrepreneur ever since.
Events
and New Releases
PRESENTATION
TO MUSIC PUBLISHING BEGINS
VOL
1
The
music publishing mission will take the title "HIT".
On a regular basis, we will send out music notices about
our specific songs, by our artists and associates artists.
To those who might agree - we have hits here
in our talent base. Give it a look (click "click
here" below)
NRT
Presents Several Music Artists to Music Publishers Around
the World
MUSIC
PUBLISHING PRESENTATION VOL 1
(CLICK
HERE)
2024
Coming
in 2024
Daniel
Johnston Works Produced by Not Records Tapes
Poster by Daniel Johnston
The
Woodsock 85' double LP will be uploaded to Not Records
Tapes. Daniel Johnston, The Offenders, Moto-x
and over a dozen more great performances. Free!
Cover Art by Jukebox
Demon
Angel - A Day and Night with Roky Erickson
The
1985 performance by rock icon, the late Roky Erickson.
This version is the updated version Not Records Tapes
released in 1985.
More
Information to Come!
2023
Jeff
Beck Passes
2022
2022
brings changes to Not Records Tapes. Most all
releases are being digitized currently. No items will
be sold at this site. Puke N Vomit and Discogs
have most releases by NRT and we will guide you to these
sites. Free listening and downloads will still be available
at this site.
In 2022,
we will pray for peace and see the rebuilding of Ukraine.
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July
5, 2022
Mike
Alvarez 2005 LP Release “2324” Now Available on Spotify
2D Version of Original 3D Documentary Now Available
on Youtube
The 2005 LP
“2324” by Mike Alvarez is now available on Spotify,
YouTube
, and all other major digital outlets.
Mike
Alvarez (Mike Alvarez, Roky
Erickson , Max and the Makeups
, Head Shop )
and friends managed to write and record 10 songs in
one weekend, the weekend of April 23 and 24, the weekend
before Alvarez's 50 th birthday on April 27th 2005.
The project was filmed in 3D by award winning 3D filmmaker
Tom
Koester
Friends include
Jonie Hell ( Max and the Makeups
, Junkyard, Haunted
Garage , Bushwhackers), Bruce
Hughes (Bruce Hughes, The Crazy World of Arthur
Brown, Poi Dog Pondering, Ugly Americans, The Resentments),
folk legacy Larry Smith ( Vietnam
USO Tours , New
Christy Minstrels ), Matt Jansky ( Clothes
Pins , Mike Alvarez, Head
Shop ), Bill
Dumas (Blond Furniture, Head Shop) Suki Fujioka,
Bill Rehn ,
John Lusitana, Marc Sabatini and poetry by musician
poet Ken Jones .
Cover photo by animation wizard Kevin
Altieri
You can view
the entire documentary by clicking here on YouTube
Testing
new songs live at The Rainbow Club, Los Angeles, CA
during the 3-D filming of 2324 (2005). (L-R)
Matt Jansky, Mike Alvarez, Tom Koester.
The film follows
Mike and long time musician friends through the song
creation process that weekend, and beyond. As
such, it is a timely piece of pop music recording history.
The film examines
Mike's musical past, his inspirations, life choices,
and the nature of the Underground as a Cultural force.
It is one of
Tom Koester's many 3D documentaries on the arts, and
a new 3-D version is being edited for the 3-D film community
now. Other Koester works include award winning short
films on the Watts Towers, Frank Lloyd Wright's Ennis
House, and the late Los Angeles artist James Barret.
Tom has also directed over 15 Jazz and Blues performances
shot in Chicago locations for Delmark
Records Chicago IL.
CLICK
HERE: ALL SONGS CAN BE FULLY LISTENED TO FOR FREE
2021
ED WARD PASSES
The
most important music critic, historian, in our circles
is Ed Ward. Always a supporter of Not Records
Tapes, Ed authored several books on The
History of Rock and Roll. A task only Ed could carry.
Mike
Alvarez and The Cricket Eaters
Live
in Los Angeles, 1988.
Mastered
and in the works.
Click
For Details
2020
Good
God. 2020 is over and my, what a different world
we are in - again. And we'll get over it and move
forward.
2019
We lost our
brother Roky Erickson May 31, 2019
RIP
RKE
Mike
Alvarez Tambourine Plays The Pig n Whistle, Saturday
June 08, 2019
Mike
Alvarez Tambourine is Mike
Alvarez guitar vocals, , Matt Jansky guitar vocals,
Bill Dumas
drums vocals, and Tambouriner Larry Smith. Ensemble
will perform at the Pig n Whistle Saturday June 8 at
9:30pm. Opening the 9:30 set will be Scott
Volatile, punk out of San Diego, on acoustic guitar
and vocal.
All
Ages. Parking: Baptist Church parking lot at 6682 Selma,
Hollywood, CA. Other public parking lots available at
same location. Street parking where available and Hollywood-Highland
parking near.
Pig
N Whistle, 6714 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood CA 90028
(323) 463-0000.
Danny
Kirwan Tribute at Pig n Whistle, Saturday Aug 25, 2018
9PM
Not
Records Tapes' head Mike Alvarez, Matt Jansky, John
Lusitana will perform a set of Danny Kirwan songs at
the Pig n Whistle Saturday August 25 th at 9pm. Danny
passed in June of pneumonia complications.
Danny
Kirwan was a member of the early, blues Fleetwood Mac
from the late 60s to the early 70s. Kirwan was instrumental
in helping shape the sound that led to the major commercial
success the group found in the late 70s. His influence
has been much understated. See: Adam
Sweeting Obituary
All
Ages. Great food and prices. $5 at the door if you say
“Danny Kirwan” (otherwise $10). Parking: Street and
Hollywood/Highland parking structure near. Also, public
parking lots available one block south of the Pig
N Whistle , 6714 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood CA 90028
(323) 463-0000.
New
Mike Alvarez Single
"Big
and Small"
(2018)
"Big and Small" (single) 2018
(ASCAP)
Mike
Alvarez: Electric guitars, vocals.
Matt
Jansky: Wah Wah guitar on "Big
and Small".
John
Lusitana: Bass Guitar on
"Big and Small" and "I'm Gonna
Send
My Love In" (Bonus Track).
Cover
by Mike Alvarez - using
the
discontinued color dandelion
after
hearing the color was no longer used by Crayola.
1.
Big and Small (M. Alvarez)
2.
I'm Gonna Send My Love In (M. Alvarez)
Available at all major streaming services, Spotify
YouTube,
Amazon MP3......
Max and the Makeups Vinyl LP and Digital Download Available
(see
below)
In 2016, Puke
n Vomit Records of Fullerton California released
a 10-song, full length LP titled "Chasing the Monsters"
(The title track song written by Larry Seaman of The
Standing Waves). The LP is now available both on
vinyl and digital streaming at CD Baby. The LP
is available digitally at all major digital outlets
iTunes, Spotify, Amazon MP3 and more.
"Chasing
the Monsters" marks the second Makeups release
on Puke N Vomit Records. In 2010, Puke n Vomit
released a self titled, 4-song
ep
Click HERE
to order vinyl at Puke n Vomit Records
Click HERE
to order from Discogs
Click HERE
for digital download at Spotify
Click HERE
to order from iTunes
News
and Events
The
Pig N Whistle Show Review
This
Pig N Whistle show May 11, 2018 was a gas. Drummer Bill
Dumas was in from the East Coast and
Josh Cobos,
longtime friend, got up and joined the show with a 3
song ending along with Mike
Alvarez and Matt Jansky.
,
Mike
Alvarez (left), Josh Cobos (right)
Bill
Dumas (left), Matt Jansky (right)
A
highlight of the evening was the performance of Hamburg,
Germany musician Deniz
Tiziana Eigen
Deniz
Tiziana Eigen
Not
Records Tapes head, producer musician Mike Alvarez later
recorded a 4-song demo for Deniz
on the Santa Monica Beach.
Mike
Alvarez and Friends at Pig n Whistle
Friday
May 11, 2018
Mike
Alvarez and
his long-time band mates Bill
Dumas and Matt
Jansky, play Pig and Whistle Friday May 11 at 9PM. The
Pig N Whistle is located at 6714 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood,
CA. Cover: $10 (all ages).
Parking:
Street and Hollywood/Highland parking structure near.
Also, public parking lots available one block south
of the Pig N Whistle. Great food, reasonable
prices.
Bill Dumas (left), Mike Alvarez (center),
Matt Jansky (right)
Urbel
Gleezoo Master
Finally
Available
2018
Urbel
Gleezoo
Art by Schuyler Hupp
Well,
it took a while, but the John Lusitana mastering of
the Urbel Gleezoo sessions is here for your listening.
Urbel
Gleezoo, featuring Lisa Gamache, Mike
Alvarez, Matt Jansky and Bill
Dumas, completed work on the experimental project/LP
"Urbel Gleezoo" in early 2014. Nine
songs were tracked and were available only on iTunes
briefly until now.
What
started out as a test session using the Pro Tools set
up sent to Alvarez by Jonie Hell turned into an albums'
worth of material two years later.
Alvarez
brought the song "Play on Birds" to his interview
with Brian Parrish at San Antonio College's Casbah
Radio during his 2012 Summer Tour (see below).
"I was surprised Brian played this wild stuff,
and we talked about the sessions that were going on
at the time. The songs kept on coming.
"Urbel
Gleezoo means absolutely nothing. It was just a thought
but it works with the music", says Alvarez.
Regarding
the sitar tabla interludes, Not Records Tapes' head
Mike Alvarez and Schuyler
Hupp
recorded American sitar master Stephen
Slawek and tabla master Swapan
Chaudhuri at the University of Texas in 1986. "I
let Steve and Swapan know this stuff would eventually
be on this recording", says Alvarez.
Click
on songs to listen for free. Purchase not available
at this time.
Sitar
Intro
-
Apocolypta (M.
Alvarez-L. Gamache)
- Snow
White Sand (M. Alvarez-M. Jansky)
- Children
Living in Hell (M. Alvarez-M. Jansky)
- KRIFF
(M. Alvarez-M. Jansky)
- Five
to Five (M. Alvarez-M. Jansky)
- Play
on Birds (M. Alvarez-M. Jansky)
- Head
Up (M. Alvarez)
- Automatic
(M. Alvarez-L. Gamache)
- General
Fog (M. Alvarez)
- Sitar Close
Mike
Alvarez and the Cricket Eaters Live LP at Anti Club
1997
Coming
Soon!
Mike
Alvarez Birthday Recording (2017)
| |
"None"
Click
the song title above to hear the tune
Here's
how you write songs when you are either
lazy,
or just know you can lay something down.
OK,
I didn't play a live event at Pig N Whistle
Hollywood
this year - had nothing new to offer,
really.
But...
Matthew
invited Bill Dumas and I over for a sorta
birthday
session for me - my birthday was April
27th
(the same day President Nixon was buried
and
the same day Ulysses S. Grant died) A very
presidential
day. My dad was born on 4/20....
I dug
through my lyrics folder and found some
title
I named "None". Pulled a couple sentences
out
of the sheet, asked Matt what else can I
write
about. Matt said something about never
leaving
the house and I took it from there -
recalling
the story of a dove that hung around
Matt
and Barbara's house. So the story about
the
birdy is in there.
Bill
came over with his what I call "garbage can" and
laid
down
these drum tracks. He knows how to use it.
Zip the
dog
confirms.
Looks
like Matt Jansky is playing acoustic
guitar
- but he's actually playing bass. Using
an
octave divider (that's what it was called
in the 70s, Robin Trower, etc.) to lay a low
bass
tone. |
Puke
N Vomit Releases Max and the Makeups Vinyl LP (2015)
Puke n Vomit
Records of Fullerton California has released a 10-song,
full length Vinyl LP titled "Chasing the Monsters"
(the title track song written by Larry Seaman of the
Standing Waves).
This marks
the second Makeups release on Puke N Vomit Records.
In 2010, the label released a 4-song ep (see below).
80s
Max and the Makeups releases first record 26 years after
the band's demise
(2010)
Orange
County's
Puke N Vomit Records found Max and the Makeups music
here at Not Records Tapes and asked "Why hasn't
this band ever been released?" Puke N Vomit
has released a 4-song ep with the songs Poland, Day
In Day Out, 60-Minute Man, and Let Go. Click below
to listen to MP3 recordings of the songs and all of
Max and the Makeups major studio works.
Max
and the Makeups is back row, left to right: Max
Gottlieb, Mike Alvarez, Lisa Gamache. Bottom row,
left to right: Jon Howard (a.k.a. Jonie Hell), and the
late Karl Remstam. Photo by Kevin Smith.
To order disc, click
Discogs
or Puke
N Vomit Records
See
Max and the Makeups video and photos from 2010 Summer
California Mini Tour
Click
Here
Max
and the Makeups' Lisa Gamache and Mike Alvarez revved
up for a West Coast mini-tour this past summer.
The group's first show in over 25 years was at the Riff
Haus in Fullerton California. The following day,
the group performed at a house gig near UC Santa Barbara. Also
filling in for the group's original members: Matt
Jansky (rhythm guitar), Bill Dumas (drums) and Schuyler
Hupp (bass guitar).
A
follow-up LP with Puke N Vomit Records is in the talking
stages.
Ken
Jones News
(2015)
Ken
Jones Records "Where Have All the Flowers Gone"
(Daisy's Song).
Ken
Jones recording vocal tracks - Los Angeles
Matt
Jansky arranged the Ken Jones song "Where Have
All the Flowers Gone" with Matt on bass and rhythm
guitar, Bill Dumas on percussion, and Mike Alvarez on
lead guitar.
Click
here to listen.
Mike
Alvarez , Ken Jones performs at Pig N Whistle, Friday
Sept 26, 2014, 9PM
Mike
Alvarez – Bizmeaux
Studios
Kelly Shoenholz (2014)
Sessions.
Austin ,
TX
(2006)
Mike
Alvarez will be
performing a short set, acoustic solo, this Friday at
9:30PM
at the Pig N Whistle in Hollywood
. Alvarez will be
following long-time friend/songwriting collaborator/poet
Ken Jones' set that starts at 9PM
. Ken will be playing
a 30 minute set promoting his new works “Face of the
Apocalypse”.
The
Pig N Whistle
6714
Hollywood Blvd. ,
Hollywood ,
CA .
Phone
(323) 463-0000
Cover:
$5 (All Ages)
Parking:
Best place to park – There is a public parking lot one
block south of the P n W. Hollywood Highland parking
is close. Street parking possible. P n W is a great
place to dine – and prices are great for the quality
of food served. Make it a night.
Mike
Alvarez 2010 ep "Yes It's Good"
"Yes
It's Good". Art by Angela
Duncan
In
2014, the single "Yes It's Good", from the
2010 Mike Alvarez EP of
the same name, has been released on iTunes.
In 2010, Mike
Alvarez recorded the 4-song EP titled "Yes
It's Good". All four songs are available for free
down load. Click here
Featured
guest artists include Lisa Gamache & Jonie Hell
from Max & The Makeups, Ron Schafer (F.Y.C.K.) and
Schuyler Hupp. Cover art by Angela
Duncan
View
and Listen to Mike Alvarez 2012 Tour Dates Performances
Hollywood,
CA
April
27
Pig
N Whistle
click
here to view
live
footage
San
Antonio, TX
July
7
7:30PM
- Live on Casbah Radio
click
here to listen to July 7 pod cast
10:30PM
- Moses Roses Hideout
click
here to view live club performance
Woodshock
Minister of Logic Robert Baylis, Saustex Media/head
Hickoids
Jeff Smith and Mike Alvarez in the smoking section at
Moses
Roses.
Photo by Gina Evins.
Austin,
TX
July
8
Antone's
Record Store
In
Store Performance
with
Mike Buck on snare drum
VIDEO
TRACKS
click
here
to view Alvarez and Buck's in-store video footage performance
of Danny Kirwan's "Jewel Eyed Judy"
click
here
to view Alvarez performing the Alvarez-Jones song "The
Gospel Song"
click
here
to view Alvarez performing the Alvarez-Jones song "The
Bridge"
MUSIC
TRACKS
click
on the blue songs below to listen
1.
Heart Beat (Buddy Holly)
2.
Hungry For Your Love (Roky Erickson)
3.
Rebecca Take Me Away (M. Alvarez, K. Jones)
4.
One Together (Jeremy Spencer)
5.
Jewel Eyed Judy (Danny Kirwan)
6.
Love (M. Alvarez)
Indy
music God Larry Seaman and Mike Alvarez at
Antone's
Record Store.
Portland,
OR
July
11
Plews
Brews
with
Mike Jensen on jug
click
here to listen
to "Tell Me" with John Paraday joining on
the juice harp
Mike
Jensen (left), Mike Alvarez (center) jam with Dan Cook
and The Palavers at Plews Brews, Portland, OR July 11.
Mike
Alvarez Records Aimee Lane
Aimee Lane at Antone's Record Store July 8, 2012. Photo
by Mike Buck
While
in Austin performing at Antone's Record Store, producer
musician Mike Alvarez had Aimee Lane jump up and play
at the suggestion of store owner, drummer Mike Buck.
Alvarez recorded some demo material for Aimee the next
day. Click on the track below.
1.
Snake Charmer
2.
What The Hell Are These Holes
3.
Buzz
4.
Too Much Time on my Hands
All
songs ©Aimee Lane Music (ASCAP)
Mike
Alvarez Hits the Road in July
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE July
1, 2012
Mike
Alvarez Mini Tour Continues with Shows in Three Cities
in July
Mike
Alvarez continues his “Songs of Influence Tour” which
began on his birthday April 27th , at Hollywood's Pig
N Whistle. You can view the You Tube footage of Alvarez's
performance of Buddy Holly's ‘Heart Beat” and Roky Erickson's
“Hungry for Your Love” at notrecordstapes.com and at
You Tube
click here
Austin
native Alvarez has been writing and performing his Texas
psychedelic rock songs since the 1970s. A former collaborator
with Thirteenth Floor Elevators' icon Roky Erickson,
Alvarez has carried on that psychedelic tradition that
began in the 1960s, adding his own L. A. Influence to
the Texas acid rock-driven sound. A filmmaker as well
as songwriter, he performed with Erickson in the 1984
documentary Demon Angel - A Day and Night with Roky
Erickson. Alvarez later produced an updated version
of the film and soundtrack in 1994 that was released
on Amsterdamned Records.
His
current tour, which he calls “Songs of Influence,” began
in April at Hollywood's Pig N Whistle. YouTube video
footage of Alvarez's performance of Buddy Holly's ‘Heart
Beat” and Roky Erickson's “Hungry for Your Love” from
that show can be viewed on YouTube and notrecordstapes.com.
The
songs of influence are artists that influenced Alvarez,
artists that were heavily influenced by the great Buddy
Holly. In addition to original Alvarez material, he
will cover Buddy's “Heart Beat” and songs by artists
Roky Erickson, Danny Kirwan and Jeremy Spencer of the
blues era Fleetwood Mac.
In
Portland, Alvarez will share the stage at Plews with
The Palavers, a Portland band with a play list ranging
from originals by band members Greene Lawson and Dan
Cook to songs by Robbie Robertson, Woody Guthrie, Neil
Young, The Grateful Dead, Gene Clarke, the Band and
Bob Dylan. Cook and Alvarez describe themselves as “old
L.A. hangin' out buddies” who previously collaborated
in a Roky Erickson tribute band.
July
Tour Dates:
Saturday,
July 7, 7PM
Live
on Casbah Radio (
KSYM
90.1 San Antonio, TX)
Broadcasting
online at www.ksym.org
Saturday,
July 7, 10PM
Moses
Roses Hideout
518
E. Houston St.
San
Antonio, TX 78205
(210)
775-1808
It
will be a great Saturday night at Moses Rose's Hideout
as two of San Antonio 's faves Snowbyrd and The In &
Outlaws are joined by out of town amigos Mike Alvarez
( Los Angeles ) and Misty White ( Memphis ). Mike is
a Rio Grande Valley native who played in Austin band
Max & The Makeups, produced Roky Erickson and Daniel
Johnston (among others) and has continued to play and
record over the past thirty years or so. Misty White
is a one of a kind off the wall songstress who was in
seminal Memphis riot-girl out the Hellcats and has also
played drums with Tav Falco, Townes Van Zandt and others.
DJ EPSR will spin between sets. Be there.
Sunday,
July 8, 3PM
Antone's
Record Store
2928
Guadalupe St., #101
Austin,
TX 78705
(512)
322-0660
Wednesday,
July 11, 10PM
Plews
Brews
8409
N. Lombard
Portland,
OR 97203
(503)
283-2243
"Ken Jones' Subpoena: Witness an Empire's
Decay "is now available at CD Baby
click
here
Ken Jones' Subpoena: Witness an Empires Decay
(lp)
Late 80's Austin post punk Peace Corps have remastered
their 1989 album Pastures of Plenty for release on Not
Records Tapes.
