Plan-It-X Records (PIX) was an
independent record label
An independent record label (or indie label) is a record label that operates without the funding or distribution of major record labels; they are a type of small- to medium-sized enterprise, or SME. The labels and artists are often represented ...
. Originally based in
Georgetown, Indiana, PIX was based out of
Bloomington, Indiana
Bloomington is a city in and the county seat of Monroe County in the central region of the U.S. state of Indiana. It is the seventh-largest city in Indiana and the fourth-largest outside the Indianapolis metropolitan area. According to the Mo ...
following brief stints in
Olympia, Washington
Olympia is the capital of the U.S. state of Washington and the county seat and largest city of Thurston County. It is southwest of the state's most populous city, Seattle, and is a cultural center of the southern Puget Sound region.
Europea ...
,
Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville is the county seat of Alachua County, Florida, and the largest city in North Central Florida, with a population of 141,085 in 2020. It is the principal city of the Gainesville metropolitan area, which had a population of 339,247 in ...
, and
Cairo, Illinois
Cairo ( ) is the southernmost city in Illinois and the county seat of Alexander County.
The city is located at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. Fort Defiance, a Civil War camp, was built here in 1862 by Union General Ulysse ...
. The label released
folk punk
Folk punk (known in its early days as rogue folk) is a fusion of folk music and punk rock. It was popularized in the early 1980s by the Pogues in England, and by Violent Femmes in the United States. Folk punk achieved some mainstream success in ...
and
pop punk
Pop punk (or punk pop) is a rock music genre that combines elements of punk rock with power pop or pop. It is defined for its emphasis on classic pop songcraft, as well as adolescent and anti- suburbia themes, and is distinguished from other p ...
music, including
Against Me!
Against Me! is an American punk rock band formed in 1997 in Naples, Florida, by singer and guitarist Laura Jane Grace. That same year, Grace moved to Gainesville, Florida, which is considered the band's hometown. Since 2001, the band's lineup ...
's ''
Crime As Forgiven By'', other releases include albums by
This Bike Is a Pipe Bomb
This Bike Is a Pipe Bomb were a folk punk band from Pensacola, Florida, United States. Their first recording was released in 1997 on Ghostmeat Records. Their later releases have been on Plan It X Records and No Idea Records, but now appear on t ...
,
Defiance, Ohio
Defiance is a city in and the county seat of Defiance County, Ohio, United States, about southwest of Toledo and northeast of Fort Wayne, Indiana, in Ohio's northwestern corner. The population was 16,494 at the 2010 census.
History
The city ...
, Ghost Mice,
Japanther
Japanther was an American punk band established by Matt Reilly and Ian Vanek, then students at Pratt Institute. Japanther was featured in the 2006 Whitney Biennial and the 2011 Venice Biennale, and collaborated with a diverse pool of artists su ...
, The Bananas,
Operation: Cliff Clavin, and
Antsy Pants and
Fifteen.
History
Founded in 1994 by Samantha Jane Dorsett, Plan-It-X held a
DIY punk ethic
"Do it yourself" ("DIY") is the method of building, modifying, or repairing things by oneself without the direct aid of professionals or certified experts. Academic research has described DIY as behaviors where "individuals use raw and sem ...
. The label sold all CDs for five dollars or less. PIX's slogan reads: "If it ain't cheap, it ain't punk". PIX attempted to demonstrate that the practices of
major record labels
A record label, or record company, is a brand or trademark of music recordings and music videos, or the company that owns it. Sometimes, a record label is also a publishing company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the produc ...
do not need to be duplicated by independent record labels in order to be successful. They supported other small labels and encourage others to do so as well (and even go as far as to suggest starting your own label).
The label was run by Chris Johnston, who goes by the name Chris Clavin (For the band name Operation: Cliff Clavin) and his friends.
Johnston formerly played in the bands Ghost Mice and
Imperial Can, as well as his solo acts
Captain Chaos
''The Cannonball Run'' is a 1981 action comedy film. It was directed by Hal Needham, produced by Hong Kong's Golden Harvest films, and distributed by 20th Century Fox. Filmed in Panavision, it features an all-star ensemble cast, including Bu ...
. Chris is a former band member of
Operation: Cliff Clavin, The Devil Is Electric, The Ted Dancin' Machine,
Peanucle,
The Sissies,
Tooth Soup
A tooth ( : teeth) is a hard, calcified structure found in the jaws (or mouths) of many vertebrates and used to break down food. Some animals, particularly carnivores and omnivores, also use teeth to help with capturing or wounding prey, t ...
and
The Jammy Dodgers.
Beyond the release of musical albums, Plan-It-X has released a book by author
Greg Wells
Greg Wells is a Canadian musician, record producer, songwriter and audio engineer. Wells has songs on over 130 million albums sold. He has worked with John Legend, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Ariana Grande, Jazmine Sullivan, Kid Cudi, Adele, Rufus ...
(''Complete Control: An Anthology 1997-2005''), the
zine
A zine ( ; short for '' magazine'' or '' fanzine'') is a small-circulation self-published work of original or appropriated texts and images, usually reproduced via a copy machine. Zines are the product of either a single person or of a very s ...
My Friend Bubby, as well as a DVD featuring live performances of bands filmed during Plan-It-X Fest 2004 (see below). A documentary was released in 2010, put together from footage shot across the week of the 2006 Plan-It-X Fest. Clavin closed the label in 2016, writing that since it was not financially possible to release music in a physical format, and since bands could now easily release their music on their own, the label had outlived its original purpose.
In August and September 2017, Clavin was accused of one act of non-consensual sexual contact and other incidents of interpersonal misconduct. Clavin said, "I no longer play in any bands. I no longer run a record label or publishing company. I will settle all affairs and orders of course, and pay all outstanding debts and invoices." Many artists who worked with Plan-It-X made public statements condemning Clavin's alleged behavior and assured fans that their prior Plan-It-X releases, in most cases out of print, would not be re-released under the Plan-It-X name. Some of these artists include
AJJ and
Kimya Dawson
Kimya Dawson (born November 17, 1972) is an American folk singer-songwriter, one half of the anti-folk duo the Moldy Peaches. Dawson's work with the Moldy Peaches earned them a cult following and critical acclaim, with their 2001 song " Anyone El ...
. His bandmate in Ghost Mice, Hannah O'Connor, posted the following on Facebook, quoted by ''PunkNews'' in response to the allegations: "Since I have been Chris' friend for a long time, I know that he is being accused of things he has not done. I know there are a lot of false allegations, rumors, and lies spreading very fast about him."
Plan-It-X Fest
In 2004 Plan-It-X Records celebrated its 10-year anniversary with a three-day festival in Bloomington, Indiana. A large portion of the bands involved with the label performed throughout the three-day event.
With the success of the 2004 fest, Plan-It-X decided to take the festival on the road the following year in 2005 with a number of their bands in a school bus. The school bus toured throughout the Eastern and Midwestern
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., federal district, five ma ...
.
2006 saw th
third Plan-It-X festreturn to Bloomington as a six-day "Punk Rock
Summer Camp
A summer camp or sleepaway camp is a supervised program for children conducted during the summer summer vacation, months in some countries. Children and adolescents who attend summer camp are known as ''campers''. Summer school is usually a part ...
," with bands playing every night and workshops and other activities throughout the afternoon. Like the two previous fests, 2006's fest raised money for charity. This year a total of $8,200 was split amongst three different charities.
2011 saw the fourth Plan-It-X Fest. It took place on June 24, 25, and 26 in Bloomington, Indiana. Like previous fests, this one was a benefit for several grassroots organizations. It also marked the release of PIX99, a book based on founder Samantha Dorsett's life.
The 5th Plan-It-X Fest happened in 2012.
The 6th Plan-It-X Fest took place in 2014 in Spencer, IN.
The 7th and final Plan-It-X Fest took place in
Spencer, IN from July 22 to the 24th, 2016. This festival was filmed for a short
YouTube
YouTube is a global online video sharing and social media platform headquartered in San Bruno, California. It was launched on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim. It is owned by Google, and is the second most ...
documentary by Punk With A Camera entitled "And One For Good Luck - The Last Plan-It-X Fest". Artists performing included
Ramshackle Glory
Patrick Schneeweis, known better by his stage name Pat the Bunny, is a retired American musician, singer-songwriter and producer. He has been the front man of notable folk punk and anarcho-punk groups Johnny Hobo and the Freight Trains, Wingnut ...
, Ghost Mice, Terror Pigeon, The Wild,
Pioneers Press author
Adam Gnade, Super Famicon, Erin Tobey,
Your Heart Breaks
Your Heart Breaks is an indie rock band from Seattle, Washington (state), Washington led by artist and musician Clyde Petersen. The group was formed in Bellingham, Washington in 1998. Petersen is transgender and his songwriting, particularly on ...
and many more.
Bands and artists
The following is an alphabetized list of artists that have worked with Plan-It-X to release projects on the label. Some of these bands overlap with Plan-It-X South bands (see below regarding PIX South).
* Abe Froman
*
Against Me!
Against Me! is an American punk rock band formed in 1997 in Naples, Florida, by singer and guitarist Laura Jane Grace. That same year, Grace moved to Gainesville, Florida, which is considered the band's hometown. Since 2001, the band's lineup ...
*
AJJ
* Andrew Lips
*
Antsy Pants
* The Bananas
* The Blank Fight
* Best Friends Forever
* Beyond Things
* Brook Pridemore
*
Captain Chaos
''The Cannonball Run'' is a 1981 action comedy film. It was directed by Hal Needham, produced by Hong Kong's Golden Harvest films, and distributed by 20th Century Fox. Filmed in Panavision, it features an all-star ensemble cast, including Bu ...
* Carrie Nations
*
The Connie Dungs
The Connie Dungs were an American punk rock band from Ashland, Kentucky, formed in 1994.
Biography
The Connie Dungs described themselves as "a poppy snotty punk band similar in style to The Ramones and, later, Jawbreaker". They existed as an ...
* The Dauntless Elite
* Dave Dean's Musical Forklift
* Dead Bird
*
Defiance, Ohio
Defiance is a city in and the county seat of Defiance County, Ohio, United States, about southwest of Toledo and northeast of Fort Wayne, Indiana, in Ohio's northwestern corner. The population was 16,494 at the 2010 census.
History
The city ...
* Delay
*
The Devil Is Electric
''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in En ...
* Disarm
* Dogbreth
* The Door-Keys
*
Emperor X
* Eric Ayotte
Erin Tobey*
Fifteen
* The Four Eyes
* The Future Virgins
* Ghost Mice
* Greg Wells
* Halo Fauna
*
Heathers
''Heathers'' is a 1989 American black comedy film written by Daniel Waters and directed by Michael Lehmann, in both of their respective film debuts. The film stars Winona Ryder, Christian Slater, Shannen Doherty, Lisanne Falk, Kim Walker, ...
* Henry Rollins and the Sweater Band
* I Like Japanese Hardcore
* Imperial Can
* James Black
*
Japanther
Japanther was an American punk band established by Matt Reilly and Ian Vanek, then students at Pratt Institute. Japanther was featured in the 2006 Whitney Biennial and the 2011 Venice Biennale, and collaborated with a diverse pool of artists su ...
* Kyle Hall
* Lava Lava
* Left Out
* Los Gatos Negros
* Lycka Till
*
Madeline Adams
* Madeline Ava
* Matty Pop Chart
*
The Max Levine Ensemble
* Michael Jumpshot Touchdown Pass
* Mitch the Champ
* One Reason
* ONSIND
*
Operation: Cliff Clavin
*
Pat the bunny
''Pat the Bunny'' is the first "touch and feel" interactive children's book, written and illustrated by Dorothy Kunhardt. Since its publication in 1940, it has been a perennial best-seller in the United States. Rather than follow a linear nar ...
*
Paul Baribeau
* Peanucle
* Punkin Pie
*
Ramshackle Glory
Patrick Schneeweis, known better by his stage name Pat the Bunny, is a retired American musician, singer-songwriter and producer. He has been the front man of notable folk punk and anarcho-punk groups Johnny Hobo and the Freight Trains, Wingnut ...
* Rosa
* Russ Substance
* Sara Cilantro
* Saw Wheel
* Sexy
* Shotwell
*
The Sissies
*
Soophie Nun Squad
* Spoonboy
* Stressface
* Street Eaters
* Super Bobby
* The Taxpayers
* The Ted Dancin' Machine
* The Tiger
*
This Bike Is a Pipe Bomb
This Bike Is a Pipe Bomb were a folk punk band from Pensacola, Florida, United States. Their first recording was released in 1997 on Ghostmeat Records. Their later releases have been on Plan It X Records and No Idea Records, but now appear on t ...
* Watercolor Paintings
*
Waxahatchee
Waxahatchee is an American indie music project, formed in 2010 by American singer-songwriter Katie Crutchfield (born 4 January 1989), previously a member of P.S. Eliot. The band is named after Waxahatchee Creek, in Alabama, where Crutchfield gr ...
* Whiskey Smile!
* Will Power
*
Your Heart Breaks
Your Heart Breaks is an indie rock band from Seattle, Washington (state), Washington led by artist and musician Clyde Petersen. The group was formed in Bellingham, Washington in 1998. Petersen is transgender and his songwriting, particularly on ...
Plan-It-X South
Overview
Plan-It-X South is a part of the main Plan-It-X label, but is run by Teddy Helmick of
This Bike Is a Pipe Bomb
This Bike Is a Pipe Bomb were a folk punk band from Pensacola, Florida, United States. Their first recording was released in 1997 on Ghostmeat Records. Their later releases have been on Plan It X Records and No Idea Records, but now appear on t ...
. Plan-It-X carries all of the Plan-It-X South releases in their catalog. This arrangement benefits Chris Johnston, as Teddy operates and finances PIX South, so the burden is taken off of Johnston. And since the releases are distributed through the main PIX catalog, it allows Teddy the opportunity to take part in the production and release of more music, distributed through a channel already proven successful.
PIX South shares the same
DIY punk ethic
"Do it yourself" ("DIY") is the method of building, modifying, or repairing things by oneself without the direct aid of professionals or certified experts. Academic research has described DIY as behaviors where "individuals use raw and sem ...
of its mother label.
[Retrieved on 2009-06-16 http://www.plan-it-x.org/artist/future-virgins-the/ ]
PIX South Bands
* ADD/C
* Friday Knight
* The Future Virgins
* The Hidden Spots
* Landlord
* PantyShanty
* Rymodee
* Sexy
* Stressface
*
This Bike Is a Pipe Bomb
This Bike Is a Pipe Bomb were a folk punk band from Pensacola, Florida, United States. Their first recording was released in 1997 on Ghostmeat Records. Their later releases have been on Plan It X Records and No Idea Records, but now appear on t ...
See also
*
List of record labels
File:Alvinoreyguitarboogie.jpg
File:AmMusicBunk78.jpg
File:Bingola1011b.jpg
Lists of record labels cover record labels, brands or trademarks associated with marketing of music recordings and music videos. The lists are organized alphabetically, b ...
Notes
External links
*
{{Authority control
American independent record labels
Record labels established in 1994
Punk record labels