Shakefork Records

Shakefork Records was run out of Downer's Grove, IL, and started by Ray Kolenko in 1990. Most of the bands on the label would fall under the "emo-core" tag. Sometime in 1991, Ray handed control of the label over to Scott Broadhurst, of the band Friction. Scott continued to run the label until he moved to California, after which both Friction and Shakefork ceased to exist. The label's last release, a split between Friction and Cap'n Jazz, was delayed by Scott's move. Rumor had it that Kolenko was unhappy about how the label ended and had given the name to some kids in Wisconsin to continue it, but nothing ever surfaced, so this was probably nothing more that idle talk. In 2009, Ray announced that Shakefork was being resurrected under the guidance of Neil Sandler.

Releases

• Manneqvin Hand - Jow 7" (SF #1 1990)
• Target - Going Up 7" (SF #2 1990)
  • On gold vinyl
• Ivy League - Gub 7" (SF #3 1990)
  • On red vinyl
• Weedeater - Get The Job Done 7" (SF #4 1990)
• Gauge - "Carving Belt" b/w "Midwest" (SF #? 1991)
  • Only 100 copies were pressed and given away at a Gauge show in 1991. The songs come from the band's demo tape. This is sometimes referred to as the "Ray Kolenko Seven Inch".
• Various Artists - No Punks in the Pit 7" (SF #5 1991)
  • Features Ivy League, Dickey Mo, Billingsgate, and Manneqvin Hand.
• Various Artists - Decline of the Western Suburbs 7" (SF #6 1991)
  • Features Time Out, Apocalypse Hoboken, Target, Slaphappy, and Weedeater.
• Gauge - Blank 7" (SF #7 1992)
  • On blue vinyl
• Friction - Makeshift 7" (SF #8 1992)
  • On aqua swirl vinyl
• Various Artists - It's A Punk Thing, You Wouldn't Understand LP (SF #9 1993)
  • Features Gauge, Bollweevils, Smoking Popes, Cap'n Jazz, Friction, Screeching Weasel, Heel, and Angerhouse.
  • Some copies feature Shakefork's address crossed out with black marker. This was done presumably after Scott Broadhurst moved.
• Friction/Cap'n Jazz - Nothing Dies With Blue Skies split 7" (SF #10 1994?)
  • Features a San Francisco PO Box as the label's address.
• Gauge - Mints 7" (SF # 11 2010)
  • Given away at Gauge 2010 reunion show in Chicago
  • Comes with a download code that includes 2 additional songs
• Gauge - II digital compilation (SF # 12, 2010)
  • • 2nd half of Gauge's discography (the first half had been released by Tree Records on CD in 2000)
• Red Villian - Into The City's Arms digital album (SF # 13, 2011)
• Rollo Tomasi - Coward CD/digital album (SF # 14, 2010)
• Gauge - 153 DVD (SF # 15)
  • Documentary about Gauge
• Various Artists - For Kenna Rae digital compilation (SF # 15, 2011)
  • Benefit compilation for Kenna Rae Parfrey who, at age 4, was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia in 2010

Notes

• No Punks In The Pit and Decline Of The Western Suburbs were meant to be released together, but the label did not have the money to pay for the pressing of a double EP. Interestingly, the two comps feature the singers of Ivy League and Target on the cover of opposite records in which their bands appear.

Links

• Shakefork Records on My Space - Run by founder Ray Kolenko
• Official Website