KJZZ | By Amber Victoria Singer

This Valentine’s Day we’re thinking about different types of love. Ryan Avery is a local artist, musician and the brain behind Related Records. They recently put together a zine called "please, celebrate me while i am alive." Here’s Avery reading part of the first page of the zine:

“A few months before my friend Fatima passed away in their sleep, I was having a great conversation with them about death. Fatima said something to the effect of, ‘I really don't care what happens to me after I die, or how I am remembered, I just want to be celebrated and enjoyed by others while I am alive.’ So this is my first attempt at celebrating the lives of people that are important to me and sharing that with others while they are still alive.”

Volume 1 of "please, celebrate me while i am alive" features Avery’s 80-year-old neighbor Cia Lorde. They first met around six years ago, and Avery says Lorde is one of the "coolest and most interesting" people they’ve ever met.
​
RYAN AVERY: My neighbor that lived behind me was doing some sort of neighborhood party, and she was like, “oh, you should meet Cia. You two are going to get along great.”

And, we did get along great. My wife and I invited her over to our house after talking about art, because she said she wanted to see all of our things that we had in the house, and she just, like, lit up when she saw. Our house, and she was like, “you have to come see my house.” Our house is kind of like an art gallery or a museum, and Cia's house is the same way, but it's all like wood and concrete and recycled pieces.

All of the art in her house is amazing. She does some painting, she does photography, she does collage, she does sculpture. My favorite pieces that she does is her collage. She'll do collages with her own photography. Just like cutting the photos into odd shapes, and then fitting them together into different things.

I used to be on the board for the Trunk Space, which is an all ages music venue. I asked Cia if she would be interested in having an art show there, and at first she said yes. And then, like two days later, said no. And that began the discussion of like, “why? why don't you want to share this with other people?”, and she said, "I just don't care to. Like, I don't care if other people like it or see it. I enjoy sharing it with people like you, and I enjoy, you know, sharing it with other close friends that I have.”

I visit with her, probably on average once a week. Sometimes it's just for a few minutes, sometimes it's for hours. Sarah and I will invite her over for dinner like once a month, and whenever we make too much of something, we share it with her.

Cia and I will talk about everything. It's such a natural flow, like, the way it is when you stay up late with your best friend or something. I went over there the other day to bring her something, and she just asked me about how often we're using our heater, and that led to a discussion about the way people think about heaters, depending on the way they were raised. Before I knew it, I was talking to her for over an hour, and I was like, “oh well, this really was supposed to be just like, you know, a three-minute drop-off,” but I just enjoy talking to her so much.

Almost every time I see her, I'll ask her about her day, and I'm so jealous. She's just like, “I woke up, you know, whenever I felt like it, I took care of my plants. I started making art while I drank coffee. I did some organizing. I read a book.”

In August, Sarah and I had Cia over for dinner, and I knew the whole time that I wanted Cia to be the first person I make a zine about. We were talking about birthdays, and we're like, “Cia, when's your birthday?” And she's like, “oh, it was last week,” and we're like, “oh, happy birthday. Did you do anything?” And she's like, “no, I didn't tell anyone about it either.” We're like, “OK.” I asked her how old she was, and she said 80. And I was like, “well, I should get going on this project.”

I didn't ask her first. I just made like, five copies at first, cause I also didn't want to go forward with making more until I knew how she felt about it. But yeah, so I just made a few, gave her the first one, and she was like, “this is amazing, this is so cool. I'm so lucky to be involved with you this way.” So then I went ahead and made 30.

​I have a few other people that I have in mind to do profiles about, but I mean, really. Everyone should be celebrated more before they die.

Who are you and are you in a band or do you perform solo? If in a band(s), what is the name of that band?
My name is Ryan Avery (they/them pronouns). I’m in a Queer Ska band called The Terri’s — we don’t have any recordings, havent played any shows and are on hiatus because of COVID but I am one of the 4 singers in the band. I also perform solo under the name “Hi My Name Is Ryan” which consists of me just singing songs and telling stories and doing other forms of performance art.

What instrument(s) do you play?
I don’t play any instruments, but I have played drums and guitar and keys for many different bands over the years.

How long have you been making music? And what first drew you to your craft?
I have been writing songs since I was a child, I have been performing live music and art since 2002. Growing up with older siblings who are into punk and alternative music drew me into the craft of writing music, and seeing live music (specifically local thrashcore/artschool band Hammered Dr. Destructo) drew me into performing live.

What was your favorite show of all the shows you’ve ever played?
Favorite Hi My Name Is Ryan show is any show where I see people cry because I know they are really feeling and hearing me.

What are you listening to during this period of social distancing?
I have been listening to music pretty much constantly since I started social distancing in the beginning of March. If it gets silent and I have to think for too long about how I am feeling I just start to cry so… music and cartoons non-stop in the house. I have been really enjoying these Golden Boots “Burning Brain Radio” mix tapes. The Golden Boots boys have this radio show in Tucson every Tuesday from 4-6 PM on 99.9FM, I never get a chance to listen to it live, but they make copies of the radio show on mix tapes later and they are such good, fun mixes.
I am also loving these Bandcamp days that Bandcamp has been doing every month (I hope they continue, but I think they are probably gonna stop). It’s fun to add things to my Bandcamp Wishlist throughout the month and then come up with a spending budget and spend all that money at once buying music from artists and know 100% of the funds are going directly to them or the organization they donate to. Then spend the next month listening to and enjoying all that new music. You can see what I am buying and wishlisting at bandcamp.com/majesticryan. My top 9 most listened to albums on my mobile Bandcamp app are
:
1. The Funny Uncles “Writin’ Songs”
2. Dear Nora “Three States”
3. Various Artists “The Rebellious Jukebox Plays Northern Soul Stormers” (This is a comp of 100 different amazing Northern Soul songs)
4. Bessie Jones “Get In Union”
5. Kleenex/Liliput “Discography”
6. They Might Be Giants “Then: The Early Years”
7. Jackie Shane “Jackie Shane: Any Other Way”
8. Neo Boys “Sooner Or Later”
9. The Dezurik Sisters “Yodel and Sing Their Greatest Hits”

I would also like to mention that I feel like the musical works of Dorian Wood is the perfect soundtrack to what I feel like most of the world is experiencing right now, so I have been listening to a lot of their music since I started social distancing.

Ryan Avery joined us for our third episode of Band Basics and we talk the basics on forming a band, running a label, not sinking your money into backstock, plus a whole lot more. Hosted by Mark Anderson, catch this hour long conversation with Ryan and (hopefully) learn a thing or two as they discuss a myriad of topics about being in the music business.
​
Check out our interview with Ryan below and make sure to tune in to each episode of Band Basics where we feature new guests and advice for musicians on every episode.
--
So, here’s the deal. We’re always receiving questions from musicians that fall outside the scope of information we usually offer as a publication. Over the history of our website we’ve tried to offer helpful hints here and there on a variety of subjects, from booking shows to contacting the press, but we feel that we should delve even further. Welcome to Band Basics 101.

Ryan Avery is majestic.

The oddball vocalist who practically grew up in the Phoenix scene and now runs a weirdo/specialty label, Related Records. Not only is it an avenue for his own musical projects, he’s released a bevy of albums by some awesome Arizona acts including Dinosaur Love, Human Behavior, Serene Dominic, Space Alien Donald, and Treasure Mammal to name but a few.

And who can forget the compilations? A master curator, Ryan has released such classics as Everybody’s Looking At Their Phone, Where’s The White Shadow? (a tribute to the hardcore and punk catalog of the Beastie Boys), and SELF: a compilation of music that is self aware and self absorbed., again, to name but just a few.

​Sure, he’s had a documentary film made about him, played over 1,000 shows, and sometimes DJs — yet he remains the humblest of men. Ryan took the time to catch up with us and fill us in on some history, what’s happening now in Camp Avery, and offer a sneak peek forward to some future endeavors. Read the full interview below…

Ryan Avery of Related Records is a staple of the Phoenix music scene and we are super excited that he has returned to the city after a short bout abroad (in Los Angeles). In addition to heading up the Related Records cast of oddballs, Avery is a musician and performer in his own right with acts like Fathers Day and Drunk & Horny when he isn’t busy throwing shows, promoting bands on his label, or documenting life in pictures for Disposable Babies.

1. Captain Ahab“I Don’t Have A Dick”
Captain Ahab Is one of my favorite bands to come out of the post-9/11 art punk scene of the early 2000’s and features my friend Jonathan Snipes who later went on to form the Hip-Hop group “clipping”.

2. James Kochalka Superstar“Finest French Soap”
James Kochalka is one of my most influential artists of all time. I feel really lucky to have discovered his music at such a young age and have it shape me and my own song writing abilities. This is from his last full length album which is called “Beautiful Man” and was released on Related Records.

3. Splinter Cake“Sugar And Me”
Tempe has always had a very tight-knit, fluid and “cool” music scene. Always changing depending on what’s the most current hip trend for college aged kids. I have never really been a “part” of this scene but have always appreciated and observed it for as long as I’ve been going to shows (almost 20 years now jeez!) and my favorite time musically was between 2005-2009 which is when all these brilliant experimental/folk/minimal-noise acts started forming (French Quarter, Foot Ox, Tent City, My Feral Kin, Businessman’s Lunch…etc.) But the artist who I feel made the biggest impact on me and definitely went the most underappreciated of them all was Splinter Cake. This song is one of his more straight forward/user friendly songs but if you dig into his catalog (if you are lucky enough to find it now that is) you’ll find such a prolific and brilliant scope of music and all of it is inspiring

4. Drew Danburry“Artex Died In Truth Or Consequences, NM”
For about 8-12 years Drew Danburry was one of the busiest and hardest working artists in the underground music scene. He is another artist who has a huge catalog of brilliant music but it’s mostly centered on pop. I put out a 3-cassette album for a new project of his last year called “The Funny Uncles” but this is my favorite song of his and I feel like everyone can enjoy it.

5. Songs For Moms“Come True (How They All Do)”
I booked a show for this band back in 2009. They played the Trunk Space with a couple of other punk bands, everyone played an okay set and barely anyone came. They were selling CD-R’s and had a few DIY packaged LP’s that they sold for cheap. It’s scenario I’ve seen and experienced SO MANY TIMES but there album “I Use To Believe In The West” is honestly one of the most played records I own. It’s just so good.

6.  iji“NRVOUS”
This is actually an old Uggamugga song that iji covered for a tribute compilation to Tristan Jemsek that came out in 2011. I love iji and wanted to include them on this list but also love (pretty much) everything Tristan Jemsek does and wanted to include a song from both of them that is more obscure and so this is my own sneaky way of doing that.

7. Rotten Musicians“Eggshells”
This group I actually don’t know that much about. My friend B.C. Sterrett burned me a CD-R of this album of theirs because he was excited about it and he supplied some of the samples they use from his massive (and bizarre) record collection. But I love it and whenever someone asks me for a suggestion on something new to listen to I always suggest this group.

8.  Quintron & Miss Pussycat“Spirit Hair”
It was really hard to narrow it down to one Q+P song. But I think this is the best example of their music and one of my favorite songs.

9. Realicide“The Shit Punx Hate Part 2”
Realicide is another brilliant and underappreciated post-9/11 art punk band from the early-mid 2000’s. Their music is very brutal, very raw and often terrifying. This is one of my favorite songs they have written about scene politics because I can definitely relate to feeling like a misfit in a room full of misfits.

10. The Dad“Shadow Babe”
Similar story to Songs for Moms I booked these guys in 2013 with some other punk bands, everyone was alright, barely anyone came, and they just had a couple cassette tapes for sale for cheap. This is from their album “Depression” which is easily the most played cassette tape I own. It’s just so fucking real and fun and simple, and this song in particular is catchy as hell.

Here is the 2 hour playlist from today’s DJ set at Renegade Craft Fair Los Angeles. All of these songs are available for purchase on our webstore or discogs page.
IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER:
Blue Meanies * Chicago, IL * USA - Smother Me
The Christian Family - Oh My, Don’t Cry
Ram Narayan, Pandit Mahapurush Misra, Shirish Gor - Dhun
The Del Vamps - Doom’s Boogie
Perez Prado - Cabo Frio
Supernova - How Much More
Human Behavior - Crag
Danielson - Jokin At The Block (Dymaxion Remix)
Quintron and Miss Pussycat - Shoplifter AND Not Good Enough
Drunk & horny - Poopin’ Safari AND (the first half of) The Poop Songs
Treasure MammaL - That’s The Way I Roll AND Stevie Wonder To The Bullshit
Mia Loucks - Girls
Turqouiz Noiz - Green Hair
The Pooches - Everything
No Paws (No Lions) - Don’t Be Afraid Of Where You Live AND Hills
Bad Manners - Ne-Ne Na-Na Na-Na Nu-Nu
Gefilte Joe And The Fish - Fairfax Avenue
Mojo Nixon and Skid Roper - Elvis Is Everywhere
Brave Combo - Who Stole The Kishka?
Youthbitch - Just Like Elvis
Foot Ox - Colorado Springs
King Dream Chorus & Holiday Crew - King Holiday (Long Version)
Andrew W.K. - Pushing Drugs
Young-Holt Unlimited - When I’m Not Around
Raffi - Ha Ha Thisway
The Crazy World of Arthur Brown - I’ve Got Money
Magic Kids (official) - Hey Boy
Like, Listen To (Drew Danburry) - Ego
The Bruce Lee Band - Do The Politicians Know
Slow Gherkin - Trapped Like Rats
The Make-Up - We’re Having A Baby
Lamanite Generation - Everybody’s Reachin’ Out For Someone
Chuck Berry - The Hucklebuck
Black Randy and the Metrosquad - Down At The Laundromat
SisQó - Thong Song (Super Jupiter Mao Tse Thong Club Mix)
Captain Ahab - Hurt
Anita Ward - Ring My Bell
Mary Ocher + Your Government - The Howl AND Calvary AND I Am A Tree

By Serene Dominic

It's odd that the initials of Donald Thomas Roth's chosen stage name spell out SAD because Space Alien Donald in performance was nothing but unrestrained joy. Most of us have probably met him where he had the home court advantage, at Funny World, the house he purchased on 12th Street and Madison, which he made into a downtown arts and performance venue in 2011. There, in what would have probably been someone else's boring living room, you could see him and countless other performers do the thing which would have made them Class 1A weirdos somewhere else. The property was supposed to be leveled after six months but through divine, maybe alien intervention, Funny World has lasted all this time and hosted more than 80 shows.

No matter how long it lasts, it will be a monument to Space Alien Donald, who died in his sleep on April 20. He was 79.

In human years, anyway.

Having already dubbed himself Space Alien, the 70-year-old didn't feel that he needed to also include his longer moniker,"The World's Oldest Gay Canadian Rapper," perhaps surmising that being Canadian was alien enough for most people. With a head-plate festooned with pastel-colored spikes, alien sunglasses and maybe a festive planet print dress, Space Age Donald would rap old-school over a primitive beat box that looked like a Radio Shack tape recorder. What might pass for rap in outer space sounded more like talk-sing to earthlings. No matter. The subject matter could be about how ugly robots shouldn't have sex or the prehistoric history of cell phones but it was always something meant to amuse.

And it did.

Donald was from the era when that's what performers were supposed to do — bring a smile to your face as opposed to the modern blueprint of an artist who sneers at his audience and takes their money without regrets. There is no doubt in this context alone that this septuagenarian had a profound influence over groups like Hug of War, Treasure MammaL, Father's Day, Diners, Dogbreth and Dinosaur Love. And the benefits were mutual, as being surrounded by so many 20-somethings this late in the game probably added a couple of years to his earth-bound life.

Hug of War's Jason Kron, who lived with Donald at Funny World, wrote in a Facebook post after the news broke that Donald was like "a father to me and a grandfather to my daughter. I constantly wanted his approval. He's been more influential to me than anyone I've ever known, and will continue to be a huge influence and inspiration to me for the rest of my life."

"As well-known and well-regarded as he was" he continues, "most knew him as merely an oddity and did not get to really know him. Those who did regularly have real conversations with him constantly learned new things about him. He despised all government and dreamed of a world of peace. He viewed the little details of the world with a fascination that I've never seen in another adult. He was incredibly generous and took care of the people he considered friends, because that's just what space aliens do. And when saying or doing anything, he did not for one second consider what others thought of him. We can all learn a lot from this."

Tyler Blue Broderick of Diners, "Living at Funny World will always be a highlight of my life. Donald was happy to meet everyone who attended a show at Funny World and he was supportive of everyone's art. He never stopped offering advice and he was adamant that we drop the things that make us unhappy so we could achieve our dreams. He is an inspiration to all humans and Earth was lucky to have him around."

Ryan Avery of Drunk and Horny and Father's Day says "Space Alien Donald was one of the first people I wanted to release music from when I started Related Records. But when I asked him he said 'Ahhh, no one wants to hear that.' Almost a year later, Jason Kron finally persuaded him to record an album's worth of material, although there is more that he has written. I am told that when he was recording, he insisted on every song being one take."

That album turned out to be last year's "Must Be Funny," which you can stream or download from Related Records.

Artist Daniel Funkhouser, who lives at Funny World and painted the venue's distinctive name on a carport wall outside the house, wrote a tribute on Space Alien Donald's Facebook page that said " I loved being around him because he constantly surprised me and it was impossible to guess what he'd think about anything.... We went to an art show last year where a performance artist asked him, 'What age are you deep inside?' Without hesitation Donald said 21. I love this memory of him."

Musician Ray Reeves admits "My last album would not have been possible with out him giving me free rent, so I could afford studio time. He was a brave soul, a nice man. I hope I am as cool as that, when I'm that old. "

One thing I always wondered was the talk of Donald being a "backyard scientist" and that Funny World would also be a place where he could conduct physics and gravity experiments. Was this part of Donald's story more alien shtick than reality? Ryan Avery sets me straight. "He had a laboratory set up in the front room of his house on Brill Street for years. He put it all away a few months ago I guess. "

Human gravity weighed heavy on Donald in his last months, having lost the ability to walk early this year and undergoing three major surgeries. But he handled death with the incredible lightness of being. According to Kron, "He spent his last waking moments doing the things he loved most: reading and eating ice cream."
For those who never experienced Space Alien Donald, this video directed by Ben Kitnick captures him at his best.
Travel easy, Space Alien Donald. Your "Not Yet Funny" button will never leave my lapel.
​
A show Space Alien Donald would've gone to this weekend.
Friday April 24 - Father's Day at Trunk Space
It's the eighth album from Douglas Patton and his charges entitled "That's It!" probably the last word you heard from your abusive dad before losing consciousness. Supporting them will be the Freaks of Nature, Big Vinny and the Cattle Thieves, Mooseknuckle Sandwich and Dinosaur Love. Here's a jazzy track from the album, available on Related Records, which emphatically states that Doug will never take his kids to Disney World. Disneyland, maybe. But not Disney World.

The Phoenix metropolitan area might just be the next music capital added to the map. Especially considering the number of Arizona labels out there continually working to push Arizona artists to the forefront. James Fella of Gilgongo Records and Ryan Avery of Related Records are two such individuals always moving toward a more musical future for our state. They might still need day jobs, but these two record executives are helping to define the sound of our city. Over the past year both labels released several new works, hosted more shows than we could keep track of, and these execs still had time to work on their personal musical endeavors.

Through Gilgongo Records, Fella offered re-issues or releases from several Arizona bands, including Cherie Cherie, Pigeon Religion, Vial of Sound, Mallevs, and others. And, as an added bonus, he even put together a 2014 recap of his projects on Mixcloud for your listening pleasure (here). There are even a few offerings on the mix from 2015 recordings he plans on releasing. Next year you can expect to hear more from Soft Shoulder, Detached Objects, Butter Knifes, as well as some out-of-state acts like Pedestrian Deposit and Silver Shadows, all on the Gilgongo label. This past December marked the 10 year anniversary of Gilgongo Records. We’re excited to see what the next decade brings.

Over at Related Records, Ryan Avery released a host of records from some of the Valley’s more unusual artists like Serene Dominic, Dinosaur Love, Space Alien Donald, and Avery’s own band, Drunk and Horny amongst others. Fathers Day, another Avery musical endeavor, also released a compiliation to commemorate their first ten years that features Soft Shoulder, one of James Fella’s personal musical projects. Related Records is a bit younger than Gilgongo, 2014 marking its second year of operation, but the label shows tremendous promise when it comes to helping the area’s underrepresented artists. In 2015, Related Records plans on releasing a new album from Tucson’s Human Behavior as well as a project known as the “Dick Compilation”.
​
If you’re interested in what’s going on with local music, you better have Gilgongo Records and Related Records on your radar.

I just finished making this poster. Now it’s official. Now people know. Now… I gotta finish making these records….
Here is the event page

By Serene Dominic

Although it reached this milestone with the minimal of fanfare, Ryan Avery's label of local eccentrics and their music, Related Records, has reached the one year mark and to commemorate it, Related Records is offering to sell its entire year's physical output of CDs and cassettes (15 in all and an $81 value) for only $50. Included in this cornucopia of cool are the likes of Drunk and Horny, Treasure Mammal, Quintron and Miss Pussycat, Father's Day, Sweat Lodge, Dinosaur Love, Mary Ocher and three other selections.

In the interest of full disclosure, there are two Serene Dominic cassettes included in this package. Two titles which I've been informed, much to my chagrin, are the worst selling items in the entire Related Records catalog. This confirms Related Records' selling point that I am truly "Phoenix Arizona's most under-appreciated artist EVER!" Related Records are only making ten of these bundles available and if they sell all out, it will be ten more copies than either of these cassette titles will sell likely sell in the near future.

Also included in "The 1st Year Bundle" is a live, direct-to-micro-cassette recording of the Aquabats (yes those Aquabats) playing an acoustic campfire set for their fans at a Cadet Beach Party in 2002 (Ryan Avery was Cadet #3489). Not sure what the legality is behind issuing such a cassette when Saturday morning TV stars are involved. But for an envelope-pushing label like Related that includes used copies of "Vicki Carr's Greatest Hits" and Aaron Carter's "Oh Aaron" on its product page, it goes without saying it's better to be funny than predictable.