The Double Down Saloon has been called “The Happiest Place on Earth” and hey, that’s certainly true – for fans of ass juice, bacon martinis and punk rock shows that are always free (their jukebox is also pretty hard to top).
Attack Ships on Fire, the Vegas by way of Portland punk band featuring SquidHat Records founder Allan Carter and vice president Mike Bell, are helping to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of the Saloon’s New York location with a new 45” featuring tracks dedicated to the dive, recorded, mixed and mastered by Dave Boyle at Union Sound.
The Double Down has special meaning for the band dating back before the move to Vegas, as Carter explains:
Attack Ships On Fire were on arguably the worst tour in the history of local band tours. Everything that could go wrong did. We played crappy rooms, showed up to venues that didn’t know we were coming. It was the worst. Our last show before driving back to Portland was booked for a Rollercon 07 party at the Double Down.
We had just played some daytime bullshit “showcase” at Beauty Bar that sucked so bad. We were sitting by the van in the parking lot of the Hard Rock and I was done. We were at each other’s throats, I was ready to leave my gear by the side of the road and fly home. It was that bad.
Our singer, and now my label partner, Mike Bell, convinced me to stay and finish out our last gig at Double Down. We did, and it changed everything.
That night we played with The Young Livers, 1/2 Ast, The Real Shames, and my first time seeing The Quitters! We went on at like 3am but there was still a crowd and it was a blast. The following night we went back and saw the Peccadilloes for the first time and were blown away. I think the seeds of SquidHat were probably planted in those 48 hours.
So the song [“Double Down Saloon”], written a year later, details actual events from those two nights, how it all happened. Now, almost 10 years later and many visits to DD NYC later, we redid the song with NYC lyrics. So the 45 is SIDE A NYC and SIDE B the original Vegas version.
Since that fateful night, the Double Down has become like a second home for Carter and his SquidHat roster. According to Carter:
The owner of Double Down, Moss, was instrumental in getting SquidHat Records off the ground in 2012. He helped me meet the bands I wanted to work with, helped me navigate the often treacherous waters of the Vegas music scene and ultimately his endorsement gave me early credibility with folks who were, and should be, naturally suspicious of outsiders. It helped me sign those early bands. To quote Barbara Lenox of The Dirty Panties at our very first meeting in 2012: “If Moss trusts you then we trust you.”
In short, there’d be no SquidHat without Moss and for that we are eternally grateful. I made a promise to him day one that I would do every release show at Double Down if it were in my power to do so and so far we’ve managed to keep that promise.
Since then Moss and I have become great friends – he was the Best Man at my wedding – but it was those early days and his help and generosity that have allowed me to do what I love and have the life I have in Las Vegas. A debt of gratitude I can never repay.
While no 45” release show is scheduled, the band has found another way to get the music in the hands of fans, as Carter lays out:
ASOF is not performing in support of this 45”. Rather, we are giving away 300 copies of the 45” at the Double Down in NYC to celebrate their 10th Anniversary this coming Saturday, 3/5/16 (first come first served).
Franks & Deans and Dirk Vermin & The Hostile Talent will be playing.
Can’t make it to New York? Don’t fret! You can preorder the 45″ now from the comfort of your own home via SquidHat’s webstore.
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