History

Caulfield Records was an independent record label based in Lincoln, Nebraska. Founded in 1988 by Bernie McGinn, the label operated for fifteen years and released 41 titles before closing in 2003.

The label grew directly out of the Lincoln hardcore scene. Bernie, bassist and vocalist of the hardcore band Peer Puppet and then a senior at Pius X High School, started Caulfield to release the band's first record because no one else would. In between the time the record was sent to press and its eventual release, Peer Puppet decided to change their name to Sideshow to delineate a musical evolution from hardcore thrash to a more melodic post-hardcore sound. Armed with a few decent reviews in magazines and some national distribution, the single sold out quickly. Later in 1988, Bernie left Nebraska for a job as a photographer for Home Boy skateboard magazine in California, and by the end of 1988 both Sideshow and Caulfield Records were just a brief history of the local Lincoln music scene.

As it happened, in the spring of 1989 McGinn's job prospect in California dried up and he moved back to Lincoln. Drummer Paul Tisdale by this time was living in St. Paul, Minnesota, and it took another year or so before he would move back to Lincoln and Sideshow would reform.

This reformed version of Sideshow recorded an eight-song 12-inch record and began to tour more extensively, regionally throughout the Midwest and the occasional tour to the East and West Coasts. It was through these regional and national tours that the early network of friends and bands that would become part of the Caulfield Records roster was formed. Trips to Kansas City resulted in releases from bands like Germbox, Molly McGuire, and Giants Chair. In 1993, Sideshow's second full-length Eggplants and Sunspots was released, and releases by Nebraska bands like Mercy Rule, Opium Taylor, and Frontier Trust followed. Caulfield started getting better distribution of its records and a small, vibrant network of bands began to form.

1995 was a pinnacle year in the history of Caulfield Records. Full-lengths were released by Opium Taylor, Giants Chair, and Frontier Trust, along with the CD anthology of Christie Front Drive's previous releases and Caulfield picking up production of Mineral's debut 7". It was also at this time that Sideshow released their final record, Lip Read Confusion, not on Caulfield, but on Sub Pop-affiliated Flydaddy Records. This arrangement enabled Caulfield to release more by other bands while getting Sideshow's new music out as well.

1996 and 1997 were equally productive, with the debut 7" from Chicago's Traluma, Giants Chair's second full-length Purity and Control, a second Mineral 7" (February), Opium Taylor's second full-length fade machine fade magazine, The Truth About Love by Broken Hearts Are Blue, and the final Christie Front Drive release. A number of these bands called it quits before or soon after these records were released, but even without active touring, emerging internet webzines and review sites, and Caulfield's own Blabber Board, kept interest afloat.

In the late 90s, the Caulfield roster expanded to include Ethel Meserve (State College, PA), the first post-Sideshow release from guitarist Rich Higgins' band Eric the Red, and Traluma's full-length. Mercy Rule's long-stalled third album, which had been held up in major-label red tape, was eventually released by Caulfield.

The early 2000s included releases by m.i.j. (Minneapolis), Her Flyaway Manner and Luck of Aleia (Lincoln), Proudentall's What's Happening Here, The Sound of Rails (Omaha), The Lepers (Lincoln), Kolya (Boston), the post-Christie Front Drive project The Mighty Rime, and a CD compilation of all of the recorded output from Germbox.

By 2004, the local music landscape in Lincoln had drastically changed. Bands broke up or faded away. Many members had moved away, and Caulfield quietly stopped releasing new music. Much like its beginning, its end was a natural evolution.

But, writing this all out... I'm damn proud of its legacy. Honored to have been able to participate and help release music by my favorite artists and friends.

Further Listening

Washed Up Emo Podcast, Ep. 62: Bernie McGinn / Caulfield Records