Search - Various Artists :: House Full of Friends

A house full of friends the magic marker records story is a historic document that tells the story of the beginnings of a record label and a start in a new city and a new house. In 1997 Magic Marker founders Mark Rothkopf and Curt Kentner moved into a large somewhat shabby home in SE Portland across from a Kenilworth Park. Most of the venues at this time wouldn't even book the up incoming bands that played Portland . The all ages clubs were going out of business and the bars would pay the sound man more than any of the bands if they let them play at all. It started out as a necessity finally a place to play in a somewhat dank basement. We handed out flyers and word of mouth spread. While many people have lived in the 4 to 5 bedroom house members of Dear Nora, Kissing Book, Benji Cossa, The Mosquitoes, Softies, The Lucksmiths, Mooney Suzuki, and The Shins all called it home for a short period of time between 1997-2004. While the house wouldn't host regular shows it was a somewhat sporadic and always a special occasion. With the opening of all ages venues like 17 Nautical Miles and The Meow Meow it became a less of a necessity and more of a unique way to see your favorite band. A lucky coincidence that a friend of ours, Jeff Mawer ,would attend nearly all of the performances at the house and always bring his camera. Jeff just happens to be a professional photographer where you can see his work at metakephoto.com . Inside the digi-pak packaging is a 24 page booklet featuring the bands performing live at 4306 SE 34th Ave. Also included is a brief DIY instructional on how to throw a house show and run a PA. These 32 songs represent almost all the bands that played at the Magic Marker House. Some have since broken up and others have gone on to immense popularity that would make a house show pretty much impossible. We realize that we didn't invent the house show but we would like to encourage others to turn their own homes into a venue and spread the word of new music. It does seem like in the past most house shows were of the punk variety. So we present this program as a souvenir to the hundreds of people who made it to one show and to all the people who wish they had a Magic Marker House in their