Barkinghaus - say it aloud. It sounds like a smoky bar teeming with stiff drinks and mustache-twirling regulars. The jukebox would be full of swampy blues, jazz and a "Murder Hymn."
It's the name of The Sundresses' new album, something the trio took more than a year to finish.
The band pitched the full-length album to a handful of record labels, but ultimately decided to self-release it.
"The model has already been set up by bands like Sonic Youth and Black Flag," says guitarist/drummer Jeremy Springer. "I think it's the perfect time to do it now because the industry is on its ear."
One label rep tried to convince him and fellow guitarist/drummer Brad Schnittger to hire a drummer - an outlandish proposal, says bass/trombone player Makenzie Place.
"At that moment, I realized this person does not get it - they don't get the idea of The Sundresses," she says.
The band doesn't have a high opinion of the record industry. It's not ready to throw the 'Haus into that "pile of s---", as Schnittger describes it.
"Literally, it's like a child to us. The worst thing we can do is put our kid with the wrong babysitter."
The Sundresses are colored with bitterness and pride - perhaps because it has received an outstanding amount of positive feedback since 2002. The band offers Barkinghaus this week.
DON'T MISS: The Sundresses CD release show. 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20 at Southgate House. 24 E. Third St., Newport. $7-$10. 859-431-2201 or www.southgatehouse.com.
Contact Rich Shivener at 513-768-6001 or rshivener@cincinnati.com.
