The Collegian

Issue date: 10/2/08 Section: Arts

Hardcore music takes hard work. Senior Dave Jordan specializes in both.
Last fall, Jordan and longtime friend Brian Kapinos formed Lakeview Records.

"It was something we always talked about," Jordan said. "So finally we sat down and said 'Hey, we are going to do this?' "

The music he promotes with his new label through bands like recently-signed The Poison Written is exactly what one would expect, given its brash name.

It is a frenzy of blistering guitars, explosive drums and tormented vocals; it is loud and uninhibited. Most importantly, it is music to Jordan's ears.

Lakeview will make and sell CDs and promote the bands they sign, Jordan said. He is working to finalize some project agreements, but didn't mention details.

"We have a good relationship with the band because one of our good friends is the lead singer," Jordan said. "Whenever they go to a show, they always make sure to mention our name when they plug their CD."

The Poison Written signed with Lakeview knowing the amount of time Jordan would put into their record.

"Lots of bands sign with labels, but what made us signing with Lakeview Records different is that we knew we were going to work with Dave," said The Poison Written lead singer Casey Greseth, who spent his freshman year at Hillsdale College, where he met Jordan. "His dedication, and the effort he puts into it, things like finding us places to play and introducing us to bigger bands that we can play with, is what made us really excited."

Jordan, a finance major, said the monetary aspects of running a label are the most difficult.

"Anyone with a gazillion dollars could sign whoever they wanted, but when you only have a few thousand, it makes things more tricky," Jordan said. "Bands out there are a dime a dozen and nine out of 10 of them, probably more, are horrible. As a label, we need to find the ones that are good."

And for every new band there waits a listener.

"I know that the relatively undecipherable words of the songs can be a turn-off," sophomore John Rasche said, "but when I listen to them, I appreciate not only the unusually raw lyrics, but also the way they are performed."

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