The Slovenly is one of the most important “underground” record labels which focusing on “the best garage and punk shit rock” all over the planet. The story has begun under the name of 702 Records in Reno (Nevada) in 1994. The US Post has changed the area codes and 702 no longer belonged to the whole state of Nevada, just Las Vegas, so the label was renamed to Slovenly Recordings in 2002. They have offices in Spain, Holland and even Pennsylvania.

“really hard to get around is that it usually takes 10+ years for a band to get the attention they deserve”

interview with
Peter Menchetti,
the founder of Slovenly Recordings

The editor’s note: you can find a fine video under link of every mentioned band!

It seems that after the indie rock scene’s hip status, now it’s garage rock becoming the coolest type of rock music. What do you think about it?

I’m not really sure what to think, because what is garage rock? There are some bands playing under that banner that definitely don’t belong. I had the pleasure of working with Buck Ormsby, founder of Etiquette Records (and bassist of the The Fabulous Wailers, a garage rock band between 1958-1969 – editor’s note) in March when we had THE SONICS (influential garage rock band between 1960-68. Reunited. – e.n.) play our 20th anniversary party in Reno. He said that he had discovered them in a garage in Bellingham. That’s where the term comes from… the implication that remains for me is real, raw, budget, rock’n’roll. How someone like Jacco Gardner (plays baroque pop – e.n.) fits into that is beyond me… Maybe we should also ask THE PENETRATORS… the self-proclaimed „Kings of Basement Rock” (It’s a legendary punk band from the 70’/80’s. Reunited – e.n.) They probably have some ideas about their garage rock cousins, har!

When you started Slovenly Records what was different in the garage rock scene?

Well, bands like the OBLIVIANS and TEENGENERATE were still playing to pretty small crowds… we also had THE GORIES play our party and they were telling me about how hard they worked in the 90s, and about how often they played to 10-20 people in Detroit. Things have changed a lot, but a recurring theme that I’ve realized is really hard to get around is that it usually takes 10+ years for a band to get the attention they deserve. Only those who work relentlessly and have someone with money backing them up get somewhere more quickly. BLACK LIPS is a good example. They busted their asses hard for years with Vice (an international magazine – e.n.) backing them up. When I started Slovenly they were playing house parties in Atlanta.

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