Sheiks of Industry
Austin record labels, part 2
By Melanie Haupt, Fri., Nov. 21, 2003
Post-Parlo: Santa's Helper
With the simple urge to give a gift, Ben Dickey began blazing the enterprising path of Post-Parlo Records.
"I put together an album for my old band Kapsize with the intention of giving it to friends and family as a Christmas present," explains Dickey. "It eventually found its way into the hands of a Chicago distributor who wanted it, so all of a sudden I had national distribution. The next releases [debuts by Subset and Those Peabodys] were the first ones I really took seriously, though."
Since its inception in 2000, Post-Parlo has grown exponentially, and so has Dickey's reach. The Post-Parlo roster now includes hot new locals Zykos, Dickey's own band Western Keys, and as of next spring, up-and-comers Sound Team. The label's biggest claim to fame is its limited-edition HOME series, a run of song-swapping EPs with teamings like Death Cab for Cutie's Benjamin Gibbard with American Analog Set's Andrew Kenny and the ballyhooed partnering of Spoon's Britt Daniel with Bright Eyes' Conor Oberst (now out of print). Quite an accomplishment for an upstart label.
"I feel lucky to have worked with all of our artists," says Dickey coyly, "so I don't know that there's one band or release that's a bigger coup than another."
In addition to the label's growth, Dickey's busy Falsetto Booking Agency sets up tours for the likes of popular local exports Explosions in the Sky, Knife in the Water, and Okkervil River. Dickey also serves as tour manager for Spoon and other local and national talent.
"I've never been more excited about the direction we're heading and the artists we're working with," says the wide-eyed entrepreneur. "Post-Parlo has released music by a lot of my favorite bands and songwriters, and I think the next few years will bring more of that. We're able to do a lot of things now that three years ago I would never have imagined, with distribution, promotion, touring, and actually having a shot at making a living from music."
These days, Dickey's gift-giving is reaching Santa Claus proportions.
Established: 2000
Kingpin: Ben Dickey
Notable Releases: Those Peabodys; Bright Eyes/Britt Daniel, Home IV; Zykos, Comedy Horn
New & Upcoming: Full-lengths from Sound Team and Western Keys
Average Print Run: 4,000
