The first thing Blake Karlson did to promote his record label Chicago Research was head to what he calls “the most haunted cemetery in the United States.” Hidden in Rubio Woods Forest Preserve in the southwest suburbs, Bachelor’s Grove Cemetery has been a nexus for spooky apparitions since at least the 1950s, according to Matt Hucke and Ursula Bielski’s 1999 book, Graveyards of Chicago. Witnesses have reported seeing flashing lights, a house that would appear and disappear without a trace, a man with two heads, mysterious hooded figures, and a woman cloaked in white. The satanic panic even came early to Bachelor’s Grove: though fears of shadowy devil-worshipping cults didn’t become widespread in the U.S. till the 80s, similar anxieties gripped the communities around the cemetery in the 70s, after vandals dug up graves and left animal remains scattered around.
CR001 by Various Artists
American Dreams Records showcase featuring Forest Management, Jordan Reyes, Civic Center, and Itsï Wed 3/4, 9:30 PM, Hideout, 1354 W. Wabansia, $8, 21+
Automelodi, Fee Lion, Club Music Sun 3/8, 9 PM, Sleeping Village, 3734 W. Belmont, $12, $10 in advance, 21+
Chicago Research one-year party featuring Club Music, Conjunto Primitivo, the Arno, Breastmilk, Oro, and DJ Don Crescendo E-mail chicagoresearchrecords@gmail.com for location. Fri 3/13, 8 PM, donations accepted, all ages
These connections preexist the label too. A few years ago, Karlson played in synth-punk band Plastic with Macklin Reed (of Bruised and Product KF) and Ariel Motto (aka Death Valley and Club Music). Between them, Karlson, Reed, and Motto have contributed to 14 Chicago Research releases so far. “The main goal is just to document what’s going on,” Karlson says. “I’m just doing this for us, for the people here.”
“Chicago Research, the label, gave us a point that we could all coalesce around and all deposit our energies into,” says the Arno. The label’s artists invest in their connections to the collective, not just in their individual projects. Karlson has been critical to making the endeavor work, encouraging his friends to focus on their music while he handles the logistics. “A lot of our crew is left-brained and insane people,” the Arno says. “It’s nice to have a daddy shepherding the whole thing along.”
At first Robles didn’t spend much time with Karlson outside of Bruised recording sessions. But in 2016, they got to know each other better after Robles joined 86 Gemini on guitar—they especially bonded on a west-coast tour. “I spent a lot of time in the van with him,” Robles says. “I think we became pretty close friends after that.” About a year later, Robles moved into Karlson’s house.
Animated Music’s biggest project was also its biggest headache: a double LP of a 2008 cult album by Houston rapper Viper entitled You’ll Cowards Don’t Even Smoke Crack. “We had the contract, and then this other label announced a reissue of it at the same time,” Karlson says. “I’m trying to work out how me and the other label can both sell 500 records, and then Viper announces a reissue of his own. So now I’m thinking there’s gonna be three pressings, and I’m like, ‘Holy shit, I’m gonna be $8,000 in the hole—how am I gonna move any of this stuff?’” The Animated reissue took a year of work, but once it came out in September 2018, it sold out quickly.
