Mike Alvarez at AvantGarden, Houston, TX., November 21, 2011.

       Photo by Andres Martinez.

     Musician Mike Alvarez formed Not Records    Tapes music recording company in Austin Texas in 1984.  Before moving to Los Angeles in 1988 to expand his work in music, film and television, he produced the likes of Daniel Johnston, Roky Erickson, The True Believers (with Alejandro Escovedo), and many other influential, independent artists.

Not Records Tapes is the founding company of NRT Entertainment Group, which includes film production in addition to music production.   NRT is the producing arm for the Louisiana based film company 4HG Entertainment, currently in animation production with The Greatest Escape, starring Lou Gossett, Jr., and Caitlin Wachs.

 

Alvarez has been a professional musician since 1970, beginning in high school as a guitarist for the McAllen, Texas rock group Medusa.  In 1981, Alvarez joined Austin's Max and the Makeups and has been an independent music producer, singer-songwriter-guitarist, and filmmaker ever since.

 

NRT News and Events

The April 27th show below was a smash.  Look for footage soon.

 

For Immediate Release                            Date: April 2012

 

Mike Alvarez Music Performance at Pig N Whistle, Friday April 27 th

 

© Photo by Wes Driver/wesdriverl.com

Mike Alvarez celebrates his birthday with a performance at the legendary Hollywood Boulevard establishment Pig N Whistle, Friday April 27 th at 10PM.

 

Backing Alvarez at the show will be longtime music mates Matt Jansky on guitar and Bill Dumas on percussion. Lisa Gamache will join the set to perform a couple of Max and the Makeups songs as well (Gamache and Alvarez were original members of the 80s punk outfit).

 

Opening the Not Records Tapes showcase at 9:30PM will be Houston poet-musician Ken Jones, a long-time Alvarez friend and songwriting partner.  Mr. Jones is performing to celebrate the re-release and 20-year anniversary of the 1992 LP, "Ken Jones' Subpoena: Witness an Empire's Decay", music written and recorded about the 1992 Los Angeles riots. Mr. Jones will be performing the LP at the piano.   "Ken Jones' Subpoena: Witness an Empire's Decay "is available at CD Baby.    

 

                 

                      Ken Jones' Subpoena:  Witness an Empires Decay (lp)

The Pig N Whistle is located at 6714 Hollywood Blvd. , Hollywood , CA . Cover: $5 (all ages). Parking: Street and Hollywood/Highland parking structure.  Public parking also available one block south of Pig N Whistle.

Download the Mike Alvarez 2010 4-song release for free

"Yes It's Good"

 

                      Yes It's Good (ep). Art by Angela Duncan

Mike Alvarez released the 4-song EP titled "Yes It's Good". Featured guest artists include Lisa Gamache & Jonie Hell from Max & The Makeups, Ron Schafer (F.Y.C.K.) and Schuyler Hupp.  Cover art by Angela Duncan.

  Click on song titles below for free MP3 download

1. Yes It's Good (M. Alvarez)

2. Head (M. Alvarez, J. Lusitana, K. Jones)

3. Bless You (M. Alvarez)

4. Speak My Peace (M. Alvarez, K. Jones)

Peace Corps "Pastures of Plenty" Released on Not Records Tapes

Late 80's Austin post punk Peace Corps have remastered their 1989 album Pastures of Plenty for release on Not Records Tapes.

Click Here For Product Information

Max and the Makeups News

See Max and the Makeups video and photos from 2009 Summer California Mini Tour

Click Here

Max and the Makeups' Lisa Gamache and Mike Alvarez revved up for a West Coast mini-tour this past summer.  The group's first show in over 25 years was at the Riff Haus in Fullerton California.  The following day, the group performed at a house gig near UC Santa Barbara. Also filling in for the group's original members:  Matt Jansky (rhythm guitar), Bill Dumas (drums) and Schuyler Hupp (bass guitar).

A follow-up ep with Puke N Vomit Records is in the talking stages.

80s Max and the Makeups releases first record 26 years after the band's demise

Orange County's Puke N Vomit Records found Max and the Makeups music here at Not Records Tapes and asked "Why hasn't this band ever been released?"  Puke N Vomit has released a 4-song ep with the songs Poland, Day In Day Out, 60-Minute Man, and Let Go.  Click below to listen to MP3 recordings of the songs and all of Max and the Makeups major studio works.

Max and the Makeups is back row, left to right:  Max Gottlieb, Mike Alvarez, Lisa Gamache.  Bottom row, left to right: Jon Howard (a.k.a. Jonie Hell), and the late Karl Remstam.  Photo by Kevin Smith.

To order disc, click Not Records Tapes or Puke N Vomit Records.

Odd News

Ambrosiedies and the Guardian of the Guitar from Hell music tracks released here on NRT

                         Edgar Allan Poe       

Beginning on Christmas day 1985, this experiment by Mike Alvarez on guitar and the late Charles Gunning on vocals eventually yielded three songs based on a fictional story by Alvarez and Gunning. They titled the musical adventure and tale Ambrosiedies and the Guardian of the Guitar from Hell.  The songs, Hymn For Morella, Andromeda Woman and The Lady's From Hades, weave an imaginary tale of guardian angels.  Hymn for Morella is the Edgar Allan Poe poem written after the passing of Poe's wife Morella.  

Click on song title below for free MP3 downloading and listening. Other songs coming soon!

Hymn For Morella

Words by Edgar Allan Poe.  Charles Gunning on voice. Mike Alvarez on guitars. Mike Jensen on drums.