The First Nine Years chronicles the modest beginning of the Bridge Nine record label. Launched in 1995 in a college dormitory as a way for its 19 year old founder, Chris Wrenn, to stay connected to his hometown hardcore music scene, the Bridge Nine label is now in its third decade of releasing 7 inch singles and albums for his favorite bands.
This release collects 29 songs from the labels earliest period, circa 1995 until 2004. Spread over five 7 inch records, these 29 bands become the soundtrack to the 128 page companion book packed with many never before seen photos, telling the story of how the label got its start, how relationships forged in high school lead to its earliest releases, and how each band was connected to the next by a single degree of separation as Bridge Nine’s reach expanded from a few local bands to having one of the most actively touring rosters in the underground, building awareness for the label worldwide.
Growth came fast as the label found itself not only in the middle of a burgeoning music scene, but with little competition as the larger indie labels that Chris had followed as a fan, no longer actively pursued the fast and heavy bands that would come to call Bridge Nine home and define its sound. To support that growth without the benefit of loans and years before online crowdfunding became a go-to for creatives, Chris headed over to Fenway Park and peddled stickers and t-shirts to sports fans as they left the stadium after Red Sox games. Over the next few years, a swelling collective of hawkers and pedlers (comprised of roommates, interns and members of bands on the label) helped fuel one of the largest sports rivalries while earning the money needed to invest into the brand, as its discography continued to grow.
The First Nine Years details the many opportunities and obstacles that the label faced during its earliest era, while building a foundation to support the over one hundred artists who have called Bridge Nine home, and the over two hundred and fifty releases that they’ve recorded for the label in the years since.
The five 7 inch collection and 128 page book are housed inside of a handsome 8 inch x 8 inch x 1.5" box with a magnet seal cover, and limited to a one time pressing of 1,000 sets. Digital download included.
Track List:
01. Tenfold - What It Meant
02. The Trust - What I've Seen
03. Proclamation - Scenester Pride
04. Right Brigade - More Than I've Seen
05. Death Threat - As One We Stand
06. Give Up The Ghost - There's a Black Hole In The Shadow Of The Pru
07. Shark Attack - Misery Loves Company
08. Breaker Breaker - Forget The Words
09. Carry On - A Life Less Plagued
10. Cops and Robbers - On The Decline
11. No Warning - Answer The Call
12. The Hope Conspiracy - No Love Goes Unpunished
13. Panic - Turn Cold
14. Breath In - We All Do Time
15. Reaching Forward - Cage
16. Sworn In - Switchblades and Serenades
17. Some Kind Of Hate - Fuck..
18. Champion - The Decline
19. Striking Distance - Tear It Down
20. Holding On - These Hallowed Halls
21. Slapshot - Identity
22. Ramallah - Sleep
23. Stand & Fight - End Of The Line
24. TERROR- Push It Away
25. Mental - Get An Oxygen Tank
26. The Distance - And If
27. Outbreak - You Make Us Sick
28. Anger Regiment - Empty
29. Project X - Straight Edge Revenge
