While patrons of Denver's local music scene have been hearing sour notes over the change in management of the Bluebird and Ogden theaters (both have been leased to promotions-behemoth AEG), Joel Turner, head of newly established independent label Comeback Records, is hearing opportunity knocking.
Turner, an Atlanta native, moved to Denver shortly after graduating from Toccoa Falls College with a bachelor's in counseling psychology. Having grown up playing music, he quickly found work with various punk and hardcore bands. Turner is perhaps most recognizable from his year-long stint as front man for now-dissolved hardcore band Murder In Memphis.
Prompted by the contacts he made playing and a general disillusionment with the lack of cohesion in the Denver music scene, Turner founded non-profit Comeback Records July 30, 2007, with the start-up capital in his pocket and the help of friends and family.
When asked how his experience playing in local bands spurred him to create the non-profit label, Turner responded, "It really opened me up to realize the superficiality, the lack of direction and professionalism, and that there really wasn't anyone trying to do something about it. No one cared. And that's frustrating, especially with a scene with as much potential as Denver has."
It also allowed him to experience first hand the kind of brick wall many mile high musicians are running into with the increased presence of AEG Live. "As soon as AEG took over, it just went to hell. They didn't care who you were, how you sounded, they just treated you like shit…so that's a problem with us, because we don't want to work with someone like that. We don't want to put our name on anything that isn't professional, and that isn't about the music."
And while Comeback is in talks with almost every venue in town, the process is moving slowly. Despite great success with independent venues like the Gothic, he still has to clear the AEG corporate hurdle, which at times proves to be too high.
Even so, bands are lining up to be involved. Comeback Records not only provides booking services, but also features recording, distribution, and photography, all at no charge. "Our biggest goal is working with bands that are really passionate about what they do, they're hardworking, they have a vision, we want to have people who see the purpose of having a unified scene and how that can benefit them."
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