By Mo Kelly

Peel Back the Label is a monthly column devoted to our favorite labels around town. From small production to heavy hitters in the biz, no label is too big or small for Allston Pudding to celebrate.

Welcome back! Once again, we’re honoring the dedicated faces we so rarely see in the limelight. These are the ones behind a curtain or sitting by stage left, nodding their head to the beat of a band they know and love like family.

But these aren’t just fans, no way. These folks are musical workhorses in their own right. Pressing records, running press, doing just about anything to illuminate acts they hold somewhere between their vinyl collection and the center of their chest. These are the guys and gals behind Boston’s spectacularly abundant musical resource. That’s right. The people of record labels. Why don’t we meet one?

Enter Rob Reider, man behind Boston’s Bob Records—and a particularly nice one at that. Since early 2014 Reider’s worked to provide a quality product for hardworking musicians in both Boston and beyond, giving us exactly what we want to hear in the process. The Bob Records discography is certainly a noteworthy one, not that Rob could ever choose a favorite release. From the label’s first output, People In Cars’ Live on H Street cassette EP, Rob’s focused his brand on mix of dissonant alternative, grunge surf and uplifting, shreddy jams. Our favorite? That’s hard to pick, too. Maybe Rye Pines’ Portrait of Dissonance of a Young Man, 12 tracks toeing existential dread with shots of whisky and heavy, heavy riffage. Or maybe Krill’s Alam No Hris cassette, a release far from the band’s world-tourin’, Pitchfork previewin’ status we see at (very well deserved) present.

These days, Reider’s continuing his work with Drunk Couples’ Cruisin’ EP, a party punk three-piece who hails from Charlestown, South Carolina, and brings us a whopping eight minutes of sound in just 5 tracks. Try and keep up with it, we dare you.

If you find yourself hooked on Bob Records, why not find out more? Check out our chat with Rob Reider himself to discover a bit of Bob Records’ history, and just what it is about music that makes Rob’s heart skip a beat.

AP: How’d you get started?
RR: The label was something I wanted to do for a while, but it was only when my friends in People in Cars were on the verge of releasing new music without any formal plan that my fantasy of Bob Records came to life. I offered to put out a live cassette and a two song 7″ for them and they were all about it! They’re some of my best friends from home (Maryland), so it was a very fitting way for me to get this venture started.

I then started connecting with some locals (Krill, Rye Pines) and that solidified my desire to keep this thing going past just helping personal friends on one or two releases.

AP: What’s the most prized release Bob Records has put out?
R.R: I imagine parents would react similarly when being asked their favorite child. There is no way I could favor one release I’ve done over another. People in Cars, Krill, Boytoy, Rye Pines, Gin War, and Drunk Couples have all let me be a part of their journey, and for me that is invaluable. I absolutely love all of the releases for different reasons, and love all of the artists for the same reason: they are following their passion and working hard to spread their art. All the bands I’ve been lucky enough to work with have incredible artistic ability and a phenomenal work ethic. I’m a lucky dude to be associated with any and all of them!

AP: What labels do you look up to?
R.R: Asian Man Records has been my favorite label since I was 13.  It’s also worth noting that I have every release that The Mylene Sheath has put out—absolutely love that label. But I don’t have to look far outside my front door to find plenty of inspiration. Exploding in Sound and Topshelf Records are two Boston based DIYs gone national that I adore.  Disposable America, BUFU Records, Eye Design Records, Midnight Werewolf, and KLYAM Records are locals that I have the utmost respect for. They are responsible for some of my favorite records in the last 4 years…and will probably remain some of my favorites for a lifetime!

In the same vein as Asian Man, they are all passionate about their artists and their product.  They conduct themselves with kindness, honesty and integrity. It was a little intimidating starting up Bob Records in a sea of so many rad labels, but the people involved that I came across were nothing but supportive and enthusiastic about my vision. They all strive to create something unique and contribute towards strengthening the Boston music scene (which as far as I can see and hear, is one of the strongest in the country). While AMR is responsible for my upbringing, the local labels here are responsible for me following my passion—and for that, I look up to them in a massive way.

AP: What music are you listening to on your own time?
R.R: I’ve been spinning the Fat Creeps 10″ that came out on KLYAM Records, the three Doug Wartman CDs recently released by Eye Design Records, Speedy Ortiz’s Foil Deer, Rye Pines’ Dead Ocean (shameless), and a new Richmond, VA band called Prayer Group.

Signal Hill and Cave In are two mainstays on my stereo.  I’ve also been, shamelessly, spinning Drunk Couples’ Cruisin’ EP which is the next Bob Rec release. It’s really good though, I swear!!

AP: What’s your biggest goal for the label?
R.R: To create a self-sufficient entity. If I could sell enough of one release to completely fund the next, then I would be ecstatic. I am having a blast getting connected with like minded folks in the area who share my passion of awesome rock ‘n roll music and giving bands a helping hand to make sure that the physical representation of their art aligns with, what I think are, awesome songs.

I also want to continue collaborating with my buds. I’m really lucky to have extremely talented friends who constantly lend a helping hand in any way they can—from graphic design (something with which I am completely inept) to sending cool bands my way, my friends have been such a huge part of Bob’s existence. It’s hardly a one man entity. I would not be able to do this without them. I hope they continue to share this journey with me.

I’d love to have some sort of Bob Fest, too. That’s something I’ve been talking about a lot with friends and bands, and I think we’ll be able to make it happen. Shit, I know we will. Just gotta believe.

We couldn’t have put it better ourselves. Stay tuned for upcoming releases from Bob Records, one of our favorite local labels around town.