Elvis Is Dead, I’m Still Alive: The Story of Asian Man Records

Musician Huguenor debuts with a scrupulous history of San Jose, Calif., indie label Asian Man Records and its enigmatic founder, Mike Park. Park, who still runs the label out of his parent’s garage, spent time in punk and ska bands in the 1980s and ’90s, most notably as a horn player for Skankin’ Pickle. He also ran the jokingly named Dill Records, originally founded to release Skankin’ Pickle’s music but which went on to sign and produce albums for a number of ska groups. Park left the band and label in 1996, founding Asian Man soon after. Huguenor recounts the careers of the label’s key bands, including the Lawrence Arms and the feverish making of their albums A Guided Tour of Chicago and Ghost Stories, and Alkaline Trio, which helped expand Asian Man’s offerings beyond traditional ska. While some of the label’s biggest names, like Less than Jake, eventually migrated to better-known labels, these moves spiked interest in the bands’ previous albums, driving sales at Asian Man. Throughout, Huguenor highlights Park’s ceaseless ambition and brings the history alive with exacting detail, interviews with many of the label’s musicians, and photos and excerpts from Park’s newsletters and correspondences. Devoted ska fans will want to take a look. (May)