A (Not So) 'Hopeless' Alternative Rock Label Celebrates Its LA History

#203: In 1993, the Orange County punk band Guttermouth asked Louis Posen, then a film student at Cal State Northridge, to help them put out an album. That marked the start of the independent music label Hopeless Records and its 30-year history of representing punk, ska, metal bands — and later, alternative musicians more broadly.

Some of the most well-known bands they've represented include Avenged Sevenfold, All Time Low, Taking Back Sunday, Yellowcard, Thrice and New Found Glory.

Now, in celebration of its 30 year anniversary, the label has put together an exhibit of memorabilia that's currently on display at the Valley Relics Museum in Van Nuys. From there, it'll travel on to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and then the new Punk Rock Museum in Las Vegas.

Guests: Louis Posen, Hopeless Records founder and president; Erin Choi, Hopeless Records employee; Carissa Leong, Loyola Marymount student and Hopeless Records fan; DE'WAYNE, musician and former Hopeless Records artist

Songs featured in this episode:

• "Hopeless" by Guttermouth
• "Eternal Rest" by Avenged Sevenfold
• "Die Out Here" by DE'WAYNE (ft. Poorstacy)
• "Just A Little" by Masego, DE'WAYNE
• "Better By Myself" by Hey Violet
• "Superpowers Enable Me To Blend In With Machinery" by Dillinger Four
• "Coffee Shop Soundtrack" by All Time Low
• "5,6,7,8" by LØLØ (ft. girlfriends)
• "Jet Song" by Schlong
• "Te Llevo Conmigo" by Destroy Boys