| Run for Cover Records | |
| Founder: | Jeff Casazza |
| Status: | Active |
| Distributor: | Secretly Distribution |
| Country: | U.S. |
| Location: | Boston, Massachusetts |
Run for Cover Records is an American independent record label based in Boston, Massachusetts. Founded in 2004 by Jeff Casazza at the age of 17 with a $1,000 loan, the label functioned as a small one-person bedroom operation in Brighton, until Casazza graduated Suffolk University in 2010.[1] [2]
Known for working with undiscovered young bands from all over the world, RFC can be credited for helping launch the careers of Tigers Jaw, Modern Baseball, Title Fight, Citizen, Turnover, Pinegrove, Basement, and many more, as well as working with already notable acts like Alex G, Camp Cope, mewithoutYou, Teen Suicide, and Nothing.[3] Their YouTube channel, which features songs and videos from artists on their roster, has 171,000 subscribers and over 135 million views (as of August 29, 2023).[4]
RFC was largely operated out of multiple apartments while Casazza attended Suffolk University. Releasing only 7-inch EPs and singles up until 2009, in 2010, the label released eight LPs, mostly from bourgeoning northeastern rock bands like Balance and Composure, Tigers Jaw, The Wonder Years, and Hostage Calm. The label started gaining traction quickly due to the rising DIY music scenes along the East Coast, most notably northeastern Pennsylvania, where Title Fight, Balance and Composure, Tigers Jaw, and other bands are from.[5]
In 2011, the label moved into a downtown Back Bay apartment rented by Kevin Duquette, owner of Topshelf Records. At this time, the label officially hired its first employees, label manager Tom Chiari and high school friend Taylor Sullivan to handle mail-order. Later in the year, the label released Basement's debut LP I Wish I Could Stay Here, eventually hiring guitarist Alex Henery in 2012. Also in 2011, RFC released the Mixed Signals compilation consisting of exclusive material from RFC artists, as well as friends and affiliated acts, including songs from Balance and Composure, The World Is a Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid to Die, The Menzingers, and Tigers Jaw. The album was sold in hundreds of stores across the country for $4.99.[6]
In 2012, RFC signed Citizen and Turnover, the first bands to officially sign 3 album deals with the label. The first release with the label for both bands was a split 7-inch EP that quickly became the label's fastest-selling release at the time.[7]
The label started a subscription vinyl singles series in 2013, consisting of split 7-inches featuring Code Orange, Pity Sex, Adventures, Hostage Calm, The World Is a Beautiful Place, Tigers Jaw, and more.[8]
In 2014, RFC parted ways with distributors Revelation Records and Cobraside Distribution, signing a worldwide deal with Alternative Distribution Alliance, Warner Music Group's independent distribution arm.
Later that year, RFC won "Record Label of the Year" from renowned Boston publication The Improper Bostonian.
2015 saw the release of Turnover's sophomore LP Peripheral Vision, which would go on to SoundScan over 100,000 copies.
RFC launched Something In The Way Festival on December 14, 2016, selling out all three rooms of Webster Hall in New York City, and the Royale in Boston. The festival featured artists and friends curated by the label, including Modern Baseball, Basement, Citizen, Turnover, mewithoutYou, Pinegrove, Nothing, Alex G, Elvis Depressedly, Teen Suicide, Nicole Dollanganger, Crying, Horse Jumper of Love, and Petal.
In 2019, RFC joined Captured Tracks, Sacred Bones, Dead Oceans, Ghostly International and Jagjaguwar at Secretly Distribution.