Our Story

Starting in 1986, college radio DJ and student Chris Porter managed Boston rock band Classic Ruins. The band was a staple of the local Boston music scene having had releases on prominent local labels as well as performing at clubs all over the Boston area – including many shows opening up for well-known headliners. Despite a lot more great press, radio and notable shows throughout the northeast region, by 1988 Classic Ruins found themselves without a label as the company they had been working with folded. At that time the band had a number of recordings ready to be packaged and Porter set out to try to entice labels throughout the country to sign the band to a contract. Unfortunately after almost a year of phone calls, mailings, and knocking on labels’ doors, no opportunity presented itself. Throughout that time, Chris was having a growing interest of starting a label himself. It felt like it could be a good time for such an endeavor under the circumstances.

After raising some funds and doing a lot of research, in 1989 Porter took the plunge into record label ownership as he started Presto Records. The name of the label paid homage to his grandfather’s long running restaurant called the Presto – located in Lowell for a number of decades in the mid-1900’s.

The first release for Presto was what was to be Classic Ruins’ second full length album entitled “Ruins Café”. Soon after the release of this record, more bands were signed to the label. Most of the catalog focused on Boston based acts like Miranda Warning (another band that Porter managed at the time), Miles Dethmuffen, The Visigoths, Evol Twin, and The Trojan Ponies. However, one Cleveland band that made a great impression on Chris in his college radio days was also added to the roster – The Terrible Parade.

Overall Presto Records produced 11 releases over a 5 year period. To varying degrees all of the bands received national college radio airplay as well as some limited exposure local area commercial stations. Most of the bands only performed regionally during their respective times together, although Miranda Warning, Miles Dethmuffen, and The Terrible Parade all did some national touring as well.

By 1994, Porter was very immersed in talent buying and promoting club level shows at the Middle East Club in Cambridge. Between that and his continued focus on artist management, time and energy was greatly taken up. So it was decided to suspend Presto Records operations in 1994. Twenty seven years later, the label is being revived for digital releases of its entire catalog. Original pressings of some of this product will be made available later in 2021.