Bridge Nine Records is proud to host a small works art market this Saturday, November 15th! 15+ artists and makers will be vending in our warehouse, some come by, say hello, and pick up some holiday gifts! For more details, click HERE!
Pre-order FENWAY PUNK, the new book by B9 founder Chris Wrenn
In Stores February 10th, 2026. Pre-order the new book, Fenway Punk, HERE!
An audacious and inspiring debut social history that explores how entrepreneurial members of the tight-knit hardcore punk scene within the vibrant heart of Boston cashed in on one baseball’s greatest rivalries.
For eighty-six years Boston Red Sox baseball fans lived in the shadow of their rivals, the New York Yankees, who more or less dominated the sport each season. Red Sox fans grew dejected as their team often got close, but ultimately would be eliminated from contention each year as New York went on to win yet another World Series championship.
Author Chris Wrenn, a member of the Boston hardcore punk scene, had a dream of his own—to start his own record label. Embracing the do-it-yourself ethos of the scene, Chris set out to make it happen, networking and forging relationships with local bands. But such an endeavor required money he didn’t have . . . until he and his friends heard a familiar phrase echo out of Fenway Park, the home field of the Red Sox. The phrase “Yankees Suck!” was chanted at every single Red Sox game. Possessing the wherewithal to produce inexpensive merchandise and the free time to stake a claim to the sidewalks outside the baseball stadium, Chris and his crew of punks began a lucrative endeavor of selling “Yankees Suck” merchandise such as stickers and T-shirts to the fans. While navigating cops, competitors, a violent gang, and in-fighting within the crew, Wrenn and his friends turned Boston’s rivalry into “six-figure summers,” affording him the capital to launch Bridge Nine Records and bring local Boston hardcore bands including American Nightmare and Have Heart to stages worldwide just as the Red Sox got closer than ever to finally winning the World Series again.
A rousing story of entrepreneurship and ingenuity that also reveals fresh insight into one of the most epic rivalries in sports history, Fenway Punk is a gripping read for both fans of punk music and readers of Ben Mezrich, Lizzy Goodman, and Chuck Klosterman.
About the Author
Since his salad days as a teenage skateboarder, Chris Wrenn has focused on two tasks: releasing albums for his favorite bands and finding unusual ways to pay for it. The indie record label that he started three decades ago in his college dorm room, Bridge Nine, has gained an international following by releasing over three hundred recordings from some of the most impactful bands in the punk music underground. At the same time, Sully’s, the Beantown-centric brand that Chris founded with an initial goal: to earn the money needed to fund the record label, went from profiting on bitter sports rivalries to celebrating all things Boston. The slogan he coined in the spring of 2004, “Believe In Boston,” has become a rallying cry that is still embraced by all of the city’s professional sports teams twenty years later. Chris and his wife Katherine live just north of Boston in Beverly, Massachusetts. Together, they are raising a toddler and a teenager while also managing the day-to-day responsibilities of both brands. You can learn more about what Chris is up to next at http://www.ChrisWrenn.com.
Celebrate Diversity
Bridge Nine Records is an ally of the LGBTQ community. We steadfastly support your pursuit of happiness and right to exist and thrive as important and equal members of our community. Don’t let the bastards grind you down.
Robots Will Kill x Bridge Nine exhibit recap & merch store NOW OPEN
On Saturday, June 7th, the B9 warehouse opened its doors for a special one-day exhibit from street artist Chris ROBOTS WILL KILL. Chris brought 21 pieces of art he had created for the show and designed two exclusive B9xRWK T-shirts, each limited to just 75 printed. The T-shirts, exclusive sticker and button packs, as well as a selection of original artwork pieces that are still available for sale, are now up in the B9 online store. Check those out HERE or click through below:
Check out the original art here, click through to see if it’s still available!
Check out this quick video recap from our friends at Silver Tuna Studios:
Chris RWK’s art was appreciated by people of all ages
Larry Kelley, Lori Dawn, Chris B9, and Chris RWK at the Robots Will Kill x Bridge Nine exhibit.
A very special thank you to Chris RWK for coming up to B9, and to Larry Kelley and Lori Dawn for helping pull it together!
Bridge Nine's First T-shirt: Back in Print for a Limited Time!
Chris B9 (in the black Drug X Free Champion hoodie) circa 1995 or 1996 selling Bridge Nine’s first T-shirt with friends at a show in Albany.
Bridge Nine's first T-shirt, printed thirty years ago, was the "Anime Straight Edge" tee. The Kanji letters translate to "Against Bad Drugs." Now, we're bringing it back on Comfort Colors t-shirts, "Ringer" tees, and a crewneck sweatshirt in extremely limited quantities of each. These won't stick around for long, so make sure you get yours before we’re out!
Bridge Nine x Sully's Brand BHC Shamrock T-Shirt
I think this is the first Bridge Nine x Sully’s Brand collab tee? Which is weird since we’ve shared an office for twenty-five years!
We made just fifty of each colorway, so if you need something to help celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in, we’ve got you covered. Shipping later this week so you’ll have them in time! Printed on a super-soft 65/35 poly/cotton-blended tee. Grab them HERE!
Chris B9 on the TV Guidance Podcast with Ken Reid (Episode 664)
Chris Wrenn was on this week’s episode of the TV Guidance Podcast (episode 664!) with Ken Reid. Chris picked the April 11-17 issue of TV Guide and together Chris and Ken explore TV shows from 2004 and how the Red Sox and Yankees rivalry helped influence the direction of the Bridge Nine label. Tune in HERE!
The Bridge Nine record store 2 Year Anniversary / Saturday, September 14th
We are excited to announce that we’ll be ringing in our 2nd Anniversary as a brick-and-mortar store on Saturday, September 14th! We’ll have extended hours in the store, we’re hosting a full punk rock flea market with some of our favorite vendors (curated by Christopher Michon from Failed Imagineer) from noon til 6pm in our lower level, and our friends in Calling Hours (Revelation Records, x-Farside) will be performing a special set in our warehouse at 7pm! Mark your calendars and see you there!
Visit us at 282 Rantoul Street in Beverly, Massachusetts! Store details HERE. Christopher Michon made the flyer below for the Punk Rock Flea Market, great minds think alike lol:
Bridge Nine "Megaforce" Tribute T-Shirt (& hoodie)
Chris B9 is headed to Gillette Stadium tonight to see Metallica, so he made this limited-edition T-shirt in tribute to Megaforce Records. Megaforce is the independent record label started in 1982 by the late Jon and Marsha Zazula. Formed by the couple to release Metallica's debut LP, Kill 'Em All, the label also represented the earliest output from Anthrax, Testament, Mercyful Fate, and many other hard and heavy bands. (Get a quick lesson on Megaforce HERE).
Fittingly, Bridge Nine made a limited quantity of this design, with only 19 hoodies and 82 t-shirts printed to commemorate the year Megaforce got started. There's only a handful of each size of three different colors (deep heather gray, heather clay red, heather autumn orange), so grab one while you can!
They are printed on a super-soft 52% cotton / 48% poly Bella+Canvas 3001CVC tee and Independent brand mid-weight hooded sweatshirt.
The Vegan NIGHT Market (@ B9 in Beverly, MA): August 10th
Mark your calendars! Saturday, August 10th Bridge Nine will be hosting our third Vegan mini-market, this time in the evening! Tons of vendors, live music (local, not HC), and we’ll be shutting off the street next to our building to spread things out a bit. More info can be found HERE!
HAVE HEART and SLAPSHOT Re-Stocks (& one B9 design that's 50% OFF)
We just got in T-shirt restocks for HAVE HEART and SLAPSHOT, grab one while you can by clicking one of the pics!
To make room in the store, our “Tonal” Comfort Colors are now 50% OFF! We’ve only have random sizes and colors (three options) so click on one of the shirt images below and grab one while you can!
New label merch drop, limited quantities of each colorway
We just got in some new label merch, in a very limited quantity of T-shirts and sweatshirts. There are 40 and 20 of each colorway, respectively. Grab them while you can HERE!
Record Store Day at Bridge Nine Records this Saturday, April 20th!
If you’re in the greater Boston area, make sure you stop by Bridge Nine in Beverly, Massachusetts on Saturday! We are opening early at 8am and will have hundreds of RSD exclusives. As a record store we lean towards the hard and heavy, but on RSD we have a little bit of everything! We will also be joined by our friends at Iodine Recordings who will have a table at B9, so come say hi!
At 2pm, our good friend Drew Stone (Incendiary Device, The New York Hardcore Chronicles) will be moderating a Q&A with punk frontman Ray Cappo (Youth of Today, Shelter) about his new book, From Punk To Monk. Copies will be available for sale and Ray will be signing them, so come say hello and pick one up!
Saturday night we’re turning our warehouse over to our friends at MOON Booking (Music Organizers Of the Northshore) and they’re hosting a handful of bands, including Smooth Brain, 5ever, Return Address and Hyber. Looking for something to do? Come check out some new bands! Doors at 6, show at 7 pm! Tickets are available in advance online here or at the door!
Everything you need to know about our record store (directions, upcoming events, address, etc) can be found HERE!
B9 Auction: 9 Test Pressings & Rarities / B9HQ Renovations Continue
Work on the Bridge Nine HQ continues! We’ve moved downstairs and have begun renovating the lower level, while also working on new releases, so we’re selling some test pressings and rare records to help cover some of the costs. Bidding ends Sunday March 17th with the highest bid time stamped 9:00PM EST. Not on IG? Email your bid to b9auction@gmail.com and we’ll post it for you. Highest bid wins!
Bridge Nine Apparel Collection Re-Stock is IN
We just got in a new re-stock of label gear, restocking our Bridge Nine "Boston" hoodies and t-shirts, and adding a small run of long sleeves and 3/4 raglan baseball shirts printed on a vintage white & black sleeve shirt. Our Bridge Nine merch collection is one of the best ways to help support what we're up to, and we've got a lot of new things in the works for 2024! There's less than 50 printed of each of the long sleeves, so grab one while you can - available in our brick-and-mortar store and online! Shop online HERE!
