Ep519: Inside Levitation, Greenway & Reverb Records w/ Harry Portnof

Ep519: Inside Levitation, Greenway & Reverb Records w/ Harry Portnof

Author: The Vinyl Guide October 13, 2025 Duration: 1:21:30

Record nerd Harry Portnof started Greenway Records, revived Reverb Appreciation Society, and now leads Levitation's label operations - today we discuss the elaborate vinyl variants and the clear passion for music the Levitation festival inspires.

Topics Include:

  • Harry Portnof runs Greenway Records, Levitation, and Reverberation Appreciation Society labels.
  • Dad blasted southern rock and Allman Brothers at excessive volumes throughout childhood.
  • Discovered dad's CD collection, dove deep into classic rock discographies.
  • Taught himself guitar in high school after getting kicked off tennis team.
  • Found grandmother's records in attic with broken turntable playing in mono.
  • Mesmerized by grooves holding information, felt more futuristic than digital files.
  • Got Project turntable in college, started seriously collecting vinyl records.
  • College dorm had file sharing programs to download everyone's music collections.
  • Became obsessed with seven-inch singles and exclusive B-side hunting on Discogs.
  • Studied accounting, got CPA, worked Manhattan while spending money on records.
  • Brooklyn DIY scene 2010-12: Death by Audio, Glasslands, 285 Kent venues thriving.
  • Third Man Records inspired with collectible releases, impossible to get from New York.
  • Playing in surf rock cover band The Midnight Snacks around Long Island.
  • Started Greenway with friend Joey's pop punk band, 300 hand-screened seven-inches sold.
  • Online forum of ten new labels supporting each other, Greenway only one remaining.
  • Artist Dan Curran created lino cut covers for first thirty Greenway releases.
  • Met LA Witch outside Music Hall, promised European tour records in two months.
  • LA Witch success led to more touring bands wanting Greenway releases.
  • Met Levitation founder Rob Fitzpatrick backstage at Desert Daze festival in California.
  • Pandemic hit, launched Levitation Sessions producing concert films with thirty bands.
  • Suddenly working with dream artists like Ty Segall and The Oh Sees.
  • Levitation started as Austin Psych Fest in 2008, became major three-day festival.
  • Flash flood disaster canceled festival one year despite bands and fans arriving.
  • Austin's psych legacy rooted in 13th Floor Elevators and Rocky Erickson era.
  • Levitation Sessions are filmed concerts; Live at Levitation are actual festival recordings.
  • King Gizzard bootleg program allows labels to press their live shows freely.
  • Learned vinyl manufacturing hands-on at New Jersey plant, experimenting with color pours.
  • Most proud of Frankie and the Witch Fingers KEXP recording for Record Store Day.
  • Market tightened post-pandemic, had to adjust pressing quantities and strategy accordingly.
  • Creates regional variants for Australia, UK, EU retailers using Precision Record Pressing.

High resolution version of this podcast is available at: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide


There's a particular kind of conversation that happens when two people who are deeply passionate about music get together, surrounded by shelves of records. The Vinyl Guide-Artist Interviews for Record Collectors and Music Nerds captures that feeling perfectly. Hosted by Nate, a dedicated collector and enthusiast, this podcast feels less like a formal interview and more like you're overhearing a great chat in the back of a record store. The discussions naturally weave through artists' creative processes, the stories behind iconic albums, and the tangible magic of the format itself. You'll hear from musicians, producers, and other insiders who live and breathe vinyl, offering perspectives that go far beyond the liner notes. But it's not just about the artists; it's for the collectors, too. Episodes often delve into the practical, nerdy details that make this hobby so compelling-like distinguishing between a common pressing and a rare, valuable find, or learning how to properly care for your collection so it lasts for decades. It’s that blend of artistic insight and collector-focused knowledge that gives this podcast its unique character. Whether you're a seasoned cratedigger or just appreciate the warmth of an analog recording, these conversations offer a rich, human connection to the music you love, all centered around the grooves of a vinyl record.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

The Vinyl Guide - Artist Interviews for Record Collectors and Music Nerds
Podcast Episodes
Ep563: WTF Happened To Punk In The Park? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:01
Punk in the Park founder Cameron Collins breaks his silence on a $250 political donation that split the punk scene - and reveals plans to bring the festival back. Topics Include: Punk in the Park traces roots back to pan…
Ep562: The Discipline of Tony Levin [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:35
Bass legend Tony Levin (King Crimson, Peter Gabriel, etc) reflects on Fripp, John Lennon, near-misses with Zappa, Pink Floyd, and life on the road. new Stick Men album "Let's Thrak Again" available here Topics Include: S…
Ep561: Chad Kassem & The Road to The Vinyl Summit [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:33
Chad Kassem of Analogue Productions, Acoustic Sounds, QPR breaks down vinyl's post-COVID boom and bust, the fragile global supply chain behind every record, and his new Vinyl Summit celebration. Extended version of inter…
Ep560: Captain Sensible of The Damned [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:15
The Damned's Captain Sensible talks vinyl rarities, back catalogue, scented records, chasing the "perfect album," and what may be their final Australia and New Zealand tour dates. Topics Include: Captain Sensible is a re…
Ep559: Rhino Records Co-Founder Richard Foos [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:55
Rhino Records co-founder Richard Foos reveals how a scrappy record shop invented reissue culture, chasing master tapes, getting arrested for selling bootleg records, memories of Frank Zappa, Darby Crash and more. Topics…
Ep558: John McCrea of CAKE [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:08
John McCrea of CAKE discusses their elusive catalogue on vinyl, rarities of the band, upcoming Australian tour, new recordings, record nerdery and more. Tickets & info on CAKE's Australian tour is here Topics Include: Jo…
Ep557: The Secret Return of Neurosis with Steve Von Till [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:10
Neurosis's Steve Von Till reveals how the band secretly rebuilt itself, creating a career-defining album and making future plans for the Neurosis victory-lap that few thought possible. Topics Include: The Secret recordin…
Ep556: Shapel Lacey - Punk, Comedy & Rising Above [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:08
Comedian Shapel Lacey discusses the power of music, inspiration and how a 1981 Black Flag video sparked a lifelong punk obsession that shaped his identity, art, and resilience. Shapel Lacey tour dates | comedy special |…
Ep555: The Taj Mahal Interview [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:12
Blues legend Taj Mahal shares rare stories about Jimi Hendrix, the Rolling Stones, and the unreleased Bill Withers song that shaped his stunning new record. Topics Include: Taj Mahal discusses his new album, Time, and it…
Ep554: Everlast - From Rhyme Syndicate to Embers to Ashes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:00
Everlast traces his journey from Rhyme Syndicate graffiti kid to House of Pain to solo artist, revealing how Jump Around's success gave him the freedom to never chase a hit again. New LP "Embers to Ashes" available here…