As a musician, one of the goals is to get signed. A record label offers street cred, promotion, support for pressings and, if you’re lucky, a chance to perform with more established bands.

For a handful of Seattle bands, Pearl Jam’s Mike McCready is making that dream more of a reality. Founded in 2013, his record label Hockey Talkter—the word his son uses to call a helicopter—officially launches tonight with a two-night bill of showcases at the Tractor, including sets from Stereo Embers, the Pink Slips, Danny Newcomb, Star Anna, and the Young Evils.

“I just wanted to do something fun and publicly announce Hockey Talkter,” says McCready. “I love vinyl. I love the small touch, and of course, the sound. I hope to release something this year from most of the bands playing those nights.”

He doesn’t have plans for wide distribution or to release full albums, however. The next Sub Pop or Barsuk, he is clear to point out, this is not. “Hockey Talkter will not be a label that signs and develops new artists,” he says.

Instead, by producing what he calls “small runs” of record prints available through his website and eventually, at record stores across town, the project is more of a hobby for his musical side endeavors. “I [just] hope to release some cool 7-inch records that people might want to collect,” McCready says.

With a roster that includes the likes of Star Anna and Brandi Carlile, and these two shows, already sold out, chances are good folks will want to do just that—even though McCready downplays what his label’s role might eventually be, calling it a small “blip on the music landscape, compared to the other local labels.”