Happy Record Store Day / April 17,2010
Growing up I spent a lot of time in skate shops and record stores. To me they went hand in hand. Record Store Day is celebrated on the third Saturday in April. (For a complete history of Record Store Day please visit their website www.recordstoreday.com) Today, Indie record store owners and artists get together and release special vinyl, CDs and promotional material that would make Barry and Dick from Champion Vinyl jealous (maybe not them since they were really snobby but you get the point.)
We live in an era of technology and I am 100% ok with that. Digital downloads, viral videos and self distribution models have changed the way the music business operates – making record stores having to adapt to survive.
I kept thinking about the microcosm of record stores and my experiences in them – going crating with friends or searching out some import etc. Reflecting on these time I kept coming back to the same question:
“Why are Record Stores Important?”
So I asked people and here are their answers.
Kimber Lanning, Stinkweeds Records / Phoenix, AZ: “Record stores are important because they are community hubs- they are creative gathering places that make people feel connected to their city or town. Music is a social art- it’s best experienced with others.”
Steve Wiley, Hoodlums Music / Tempe, AZ: “Record Stores are important for people that are deeply into music: People like Kristian (co-owner) and I who love to have the vinyl or CD version of an artist’s album. People that appreciate the musical art form of the album, or sound quality above that of a compressed file, or even the visual art of CDs, DVDs, and LPs. People that like to go to a store and be involved with other people that feel the same way.”
@reply: Album artwork. Visual browsing (via twitter)
@hepnova: Bargain bins. Since I select based on record cover, pawing through bargain bins 4 discs has resulted in lifechanging new tunes (via twitter)
I couldn’t agree more. There is something to be said for holding a tangible product, looking at the album art or photography and reading the lyrics and liner notes. To me these things are important. Record stores give me a place to go to so I can talk to other people about new music, old music and nostalgia. Not to mention the networking opportunities it provides me as a music photographer.
I don’t purchase all of my music from record stores – I do use iTunes to download music and I would be lost without my iPods. With that being said to me there’s still a place in my world for the record store.
So today, April 17th, 2010 – find your local independent record store and purchase some music. Take a minute – meet the employees or talk to the owners and start to plug yourself into the local music scene. In the long run by making a purchase you will help ensure that you have a place to go to talk music and be a part of the music community.
What are your thoughts? Do you ever visit record stores or do you purchase music solely online?
Tags: hoodlums music, Local music, music photo, music photography, new music, record store day, stinkweeds, tempe
Observations From The Sail Inn On A Saturday Night
Apr 5, 2010 Concert Photography, Random
Another Saturday night and music filled the air at The Sail Inn in Tempe. A great night with a great line-up of bands filled the bill for Dry River Yacht Club’s CD release party. We got there around 10pm and watched the last four bands – Black Carl, Strange Young Things, What Laura Says and Dry River Yacht Club.
I decided not to take photos (that’s not entirely true – I only photographed What Laura Says.) It was a conscious decision to just go out and have a couple of drinks and enjoy the music and be social. Kristina on the other hand – wanted to shoot photos of Dry River for The Music Matters Project. Great idea – loved it.
Not taking photos allowed me to make some observations about the music, the bands, seeing music and photographing music – so here they are in no order of importance:
1. The Sail Inn is my favorite place to see music in Tempe.
2. The Sail is a great place to learn music photography and practice (the venue is extremely photography friendly.) I saw many people with DSLRs taking photographs. Very inspiring and super cool to see people who are interested in photography and music.
3. If you are a drunk girl in a skirt or dress and have a propensity to fall on the floor – you might want to wear panties. (Just throwing that out there.)
4. What Laura Says is still my favorite band in Tempe. Hands down. They have a unique sound that I compare to The Beatles getting together with The Beach Boys partying and playing together. (Yes I know it’s a very random comparision but makes perfect sense in my head.)
5. Watching Kristina take music photos was more enjoyable than doing it myself. She got some great photos of Garnet from DRYC for The Music Matters Project.
6. There are lots of people into the local music scene in Tempe. The Sail Inn was packed which is great to see.
7. No music photographer should ever think they are more important than the music. If you are not working directly for the band, you do not belong on stage. (Period.)
8. Brian from Kinch is a nice guy who makes great music. I am pulling for Kinch to have great successes in the future.
9. Corey from Strange Young Things works the crowd better than anyone else in town.
10. When attending a show like this – don’t be dumb (like me) and wear flip-flops.
11. Just GO. Show up to events like this. Talk to the bands – tell them you’re a fan or that you like their music. Generally everyone who plays are cool and won’t mind chatting with you after their set.
If you were there and took photos please leave a comment with a link to your photos – I’d love to see them.
When you see live local music where you are – how do you contribute to the scene? Do you take photos? Do you buy merchandise? Do you spread the word and bring people with you? Talk to me…
Tags: concert photo, Concert Photography, Dry River Yacht Club, Local music, music photography, sail inn, tempe
