Posted by Metallifreak on 20.04.2008 at22:04:
Record Store Day: Report
The Line
IT WAS fitting really...what used to be a Tower Records in Mountain View, California, has become a Rasputins Records, one of the oldest independent record stores in the Bay Area (it was founded in 1971)...and as we waited (the 'we' being some clubbers, some non-clubbers and us) it simple felt like the old days.
First in line since Thursday: Jay! (with the guitar)
The days when record store browsing was what you did. The days when you'd actually make a night out of heading down to the record store, wandering around for a couple of hours, talking to HUMAN BEINGS (without using a keyboard!), striking up friendships.
Quick interview with NBC beofre the signing
The days when vinyl (remember that? remember those black 12" discs?) was poured over by hoardes of hairy 'eadbangers who would then discuss and trade each other's purchases?
The beard made it!
The days before t'internet started to chain an entire generation to bedrooms from which they could purchase little digital files without ever seeing another human being, let alone a kick-ass gate-fold sleeve! THOSE old days.
Sweet jacket!
400 people had lined up since for hours, even days to get special wrist-bands allowing them in for the signing by the guys, along with 100 of our good friends from the club, in what was part of RECORD STORE DAY, an initiative to reinstate and re-emphasize the IMPORTANCE of the independent record store (check their website at www.recordstoreday.com/Home).
Awesome tat!
And the atmosphere was ABSOLUTELY OLD SKOOL as people mingled and merged in line, old friends re-acquainted and PLENTY of vinyl was seen being brandished for a good 'signing' by the guys.
Is that a Tinkerbell poster?
Yeah!
And this was no 'scribble and run' either, uh-uh, the chaps happily chatted and posed for pix in what was their first proper US record shop instore in a decade (the book signing was a one-off). They were met by frightfully long beards and amazing metal sculptures, babies and bikers, fans from Australia, Denmark, Finland, India, Japan, Poland, and all sorts of folks inbetween.
5875.02 miles
It's ok, don't cry!
Add the store PA blasting out such the likes of UFO and Motorhead, and it's easy for y'all to figure out why I am still here, at 7.15pm as the guys continue to sign for the couple of hundred folks still waiting.
It really IS like the old days...now excuse me as I'm off to do some browsin 'n' chattin'...
Steffan
SW! Editor
pictures by: Jeff Yeager
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