there are only 4 record stores that matter to me and 2 of them are closed.
back in austin when i was about 15, i had a mohawk. the girls from Westlake will probably never own up to it these days, but they all dug the hair. curls for the girls. works every time. every time i walked into the cd store at the mall the security guard followed me around like i was there to steal. as if. i'm paying cash bro and you can step back. on the other side of town there was a store that i could walk into without being harassed and spend 2 or 3 hours flipping through vinyl records from punk bands like Operation Ivy, NOFX, and the Offspring. i found rare singles from Seattle bands like Soundgarden, Coffin Break, and even Nirvana. they had a wall dedicated to LPs from NY hiphop artists where i found KRS-ONE, Dr. Dre, Poison Clan and even an autographed copy of Run-DMC's "Mary-Mary." that was a find for only $20. i heard Daniel Johnston gets 50% off everything at the store. they even had the first Fugazi EP, although at the time i was strictly Minor Threat. i did pick up the Egg Hunt 45 though. to top it off, outside on the wall across from the Dobie was a Daniel Johnston mural of the cover art from his album "Hi, how are you?"
guess which store i went to?
Fingerprints in Long Beach has the same vibe Sound Exchange did in austin in the 90s. the first time i walked into that place, i saw one of the employees sitting on the floor sorting electronica CDs. i knew i had found a home. over the past few weeks i've picked up classic CDs from bands like Fu Manchu, Dinosaur Jr, and the Arctic Monkeys latest "Favorite Worst Nightmare." as my friend ryan puts it, the Arctic Monkey's have put together the last great punk album. makes Sid Vicious look like an amateur dude.
after Fingerprints, my next favorite record shop is Benway Records in Venice Beach. Dogtown. we used to swing down in Santa Monica and always parked on Bay Street. lately, i've been grooving off a place in Venice called James Beach. awesome food. great atmosphere. on a thursday night you'll meet people with dredlocks and guys in business suits coexisting peacefully. say hello to Rob for me, and please tip him well. i've met more than one girl in that scene. on a recent trip to Venice, during which i played a pinball machine and got hustled in pool but had the intelligence to notice, i saw Benway was closed. bummer. Benway reminds me of B-Dawg, who moved to Norcal and i haven't talked to enough lately. B-Dawg was for real, and his presence is sorely missed in Southern California. Benway is where i got into The Pixies and Fishbone. funny story, we used to swing with Fishbone's bassist's son. we recorded a track at a house party called "God Made a Bet with the Devil." good stuff. within walking distance of the Pacific, Benway will be missed for sure.
there's this place in Thousand Oaks i used to go to. haven't visited there much lately, but it's right off TO blvd, just across the street from Lupe's. great mexican food. you can get a burrito for under $6 that will fill you up right. excellent salsa. my ex used to love the place. not quite Chuy's, but then again... what is? i bought Led Zeppelin 4 and all my Black Sabbath in Thousand Oaks and almost met the girl of my dreams. as much as it's going to pain adam to say it, i paid no more than $8 a record, even for a near mint pressing of "Presence." so much for Amoeba down on Sunset and Cahuenga (although admitted on more than one occasion i dropped a bill or more at Amoeba with brett and ethan. good times. bought my Wipers from a girl from Arizona. Greg Sage is one hell of a guitarist). on a ride through corn country some time when we lived in Illinois, my mother was listening to the radio and Jim Croce came on. "Operator." i almost cried. at the time i didn't listen to music, but the song stayed with me and 10 years later i bought the records on vinyl in Ventura County. "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown." Classic.
So...
what do you think is the value of remembering someone's name. one guess. that's right: priceless. with a last name like mine... you tend to be easy to remember. i spent 2 years of my life on the phones doing customer service, and i know enough to give respect when someone gives good service. 20% tipping, even when the service is average, means you'll be a VIP next time you come into town. i learned that from my father. listen to the customers, and you'll be able to provide products they want, services they need, and excellent customer service.
keep that in mind next time you go out.
peace, love, and good times.
-Mr Slutz
back in austin when i was about 15, i had a mohawk. the girls from Westlake will probably never own up to it these days, but they all dug the hair. curls for the girls. works every time. every time i walked into the cd store at the mall the security guard followed me around like i was there to steal. as if. i'm paying cash bro and you can step back. on the other side of town there was a store that i could walk into without being harassed and spend 2 or 3 hours flipping through vinyl records from punk bands like Operation Ivy, NOFX, and the Offspring. i found rare singles from Seattle bands like Soundgarden, Coffin Break, and even Nirvana. they had a wall dedicated to LPs from NY hiphop artists where i found KRS-ONE, Dr. Dre, Poison Clan and even an autographed copy of Run-DMC's "Mary-Mary." that was a find for only $20. i heard Daniel Johnston gets 50% off everything at the store. they even had the first Fugazi EP, although at the time i was strictly Minor Threat. i did pick up the Egg Hunt 45 though. to top it off, outside on the wall across from the Dobie was a Daniel Johnston mural of the cover art from his album "Hi, how are you?"
guess which store i went to?
Fingerprints in Long Beach has the same vibe Sound Exchange did in austin in the 90s. the first time i walked into that place, i saw one of the employees sitting on the floor sorting electronica CDs. i knew i had found a home. over the past few weeks i've picked up classic CDs from bands like Fu Manchu, Dinosaur Jr, and the Arctic Monkeys latest "Favorite Worst Nightmare." as my friend ryan puts it, the Arctic Monkey's have put together the last great punk album. makes Sid Vicious look like an amateur dude.
after Fingerprints, my next favorite record shop is Benway Records in Venice Beach. Dogtown. we used to swing down in Santa Monica and always parked on Bay Street. lately, i've been grooving off a place in Venice called James Beach. awesome food. great atmosphere. on a thursday night you'll meet people with dredlocks and guys in business suits coexisting peacefully. say hello to Rob for me, and please tip him well. i've met more than one girl in that scene. on a recent trip to Venice, during which i played a pinball machine and got hustled in pool but had the intelligence to notice, i saw Benway was closed. bummer. Benway reminds me of B-Dawg, who moved to Norcal and i haven't talked to enough lately. B-Dawg was for real, and his presence is sorely missed in Southern California. Benway is where i got into The Pixies and Fishbone. funny story, we used to swing with Fishbone's bassist's son. we recorded a track at a house party called "God Made a Bet with the Devil." good stuff. within walking distance of the Pacific, Benway will be missed for sure.
there's this place in Thousand Oaks i used to go to. haven't visited there much lately, but it's right off TO blvd, just across the street from Lupe's. great mexican food. you can get a burrito for under $6 that will fill you up right. excellent salsa. my ex used to love the place. not quite Chuy's, but then again... what is? i bought Led Zeppelin 4 and all my Black Sabbath in Thousand Oaks and almost met the girl of my dreams. as much as it's going to pain adam to say it, i paid no more than $8 a record, even for a near mint pressing of "Presence." so much for Amoeba down on Sunset and Cahuenga (although admitted on more than one occasion i dropped a bill or more at Amoeba with brett and ethan. good times. bought my Wipers from a girl from Arizona. Greg Sage is one hell of a guitarist). on a ride through corn country some time when we lived in Illinois, my mother was listening to the radio and Jim Croce came on. "Operator." i almost cried. at the time i didn't listen to music, but the song stayed with me and 10 years later i bought the records on vinyl in Ventura County. "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown." Classic.
So...
what do you think is the value of remembering someone's name. one guess. that's right: priceless. with a last name like mine... you tend to be easy to remember. i spent 2 years of my life on the phones doing customer service, and i know enough to give respect when someone gives good service. 20% tipping, even when the service is average, means you'll be a VIP next time you come into town. i learned that from my father. listen to the customers, and you'll be able to provide products they want, services they need, and excellent customer service.
keep that in mind next time you go out.
peace, love, and good times.
-Mr Slutz
ges:
I'm really glad you liked my set! Thanks a lot 