Comments on: In The Wake of Record Store Day http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/blackplasticbag/2008/04/21/in-the-wake-of-record-store-day/ Washington City Paper's music blog. Wed, 08 Oct 2008 00:06:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: DJStylus http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/blackplasticbag/2008/04/21/in-the-wake-of-record-store-day/#comment-3181 DJStylus Tue, 22 Apr 2008 04:25:20 +0000 http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/blackplasticbag/2008/04/21/in-the-wake-of-record-store-day/#comment-3181 DCCD folks were always pleasant. Had some good shows in there too. DCCD folks were always pleasant. Had some good shows in there too.

]]> By: Michael J. West http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/blackplasticbag/2008/04/21/in-the-wake-of-record-store-day/#comment-3176 Michael J. West Mon, 21 Apr 2008 20:20:05 +0000 http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/blackplasticbag/2008/04/21/in-the-wake-of-record-store-day/#comment-3176 In my experience, it's the hipper-than-thou patrons in DC record stores who are the assholes--not the employees. For example, you couldn't find a nicer guy (record-store clerk or no) than Josh Harkavy at Red Onion...but there always seems to be some dick sneering at me when I go to the counter with a Lionel Hampton record... In my experience, it’s the hipper-than-thou patrons in DC record stores who are the assholes–not the employees. For example, you couldn’t find a nicer guy (record-store clerk or no) than Josh Harkavy at Red Onion…but there always seems to be some dick sneering at me when I go to the counter with a Lionel Hampton record…

]]> By: Washington City Paper: News & Features: Blogs http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/blackplasticbag/2008/04/21/in-the-wake-of-record-store-day/#comment-3172 Washington City Paper: News & Features: Blogs Mon, 21 Apr 2008 18:46:02 +0000 http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/blackplasticbag/2008/04/21/in-the-wake-of-record-store-day/#comment-3172 [...] But now that the day is over, let the debates begin. One has started up over on our music blog. [...] [...] But now that the day is over, let the debates begin. One has started up over on our music blog. [...]

]]> By: Brent Burton http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/blackplasticbag/2008/04/21/in-the-wake-of-record-store-day/#comment-3170 Brent Burton Mon, 21 Apr 2008 17:58:52 +0000 http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/blackplasticbag/2008/04/21/in-the-wake-of-record-store-day/#comment-3170 My prediction is that there will be fewer record stores, but more like Melody and True Vine--places where the snarkiness is at a minimum and the love is on display. I have great conversations with Rick at Orpheus and I used to volunteer at Now in Arlington, so I know that it's not all negative. But I also remember a Smash! employee making fun of me TO MY FACE when I bought a For Carnation record there in the mid-90s. My only point is that, if a waiter did this to you, you'd be like, 'screw you, buddy,' and head across the street to another restaurant. My prediction is that there will be fewer record stores, but more like Melody and True Vine–places where the snarkiness is at a minimum and the love is on display.

I have great conversations with Rick at Orpheus and I used to volunteer at Now in Arlington, so I know that it’s not all negative.

But I also remember a Smash! employee making fun of me TO MY FACE when I bought a For Carnation record there in the mid-90s.

My only point is that, if a waiter did this to you, you’d be like, ’screw you, buddy,’ and head across the street to another restaurant.

]]> By: Jason Cherkis http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/blackplasticbag/2008/04/21/in-the-wake-of-record-store-day/#comment-3168 Jason Cherkis Mon, 21 Apr 2008 17:37:01 +0000 http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/blackplasticbag/2008/04/21/in-the-wake-of-record-store-day/#comment-3168 I think record clerk bad attitude is BS especially in D.C. [Full disclosure: I worked at a record store years ago and was cynical but only after the customers left the store]. I think the guys who run Melody, Crooked Beat, and Orpheus were/are exceedingly nice. If given the chance, they will talk your ear off about records. In Baltimore, the folks who run True Vine are exceptional in the face of ignorance and stupidity. A few weeks ago, they introduced me to the Washington Phillips reissue. I'm like who's that? They didn't snicker. They just put the record on and let me hear it. I'd love to tell you that Skip Groff of YandT was a meanie 24/7, but he wasn't. Sure, he wasn't the most engaging personality on the planet. But he was always nice enough. And the same goes for Vinyl Ink. You want real snarky jerks: ask a cop for something, go to CVS and wait in line, endure the Safeway checkout any day of the week. I think record clerk bad attitude is BS especially in D.C. [Full disclosure: I worked at a record store years ago and was cynical but only after the customers left the store].

I think the guys who run Melody, Crooked Beat, and Orpheus were/are exceedingly nice. If given the chance, they will talk your ear off about records. In Baltimore, the folks who run True Vine are exceptional in the face of ignorance and stupidity. A few weeks ago, they introduced me to the Washington Phillips reissue. I’m like who’s that? They didn’t snicker. They just put the record on and let me hear it.

I’d love to tell you that Skip Groff of YandT was a meanie 24/7, but he wasn’t. Sure, he wasn’t the most engaging personality on the planet. But he was always nice enough. And the same goes for Vinyl Ink.

You want real snarky jerks: ask a cop for something, go to CVS and wait in line, endure the Safeway checkout any day of the week.

]]> By: casey http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/blackplasticbag/2008/04/21/in-the-wake-of-record-store-day/#comment-3165 casey Mon, 21 Apr 2008 16:14:20 +0000 http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/blackplasticbag/2008/04/21/in-the-wake-of-record-store-day/#comment-3165 Spent a majority of my young-to-mid adulthood working in a 20 year-old indie record shop, first as clerk, later as manager/buyer. I can attest to the attitude, and have been certainly guilty of displaying it. For some reason, however, people actually expect this out of record shops, just as they expect the workers at high-end fashion boutiques to give you the hairy eyeball for whatever it is you're wearing (or not wearing.) Exactly WHY we were such colossal dicks is tougher to pin down. I think it has something to do with being dissatisfied with our pay, but being in a band and not wanting to get a "real" job, hating customers, hating customers' buying habits/requests, and always being hungover. Or maybe the job just attracts cynical, know-it-all jerks. And the Department of Motor Vehicles doesn't prize a deep knowledge of krautrock. Spent a majority of my young-to-mid adulthood working in a 20 year-old indie record shop, first as clerk, later as manager/buyer.

I can attest to the attitude, and have been certainly guilty of displaying it. For some reason, however, people actually expect this out of record shops, just as they expect the workers at high-end fashion boutiques to give you the hairy eyeball for whatever it is you’re wearing (or not wearing.)

Exactly WHY we were such colossal dicks is tougher to pin down. I think it has something to do with being dissatisfied with our pay, but being in a band and not wanting to get a “real” job, hating customers, hating customers’ buying habits/requests, and always being hungover.

Or maybe the job just attracts cynical, know-it-all jerks. And the Department of Motor Vehicles doesn’t prize a deep knowledge of krautrock.

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