Record Store Day 2012: interview with Crayonsmith
As posted yesterday, a whole host of excellent Irish bands such as Yawning Chasm, Hello Moon and Lovesea & T have all contributed to the Record Store Gay compilation ahead of international Record Store Day on April 21st. Representing Out on a Limb on the compilation is Crayonsmith who recorded a version of Blondie‘s legendary ‘Atomic‘ especially for the collection. Ciaran and Wayne chatted ahead of RSD 2012.
What is your favourite record store and where is it located?
Ciaran: Plugd Records, Cork. Elastic Witch, Dublin, is a very close second.
Wayne. Plugd records, Triskel, Cork – just a shame about the staff. Haha!
Are there any specific happy memories that you have of this store?
C: Launching our most recent Split 7″ single with Elk in the record shop itself as a BYOB evening gig.
W. Quite a few; The time Jim made the black metal altar in the window of the old shop for Rest when they released their last EP was epic; Playing a really loud gig with My Name is Ishmael at about 11a.m on a saturday morning in the ESB substation (Plugd’s previous location). Plugd was great fun!
Culture night a few years ago with Toby Kaar playing in the window; Watching Albert [Twomey – Plugd Records] deal with customers buying tickets for big gigs who just walked into the shop for the first time, not having a clue what just happened to them; That time about 6 of The Necks albums arrived for me on order at once was great. Waaay too many things to mention..
Are there any particular albums recommended to you by record store staff that have influenced your music over the years (or that you have simply loved and adored)?
There’s been a fair few critical recommendations made over the years. I used to really like picking up random stuff in Road Records just going on the blurb on the front. Got some great stuff that way.
Think John Daly might have turned me onto Ariel Pink when he worked in plugd years ago, House Arrest I think it was. Think I came across Tim Hecker‘s Harmony in Ultraviolet when I worked in Plugd,does that count? Think Tim Hecker might have been the best find so far..
C: Aphex Twin – Richard D. James album.
Has a record store (i.e. the staff) helped you in your musical career/path in anyway over the years? If so, how?
C: Road Records recommended Crayonsmith to a good few people over the years and invited me to play an instore solo set on RSD 2008. Tower Records did the same. Plugd for the aforementioned launch and any store that took copies of albums by just walking in and asking them to stock it.
W.Well, I guess hanging out in Plugd for years listening to a load of new music every week from the lads influenced shit in a big way. Them puttin on shows and just havin a place where you can hang out and shoot the shit about music with buddies and strangers helped as well.
What does Record Store Day mean for you?
W. Not much,its a good thing for sure but you kinda get the feeling a few trolls leave there cave once a year to pick up the limited editions on sale,ahem..ya it’d be great if indie shops were as busy regularly as I have seen them on record store day. Still, great idea, good excuse to hang out in a shop for the day, see bands and I guess they can do with getting as many people inside the doors these days as they can.
C. A deadly buzz around the city’s Record shops with lots of people from the music community coming out to show their support and make a purchase as well as lots of free instore gigs with a bit of imagination.
This will be the fifth annual record store day. Any fond memories from previous Record Store Days you would like to share?
C: Playing Road Records on RSD in 2008 Crayonsmith ‘We Sleep’ Road Records Instore 19th April 08
W. Had fun hanging around Tower last year: loadsa bands,good vibes and got to see that guy Ror from Puget Sound doing some lofi drum busking with some other dude outside which was unbelievable.
Have you had a chance to look at the special limited editions that are set to be released especially for RSD12? Is there any record you will be trying to claim come April 21st?
W. Havn’t checked anything out yet.
C: The Mynah Birds are putting out a Split 7″ single featuring Neil Young and Rick James! RICK JAMES. NEIL YOUNG. THE MYNAH BIRDS. “IT’S MY TIME”! I’m gonna look into getting that. “It’s My Time” is a cracker!
Did you hear Feist and Mastodon are to release a split 7″ with Feist covering Mastodon and vice versa? What do you make of that?
W. I hadn’t heard that but it sounds amazing.
If you were to release a split 7″ with any contemporary artist/band who would it be with and what song would you cover of theirs and vice versa?
W. Was listening to that Chad Vangaalen song ‘Peace on the Rise’ again last night. I wouldn’t mind a stab off that. Doing a split with Yo la Tengo would be pretty class as well. Any song. Tough question though, too many choices.
C. Modest Mouse, I would love to cover ‘Broke’.
If you had to describe the perfect record store in 3 words what would they be?
C: Well-stocked. Hangoutable(?!). Friendly.
W. With Free Coffee.
If you were to own a record store one day, what would you call it?
W. Polyvinyl? Wait thats a label isn’t it? I think all the good names are gone. Pass.
C. After seeing Wayne’s offer, eh, Polly’s Vinyl…
Anything else to add?
C: Check out our cover of ‘Atomic’ by Blondie for Record Store Gay 2012 curated by I Heart The Monster Hero and You Kiss By The Book.
– Crayonsmith contribute ‘Atomic’ by Blondie to the Record Store Gay compilation
– Record Store Day 2012 takes place on Saturday, 21st April
– Limited edition releases will be available from independent record stores only for that day
crayonsmith.bandcamp.com
www.outonalimbrecords.com
Click here to see participating stores in your area
ha! i took that photo!
Good photo-ing out of you!