Record Store Day: Interview with Hope Is Noise
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| Hope Is Noise |
Rock renegades Hope Is Noise recently joined up with Cork record label Fifa Records (CD/mp3) and Galway independent record store, Wingnut Records (vinyl) to release the excellent This Used To Be a Laugh. The quartet’s third studio album is currently stocked in various independent record stores around the country such as Plugd (Cork), Wingnut Waterford and, of course, Wingnut Galway itself. It is a platform like this that is provided for local/national bands to promote and sell their work.
Pat from Hope Is Noise was only too happy to speak of his own independent record store experiences.
What is your favourite record store?
My fav record store is Plugd Records in the Triskel Arts Centre in Cork City. Run by two lovely gents, Albert and Jim.
Are there any specific happy memories that you have of this store?
I guess seeing our first album Applaud Friends – The Comedy Is Over stocked on their shelves and in the shop front window, was a pretty cool memory for me. I have been buying records there since i was 14 years old, when Comet Records was there (on Washington Street in Cork) before Plugd, so I always imagined what it must be like to see your own record on sale there. Only had to wait 15 years, ha!
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?
Not so much influenced, but Albert is great at suggesting new stuff. Last Christmas I was in Plugd and he recommended Ice Age – a band from Denmark – to me. Albert played a tune off it and I bought it! I like that about Plugd, they know what kind of music you’re into so they’ll always suggest something you might like, or some gig thats coming up.
Has a record store (i.e. the staff) helped you in your musical career/path in anyway over the years?
Comet Records definitely did for me. When i was 15/16 years old I was big into metal, and then I started getting into industrial/techno and all that crossover stuff. Comet was one of the very few places you could get this stuff. Front Line Assembly, Meat Beat Manifesto, RevCo., Pigface, Nine Inch Nails – I bought them all here. They were always playing this stuff when you went in there, so I got into a lot of that just by hanging around in there and buying what they were playing.
What does Record Store Day mean for you?
It’s well deserved recognition for the stores and their staff for all the hard work they do in promoting themselves, chasing down that hard to find 7″, putting on bands, and struggling to stay afloat for all those people who just love buying music.
This will be the fifth annual record store day. Any fond memories from previous Record Store Days you would like to share?
I was in Amsterdam last year when it was on. I was in this particular record store (can’t remember the name for obvious reasons, ahem) and they had a band playing and free beer. There was a really great vibe, and I ended up picking up some rare vinyl too. Sweet.
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?
No, but I’ll be in taking a good look around!
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?
Why not? Mastodon are at a point in their career where they cant do anything wrong, so a bit of experimenting with Feist will probably work out just fine. Looking forward to hearing it.
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?
Although they are in hiatus, I would love to do one with Fugazi. ‘Reclamation’ from A Steady Diet of Nothing is my fav song by them, so we could try that and maybe they could do ‘Four Eyes no Brain’ by us!
If you had to describe the perfect record store in 3 words what would they be?
Lots of Vinyl.
If you were to own a record store one day, what would you call it?
Passion Vomit Records.
I just hope more people start buying from independent record stores and that no more stores start disappearing.
– Hope Is Noise’ new album ‘This Used To Be A Laugh’ is available on both vinyl and cd in Plugd, Wingnut and other good record stores
– Record Store Day 2012 is Saturday, 21st April
– Stay tuned to www.thegmanworld.com all this week for RSD12 interviews, articles and more
Click here to see participating stores in your area
