My Thoughts on Vinyl... since i started doing the label almost 3 years ago, i've struggled with the idea of releasing vinyl. sure, it's my favorite format, but it's expensive and as a result, doesn't make much money. this may sound a tad capitalistic, but remember that part of the purpose of this label is to help raise money for various causes, and without turning a profit i can't do that. to date i've been able to donate around $1,500 which is important to me, and vinyl isn't a good medium for fundraising. however, more and more it seems like cd's are dying. people don't buy them, especially in our little 'niche'. they buy vinyl (if we're lucky) and download mp3s. regardless of how cheap cds are to produce, they can't turn a profit/raise money if people don't buy them. personally, i think waking records has been extremely fortunate and has been able to release some of the best records of the last few years, yet thousands of cds sit around unsold because kids don't want cds. sure, there are other reasons the cds don't sell such as bands breaking up, but only a handful of waking releases have broken even. so i'm torn between the idealist stance of "release cds, make more profit, donate more money" and the reality of "release cds that have the potential to make more profit if they sell, but they don't." the last couple releases i did were vinyl and proved to me that kids, to a larger degree than cd's at least, are still buying records. so, i've made a decision to focus more on vinyl. i'm sure this will make a lot of people happy since i've gotten tons of emails telling me i need to do more vinyl, and i'm happy because i love vinyl, but i'm a bit ambivalent because i do feel that this represents a shift in the labels focus and brings me closer to simply releasing a product for the sake of consumption which is something i never wanted to happen with the label. as such, i'll be trying to figure out more creative alternative ways of fund raising and welcome suggestions from folks. benefit shows are an obvious choice, as are raffles or auctions for some rare items (test presses and such). there's also the possibility of putting mp3s up for sale and donating the money raised by that. so yeah, look for more vinyl from waking in the future, support artists and the community by purchasing records, and support causes that you feel are important. without support everything will crumble.
My Thoughts on Vinyl... since i started doing the label almost 3 years ago, i've struggled with the idea of releasing vinyl. sure, it's my favorite format, but it's expensive and as a result, doesn't make much money. this may sound a tad capitalistic, but remember that part of the purpose of this label is to help raise money for various causes, and without turning a profit i can't do that. to date i've been able to donate around $1,500 which is important to me, and vinyl isn't a good medium for fundraising. however, more and more it seems like cd's are dying. people don't buy them, especially in our little 'niche'. they buy vinyl (if we're lucky) and download mp3s. regardless of how cheap cds are to produce, they can't turn a profit/raise money if people don't buy them. personally, i think waking records has been extremely fortunate and has been able to release some of the best records of the last few years, yet thousands of cds sit around unsold because kids don't want cds. sure, there are other reasons the cds don't sell such as bands breaking up, but only a handful of waking releases have broken even. so i'm torn between the idealist stance of "release cds, make more profit, donate more money" and the reality of "release cds that have the potential to make more profit if they sell, but they don't." the last couple releases i did were vinyl and proved to me that kids, to a larger degree than cd's at least, are still buying records. so, i've made a decision to focus more on vinyl. i'm sure this will make a lot of people happy since i've gotten tons of emails telling me i need to do more vinyl, and i'm happy because i love vinyl, but i'm a bit ambivalent because i do feel that this represents a shift in the labels focus and brings me closer to simply releasing a product for the sake of consumption which is something i never wanted to happen with the label. as such, i'll be trying to figure out more creative alternative ways of fund raising and welcome suggestions from folks. benefit shows are an obvious choice, as are raffles or auctions for some rare items (test presses and such). there's also the possibility of putting mp3s up for sale and donating the money raised by that. so yeah, look for more vinyl from waking in the future, support artists and the community by purchasing records, and support causes that you feel are important. without support everything will crumble.
it's been a while since i rambled... michele and i moved into a new apartment on sunday, and thanks to the help of several amazing friends it only took 8 hours. the neighborhood is great, carroll gardens in brooklyn. all of our stuff is still in boxes and just today i found my belt to end the spell of me wearing pants like my students do, boxers showing for all to see. last night we decided to go on a short bike ride, just to get some food and maybe down the street to check out a new receiver for our stereo and pick up a shower head. it being a short ride, michele didn't feel like wearing a helmet and i didn't feel like carrying my bag but was insistent on the helmet and she went aong with it. we kept it light, leaving cell phones behind and i put her ID in my wallet "in case she gets hit and killed so they can ID her" she said. just us, our bikes, and our fifteen pound new york chains and locks. after dinner we head up to atlantic, the hectic 4 or 6 lane avenue leading down to Target, and make our way over there. Traffic was pretty heavy but nothing to intense. we pull up to target and lock our bikes up next to a fixie locked with only a u-lock through the front wheel! after doing some browsing we split and are headed back home. traffic is lighter so cars are flying and i contemplate hitting a side street but keep on atlantic - there's a good bit of bike traffic so drivers should be pretty aware. i'm leading with michele following about 5-10 behind me. as i go to cross bond a gypsy cab tries to turn left. i shout "YO!" and stops about 4 feet short. i glare at the guy and keep going, and when i'm about ten feet past i hear michele shout/scream, the sound of metal on metal, and bystanders start to yell. immediately i spin around and simultaneously, i think, try to jump off my bike while still clipped in. not sure exactly what i did, but it resulted in my stumbling a falling. i jumped back up, picked up my bike and contemplated throwing it at the cab. better sense prevailed though, and i ran up to see michele sitting upright but looking dazed. i ran over to the cab and yelled "you almost hit me and then you hit my f*****g girlfriend! pull the f*** over!" the guy is acting like he doesn't know what i am talking about, but a large bystander is blocking his car, so he pulls over. as soon as the bystander and i turn to see if michele's ok the guy takes off up bond st. i run after him for a bit, then realize i that's just stupid, but i manage to get his license plate #. i keep repeating it to myself, figuring that if he gets away at least we can try to track him down, but then a dodge neon with two 50-something folks pulls up and they wave for me to get in. i jump in and we take off after the guy, them not speaking a lick of english and me steadily repeating the license plate #. he's turned right and as soon as we make the turn we see him make another right about 5 blocks up, back towards atlantic. when we make the turn we see i'm sitting at the red light, about four cars back. we pull up and i jump out of the car and run toward the cab. the light turns green and the cars in front of him begin to pull off. i grab the door handle and pull it open and as soon as i do he looks back, sees me, and begins to drive. i manage to get one foot in the car and hang on to the door then pull myself in. i slam the door and start yelling at him to pull over to which he keeps replying "no me! no me!" i wonder if he's going to pull over or just take off with me in the car, and i contemplate beating the crap out of him from the back seat. if i've ever been sure i could do it, it was then. after a couple of blocks he pulls over and the neon pulls in front of him. there's a huge flat-bed semi in the right lane and i flag him down and ask him to pull over and block the guy in and he does. a group of hipsters on fixies, one rockin' a faux-hawk, ride by and i try to call them over to ask them to tell michele i got the guy and help is on the way, but they just stare at me and roll on. The EMS gets down there and i send em down to michele. i'm freaked cause i have no idea how she's doing, but i'm not leaving this guy. the truck pulled off when the fire department got there so i take off my NY chain ready to smash whatever i have to to keep him there. he tries to give me his info and leave but i'm not moving. finally the cops show up, run his info, and find out he has an expired license. by this time there are or 6 cops there, agruing with each other about who has to deal with processing and paperwork for this guy. they ended up cuffing him, bringing him in, and taking his car. a cop gives me a ride back to michele, who is sitting in the ambulance but is doing well. her knee is bruised and swollen, her finger is stripped of skin where her ring was pulled off, and her glasses are broken in half. about this time i realized that my arm was killing me. i'm not sure what exactly happened but i can only bend my elbow from about a 75 degree angle to a 160 degree angle, i can't turn my palm facing up, and my wrist is killing me. ironic that she got hit by the car and i'm the more crippled of the two of us. she's pretty shaken up but taking it like a trooper. the assistant DA called this morning and talked to michele and they are arraigning the guy today. and now for the part i know you're all waiting for: her bike is fine over all. her front wheel is taco'ed and the fork is scratched but doesn't appear to be bent. other than that, no damage i've noticed so far. endless appreciation goes out to the older couple to helped me chase the guy down, to the amazing bystanders who took care of michele while i was gone, bought her water and juice and made her laugh, all the people who stuck around to be witnesses, and the cops for arresting the guy and being down with bikes and understanding. a big F.U. to Manuel the cab driver - hope you're screwed now, and to the hipsters who couldn't stop to help me out. ps. i just got off the phone with my uncle who is an orthopedist and he thinks i have a radial head/neck fracture in my elbow... crap. off to get x-rayed!
there are nights or days that are sparks, that light a fire and inspire - and last night was one of those nights... while i'm still teaching for another week, i'm going to consider last night the official beginning to my summer cause i want it to start on such an amazing note. i think it was art from tiny hawks who said it's always nice to have a show that's more than a show (or something along those lines) and this show was definately that. on the rooftop next to the apartment there was a barbeque going, free haircuts being giving, and in general just a lot of hanging out. after two years i'm really feeling at home in new york, and its such a fantastic feeling to go to a show and see a bunch of kids you know, kids you enjoy seeing and hanging out with. when i bump into these people though it just makes me feel lame for never calling them, actively persuing hanging out... anyway, staying focused! the "show" had a real sense of being a gathering, a coming together. people were talking, introducing people to new people... being friendly all around. josh smalls, a good friend of the stop it!! gang and someone i've been wanting to hear for a while got to do his banjo and guitar thing and it was awesome, personal and intense in a room of people sitting on the floor and listening closely. stop it!! played and seriously, everytime i see these guys its better and better and i've never seen them play and not seem totally into what they were doing. the new songs they played are awesome, and it was good just getting to see the guys and hang out. richmond folks are good folks, and there were tons of em at the show, touring and transplants, and all just rad people doing awesome stuff... tiny hawks played after stop it and DAMN! this band is my new favorite... completely inspiring and... i don't even know. there wasn't any grand theatrics or any frills and lace, and that is what made it so great. the music and the mood is direct and personal, screamy but upbeat and positive, spilling over from the two band members' personalities... i don't know... for msucial comparisons i'd go with true feedback story maybe... reactionary 3... after they were done i was just left with the desire to high-five and hug. these guys are on tour, so go check out their dates here and make sure you see them! they have a record coming out soon on moganono and a cdr available on tour that i've already listened to 6 times since i woke up... this post doesn't do last night and the sense that it left me with justice... i feel so good about this summer right now, unable to wait for tour, to go to san fran with michele... seeing the fam. amazing things will happen this summer, i swear it!
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