FFWD Weekly
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Street Sounds by FFWD Staff Open stages at the local indie record stores When looking for the latest batch of cool from record labels like Touch and Go, Rotoflex, Estrus, Hourglass, Bloodshot, Sonic Unyon, Fat Possum and Jade Tree, hip audiophiles know who’ll have it first. Often existing on a shoestring budget, local indie record stores are a bastion of pulse-racing new material from creative artists. But now, besides offering adventurous merchandise for those who equate mainstream music with a big ol’ yawn, a few of our indie record stores are opening their doors to live bands, too. Last autumn, Melodiya (label and store – 2523A-17th Avenue S.W. – established in 1994) increased its original water-closet size by six times and continued their commitment to an "extreme independent music angle." A top priority was to build a wide stage that is now nestled by the front window of the store. Manager and self-described rock ’n’ roll groupie Wes Hegg, and owner Ben Falconer (formerly of The Primrods), have invited everyone from Man or Astroman? to local garage-rockers The Von Zippers to play on the new stage. Last November, Earthquake Pills played an in-store gig and a few kids – caught up in a playful Electric Circus parody – danced giddily across the street. Wes has been involved in Calgary music since the mid-’80s, when he saw many underage faces of our current local scene try to sneak past him at the door of the now-defunct Westward Club, which featured acts ranging from Gwar to Nirvana. (You’ll have to visit him at the store to get the nitty gritty details.) So, not only do in-stores provide valuable hype and promotional media opportunities, they also provide all-age access to a band that usually only plays bar shows. "We’re open to anybody, anytime – that’s our policy," says Ben. "And the bands are more than welcome to bring their merchandise up and sell it." (To play on the Melodiya stage, call Wes at 246-8916.) When Megatunes (established in 1988 at 932-17th Avenue S.W.) expanded a couple of years ago, they too made it a priority to build a stage. They’ve hosted performances by Superchunk, Sloan (drawing one of the largest crowds 17th Avenue has ever seen), and Lester Quitzau, and will welcome Kris Demeanor this Saturday at 2:30 p.m. Manager Herb Dowse (king of customer service, who recently trimmed away his trademark shag for a shorter ’do), says that they love to support the local scene and see it as a responsibility being one of the city’s few remaining indie record stores. (To inquire about playing at Megatunes, call Herb or Jerry at 229-3022 or visit their Web site at www.megatunes.com.) Sloth Records (opened at its current location – #1A, 1304-4th Street S.W. – in 1996 by owner Dave Muir) have also made it their mission to offer what other record stores do not – and they do it remarkably well. Almost a not-for-profit kind of store, staff member Todd Harkness (The Vanguard, Porter Hall) says that Sloth is a catch-all type of place – from carrying unique albums to hosting last-minute gigs for musicians passing through town. Bands from Duotang to 3 Penny Opera to Pez have played at Sloth, and they’re expecting the Salteens on April 19. Like Melodiya, Sloth is also an active record label with a locally fueled roster including The New 1-2, and The Daggers, and they released the wildly popular Bloodbath... compilations and the fun Ship & Anchor Cocktail Series. Since most of their employees are band members and musicaholics, they know what’s hot years before the masses do. (To play a Sloth in-store gig, contact Todd or Dave at 265-6585.)

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