How timely for me to re-enter into the blogosphere than on the annual retro-fabulous Record Store Day? Well amongst our travels today included a stop at 2 of the fine actual brick and mortar establishments that still purvey the tactile experience of purchasing music. While I have a small thorn of hipster fear that makes me nervous about being around vinyl these days, I am always within the walls of a record store on the day that celebrates a on-going, but struggling means of commerce in our world of digital downloads and iPods.
I traveled with the husby hoping to score the "Tebowie" release from LNJF but ended up with a 45 of one of my FAVORITE, McCartney tunes "Another Day". So unexpected score! Jim didn't leave with anything other than a t-shirt celebrating our local-record store. I must admit I was excited to purchase my first 45 in over 10 years though...which made me think...
What was your first record purchase? Not the first record you remember, the first one you actually bought with your own money? I remember both my first 45 and 33 purchases: "Goody Two Shoes" by Adam Ant and "Built for Speed" by the Stray Cats (the later album I got in trouble with because of the word "Hell" in one of the songs, little did my Mom know but I had a borrowed copy of Prince's 1999 in my room with FAR worse lyrics). There was a true joy in getting a 33 album and being able to read the back, hang the album art on your wall and the initially pristine condition of the inner album condom. I'm just glad to know that the interest is still around in general and the crowds were out in full-force which brought a smile to my heart and soul.
If you're looking in the greater Knoxville area for some all senses experience of music here are my recommendations:
1) The Disc Exchange (our friend Paula works there and it's a one stop-shop experience).
2) Lost and Found Records (it's our neighborhood record store and carries more vinyl than anything).
3) Raven Records (haven't been but have heard good things).
4) McKays (hit or miss based on what CDs and vinyl people have sold to pay their electric bill this month - plus I'm kind of staying far, far away from McKay's since I lost my first iPad there - boo).
Today was a whirlwind day for me professionally. I'm working to build something that coordinates my dreams and ambitions with my current activities, likes and passions. I'm building an ability to produce a (now bi-monthly), night of variety entertainment held at a local venue here in Knoxville.
I've wanted to own my own club for years, however I'm very particular about the way I want it to look, feel and be. In some ways, I'd make a perfect Disney Imagineer. I want theming and people to have an EXPERIENCE not just a night out. So I'm building it...slowly and choosing soooo carefully.
You see, my husband, the Jim stands by me on my crazy dreams. He's pragmatic at times and frankly that's what I need. Most importantly he understands now why I want and NEED to pursue these creative dreams and visions. In fact, I'm really excited about moving forward on a dream at least a little bit.
As my performance artist persona, I will be hostessing and producing THE CHEESE SHOP (Speakeasy/Cabaret), here in Knoxville starting at the Old City Entertainment Venue in...where else? The old city! While it's not mine, the two men who head up the venue, Ray and Jason have been 100% supportive of me holding a night of real variety in the upstairs section of their club which is reminiscent of a SPEAKEASY at least in feeling. It's intimate and that's what I really want, an intimate experience for my guests and a chance to have some AMAZING local/regional entertainers connect with potential fans who maybe didn't know they existed. I want a true artist and art-lover relationship to develop. I want to help make connections. I want to promote entertainers who deserve to be promoted.
[On a side note, if you visit the link to the website above, you have to find your way onto the MAIN page by figuring out a few links on the opening page that will get you into the SPEAKEASY. It's fun and I enjoy a good puzzle.]
Now the first question I get, is WHY do you call it THE CHEESE SHOP? Well, back in the era of prohibition a lot of the speakeasies had faux store-fronts or were in the basement or back/allies of other places. Like a dry cleaning establishment where, if you brought red socks in meant you knew it was a front for a speakeasy and you'd get ushered in to the back room to drink and be merry on the down-low. I'm a huge Monty Python fan (as a previous posting notes), and one of the first sketches I ever saw/heard from the talented troupe was their "cheese shop sketch". Which I'll show you...NOW:
While the cheese shop in the sketch was not a front for a speakeasy, it's along the lines of what I'm aiming for. I want you to believe you're coming to a CHEESE SHOP but make people "in the know" by featuring a particular cheese each month as the password. Will there be cheese? Blessedly, OLD CITY Entertainment Venue sells a really fabulous cheese plate - so yes, in a way there will be. It's also called the cheese shop, because...well I'm a pretty cheesy person. Own it and be who you are!
So under THE CHEESE SHOP (Speakeasy/Cabaret) name, every other month - I am featuring a collection of local performers of all different styles and types to introduce Knoxville to! I'm blessed to know so many of them personally and that even makes me more excited...because I really know what they are capable of and I can't wait to see them under the same roof and sharing the same stage.
Now, the reason today was such a whirlwind was because I had to push back the OPENING NIGHT to July 28th, 2011 because of a work commitment that I couldn't control. I was so happy to catch everything in time before the printer made my flyers and I've been blessed that all my performers and staff are able to adjust to the new opening night.
Another reason that I wanted to do this was for Knoxville...I believe in Knoxville's open-ness to explore all varieties of performing and visual arts. Mostly, I wanted to cater to people who want a REAL night out without having to pay big money and get home so late that they couldn't function at work the next day. So I made my night, $10.00 (tickets on sale for $8.00 through June), doors will open at 7 PM and the whole night will be over by 10:30 - 11:00 PM. Time to get home and get to bed. Reasonable for everyone and with a real class-it-up feel. Please spread the word and if you're a FACEBOOKER, please consider "LIKING" us. It helps us know what we're building makes sense and will have a place here in our fair city.
It's a dream come true and it will be a full reality for me SOON.
Wow.
