Record stores give you a better life

Eva Prowse is celebrating record stores with a performance at the Southern Cross. Photo: Jenn Hadley

IT’S ironic, that while Wellington’s favourite record store Real Groovy was making the announcement it would soon close up shop, others were preparing for International record store day.
Despite news of Real Groovy’s imminent closing, the store is teaming up with the Southern Cross and Slowboat Records for one last hurrah.
“This year, record store day will be a celebration of Real Groovy, and the legacy it’s leaving behind,” says owner Mark Thomas.
Real Groovy supporters have voiced dismay at its closing.
“Record stores are a place for people to interact, to talk about music, and where customers can have a conversation with someone behind counter about what they’re interested in. It’s a social thing as much as it’s a retail thing; people who work here do so because they love music. You can’t get that on the internet.”
But Thomas, who hopes to open another record store one day, understands that people just don’t choose to spend as much money on CDs and records as they used to.
For record store day, local musicians and personalities will play their favourite records over a sausage sizzle at Real Groovy, The Southern Cross hosts Eva Prowse, Family Cactus and more, plus there’s face painting for the kids and the final for their music quiz, and Lawrence Arabia performs at Slowboat Records.
International Record Store Day, Real Groovy, The Southern Cross, Slowboat Records, April 16.

Record store - related quotes:
“I think it’s high time the mentors, big brothers, big sisters, parents, guardians, and neighborhood ne’er do wells start taking younger people that look up to them to a real record store, and show them what an important part of life music really is. I trust no one who hasn’t time for music. What a shame to leave a child, or worse, a generation orphaned from one of life’s great beauties... help it from becoming nothing more than disposable digital data.” Jack White, The White Stripes.

“Yes, yes, I know. It’s easier to download music, and probably cheaper. But what’s playing on your favourite download store when you walk into it? Nothing, that’s what. Who are you going to meet in there? Nobody. Where are the notice boards offering flatshares and vacant slots in bands destined for superstardom? Who’s going to tell you to stop listening to that and start listening to this? Go ahead and save yourself a couple of quid. The saving will cost you a career, a set of cool friends, musical taste and, eventually, your soul. Record stores can’t save your life. But they can give you a better one.” Nick Hornby, author.