Kevin Griffin: In-store with TVD at DC’s Som Records

PHOTOS: RICHIE DOWNS | So, here’s something we’ve observed over time as we’ve taken bands and musicians to Som Records in DC for our record buying excursions—toss most preconceptions right out the window. Like that guy who’s the purposeful party proponent? He’s actually kinda low key, introspective and cerebral. The seemingly shy songstress behind sweeping, evocative compositions? Why, she’s bit of a Chatty Cathy frankly. (And actually we weren’t too sure if Oderus from Gwar would actually fit inside Som, so that was a thing too.)

All of this preambling brings us to our most recent visit to Som Records with Kevin Griffin, he from Better Than Ezra and on tour at the time in support of his debut solo release, Anywhere You Go. Now, if you’ve seen Better Than Ezra live—which we have more times than one can recall—Kevin’s kinda funny. No wait—he’s really funny, and with a setlist of 100% genuine earworms which linger for days, it’s one fine night out.

Here’s what we didn’t expect off that bat from Kevin—that he’d be such a rock raconteur. Certainly songwriters of a particular stripe know their stuff when plunked down in a record shop, and beyond just this, Kevin’s got anecdotes for days. (Well, certainly for an hour plus this day.)

So, come for the true tales of life on the road and elsewhere—and stay for the hilarious story of teen Kevin and Canadian superstars Rush in Monroe, Louisiana. Oh, and the Green Barchetta too. (Not a typo.)

Let’s go shall we? We’re record shopping with Kevin Griffin at Washington, DC’s Som Records!