As 2020 comes to a close it’s not lost on us that we—and most likely you—spent very little time in a record store this year (if you even did at all). As we close the book on this trying year, this week we’ve been looking back at some of our favorite pre-pandemic visits to our local record shop to revive that record store experience—with a friend or ten that you just might know. —Ed.
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED JANUARY 2018 | “They’re here already,” Bart our videographer laughed, motioning to Som Records’ entryway under the large, wrought iron stairs. “Yea, Neal says they’ve been here for almost an hour…”
“Wait—what?!” was the collective first thought. Better to keep it fresh for the cameras is our general thinking, despite the band’s obvious enthusiasm. But hell, the Pixies’ Joey Santiago popped by Som the day before shooting to get the lay of the land in advance of last summer’s record rummage—so, what’s an hour in advance then?
Turns out, not that much at all. After some warm hellos to the gentlemen of Wire, front man Colin Newman, bassist Graham Lewis, and guitarist Matthew Simms (where was Robert?), the band shrugged off their early arrival. “We’d be doing this anyway,” Simms confessed.
So why wait any longer? We’re record shopping with post punk Legends (cap L!) Wire at Washington, DC’s Som Records.
WASHINGTON, DC- SEPTEMBER 25, 2017: Wire record shopping at Som Records in Washington, DC on September 25, 2017 (Photo by Richie Downs)
WASHINGTON, DC- SEPTEMBER 25, 2017: Wire record shopping at Som Records in Washington, DC on September 25, 2017 (Photo by Richie Downs)
WASHINGTON, DC- SEPTEMBER 25, 2017: Wire record shopping at Som Records in Washington, DC on September 25, 2017 (Photo by Richie Downs)
WASHINGTON, DC- SEPTEMBER 25, 2017: Wire record shopping at Som Records in Washington, DC on September 25, 2017 (Photo by Richie Downs)
WASHINGTON, DC- SEPTEMBER 25, 2017: Wire record shopping at Som Records in Washington, DC on September 25, 2017 (Photo by Richie Downs)
WASHINGTON, DC- SEPTEMBER 25, 2017: Wire record shopping at Som Records in Washington, DC on September 25, 2017 (Photo by Richie Downs)
WASHINGTON, DC- SEPTEMBER 25, 2017: Wire record shopping at Som Records in Washington, DC on September 25, 2017 (Photo by Richie Downs)
WASHINGTON, DC- SEPTEMBER 25, 2017: Wire record shopping at Som Records in Washington, DC on September 25, 2017 (Photo by Richie Downs)
WASHINGTON, DC- SEPTEMBER 25, 2017: Wire record shopping at Som Records in Washington, DC on September 25, 2017 (Photo by Richie Downs)
WASHINGTON, DC- SEPTEMBER 25, 2017: Wire record shopping at Som Records in Washington, DC on September 25, 2017 (Photo by Richie Downs)
WASHINGTON, DC- SEPTEMBER 25, 2017: Wire record shopping at Som Records in Washington, DC on September 25, 2017 (Photo by Richie Downs)
WASHINGTON, DC- SEPTEMBER 25, 2017: Wire record shopping at Som Records in Washington, DC on September 25, 2017 (Photo by Richie Downs)
WASHINGTON, DC- SEPTEMBER 25, 2017: Wire record shopping at Som Records in Washington, DC on September 25, 2017 (Photo by Richie Downs)
WASHINGTON, DC- SEPTEMBER 25, 2017: Wire record shopping at Som Records in Washington, DC on September 25, 2017 (Photo by Richie Downs)
WASHINGTON, DC- SEPTEMBER 25, 2017: Wire record shopping at Som Records in Washington, DC on September 25, 2017 (Photo by Richie Downs)
WASHINGTON, DC- SEPTEMBER 25, 2017: Wire record shopping at Som Records in Washington, DC on September 25, 2017 (Photo by Richie Downs)
WASHINGTON, DC- SEPTEMBER 25, 2017: Wire record shopping at Som Records in Washington, DC on September 25, 2017 (Photo by Richie Downs)
WASHINGTON, DC- SEPTEMBER 25, 2017: Wire record shopping at Som Records in Washington, DC on September 25, 2017 (Photo by Richie Downs)
WASHINGTON, DC- SEPTEMBER 25, 2017: Wire record shopping at Som Records in Washington, DC on September 25, 2017 (Photo by Richie Downs)
WASHINGTON, DC- SEPTEMBER 25, 2017: Wire record shopping at Som Records in Washington, DC on September 25, 2017 (Photo by Richie Downs)
WASHINGTON, DC- SEPTEMBER 25, 2017: Wire record shopping at Som Records in Washington, DC on September 25, 2017 (Photo by Richie Downs)
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PHOTOS: RICHIE DOWNS |
