Jun 272007
One of an occasional rock-related travel pieces submitted by a Townsman or Townswoman on the road! In today’s report, from a recent trip to Japan, Hrrundi lets his picture speak a thousand words. He adds only a mere 23 additional words to the story. Enjoy!
“This would be funny if it wasn’t one of the best record stores I’ve ever been to — you’d crap your pants in there!”
Man, that logo is a screaming blatant ripoff of Sam the Record Man in Toronto. Friggin’ identical.
I noticed the same thing, Great 48. I was wondering if the businesses were related somehow.
Come to think of it, isn’t there a tiny record store near 11th & Arch that has a similar logo? It’s not the world’s most creative logo.
Since I’m in the 1200 block of Race, I can gho find out and report back.
Yeah, but using the same font, or damn near? Total rip.
GROAN.
The *point* of the snapshot was the politically incorrect, but extremely accurate, one-liner that describes the merchant’s wares.
Wotta buncha nerds!
The other point is that you’re one lucky mofo for having the chance to go there. This is me, green with envy.
Honest curiosity, mwall: why would you want to go to Tokyo? I was there to see my brother, and had it not been for that, I would’ve been happy enough not to go. (Though I suppose going with a girlfriend or such would’ve made a difference.) Anyhow, why Tokyo? You don’t strike me as a crazy pop culture megalopolis guy.
I didn’t see anything, just a Wawa and the beginnings of Chinatown.
I’ll go anywhere if I haven’t been there and can get there. And the great music store in the place I’ve never been before and may never again, etc, is always a lot of fun. But it’s true, traveling single can be more of a drag–unless you’re on tour, eh? On top of that, though, I’ve never been anywhere in Asia.
Love that photo:) I’m jealous that you got to go to Japan too – def. a some-day soon trip for me. Well, you know. A friend sent me some candy last time he went and a few were “Crunky” choco bars;) That Sam’s logo does remind me of Sam’s Record Store (which was a HUGE chain in Canada until it got bought out and HMV became like the Tower Records here and took over) what that name really made me think of was my formative years spent toiling at a Ferndale MI record shoppe called Sam’s Jams whenever I visited my grandparents –now closed down :*( Anyhow, that’s a good caption for the photo – I can’t believe they sell “real black music!” Too funny;)
I wanna go to Japan one day, too. With lot’s and lot’s of record money. I want OBI strips and weird covers and Vinyl Gang bootlegs and all sorts of stuff.
I think I can only go for a day, though. The food is just not my thing, and I don’t understand eating soup with a stick. But I’ve met some Japanese people on Stones tours and they are an absolute blast, so I bet if I can live on candy bars and beer (possible, I’ve made it a few weeks at times but I was younger), then I can have a great time!
BigSteve, sorry if I led you on a wild goose chase for that store I remembered. I think it’s actually closer to Market St, if it still exists. Buskirk would know what I’m talking about. Maybe tonight we’ll get confirmation.
Count me in for a trip to Japan for all the reasons Mwall stated. Also, I’m pretty sure I’d be big in Japan.
fritz, stop groaning at them! so they pointed out something you hadn’t expected. no need to get pissy.
in your defense, however, i will say that the un-p.c. nature of the sign struck me much more than its lack of graphic originality. what the dealio widdat? is there a water fountain for “coloreds” nearby? sheesh. i guess they don’t mean any harm by it, but has anyone ever pointed out the potentially offensive nature of that there sign?
steve, i wish i had seen this thread before you went to the nether regions of the convention center area looking for a generic record store sign.
jim, i think you’re thinking of “sound of market”. there’s more than one location, but you’re right, there is one around 11th and market….on market, i believe.
did you make it to dipinto’s? we should’ve warned you: their facade is undergoing renovation and it looks all boarded up. but it’s not. it’s open.
there’s also bluebond guitars on 4th by lombard…not great. and you might as well check out the pawn shop on 7th and south. sure, those guys are dicks, but you’re not from around here, so you’ve got no fight with them. and they DO occasionally come up with some nice axes.
happy hunting…
also, fritz, why WOULDn’t we want to see tokyo. for that matter, why wouldn’t YOU want to go there if you didn’t have to?
As strange, funny, and wrong as that sign seems to us, I wonder how “wrong” it really is relative to how comfortable we are reducing Asian cultures and other cultures. It may be a simple lack of subtlety.
Mr. Mod sez:
As strange, funny, and wrong as that sign seems to us, I wonder how “wrong” it really is relative to how comfortable we are reducing Asian cultures and other cultures. It may be a simple lack of subtlety.
I say:
You want “lack of subtlety”? Go back and read your posts on Tamio Okuda and the Asian race’s inability to be cool, rock out, have a great Look, fry chicken, drive fast cars, smoke Luckies, etc.
Hrrundi wrote:
I’m sure you think you got me with a ZINGER!, and had you used it on a less self-aware man I would commend you on a great one, but here’s the deal: I am nothing if not self-aware. I defended the sign, in part, to defend myself:P You know what? Good one, nevertheless!
Okay, maybe it’s just me, but that sign actually doesn’t strike me as particularly “strange, funny and wrong.” I mean, it’s not like the sign says “real negro music.” What I’m saying is, if I saw that sign on the front of Stereo Jack’s, a blues and jazz store on Mass Ave in Cambridge (or for that matter, on the underground — literally — hip-hip store where Second Coming used to be), I wouldn’t blink.
Incientally, I just remembered why the phrase “real black music” rings a bell: it’s the hook of the track “Crack Music” on Kanye’s LATE REGISTRATION.