In issue 192 (August 2011) of the BBCN I wrote an article about vinyl records and said: though they are considered old technology, there is still a place in the hearts of those who deem them priceless gems and digital music the work of something sinister. I made it clear that everything has its place and whilst vinyl is a tangible medium with lots of positives, I’ll never get a record player in my car or have 1000 albums at my choosing to listen to when taking a walk around the park.
Having said that...
Every year on the third Saturday of April vinyl lovers around the world rejoice, because since 2008 that day has become Record Store Day, an international celebration of small independent record stores and labels (sometimes they are the same thing) to promote the fact that there still are stores that sell music, and not just as a sideline in a big chain store.
Situated opposite the old Fire Station on Maroondah Hwy in Ringwood is a rather unimposing shop front with the more imposing name of Fist2Face. Drive past and blink and you’ve missed it. But good things come in subtle packaging. Step inside the door and what you have is a cramped area no more than six metres by three metres covered like all good record stores should with posters and T Shirts and racks of music. Because it was Record Store Day, a new bin was constructed with freshly wrapped vinyl offerings. Put 10 people in this store and it gets hard to move around but that adds to the appeal. Where else can a 50 year old man strike up a conversation with a twenty something about the history of punk bands in Melbourne? The intimacy brings likeminded people together. And that is the beauty of Fist2Face, it caters for music lovers on all levels. Through the door of the little shop is a larger storage area where all kinds of CDs, vinyl, T-Shirts, posters basically anything to do with bands are sold over the internet. This is how smaller record stores battle digital downloads, they sell merchandise that gives the music its identity. By using this technology it also is an outlet for ticket sales to concerts for touring international and local bands alike. It gets more interesting because next to the shop front is a high gate covered with tin because the store is next door to an Auto accessory, one could be easily mistaken to think it is connected to that shop, but no. This opens up to a large forecourt with a small stage. So on special occasions like Record Store Day bands perform to help promote themselves and the occasion. On this day nine bands were scheduled to play. Beyond that is another gate that links back to storeroom and another room this one semi-soundproofed for local bands to practice in, which is how I came to know of Fist2Face in the first place through my son’s band. Gez, the owner is a devoted music lover and a musician himself and shares his love of music and in the past has hired young people connected with the VET audio/visual course.
Fist2Face is everything I wanted in a record store when I was growing up, now with record shops becoming rarer as years stream roll on it’s great to find something that sparks the love of music in me. I look forward to next year to see what new and exciting things I can rediscover.
Originally printed in the BBCN Issue 212 June 2013
