Aquarius Records

I will add that there's definitely a little pushback to SV about making it *all* vinyl, which might be their intent. I offered up that the model could be something like Factory Records in Costa Mesa where Dave maintains a couple of cases of CDs that he doesn't add to with new orders, but is happy to sell to folks if they ask, while the occasional further used CDs trickle in. Turns out Allan knows the store and Noise Noise Noise well! Anyway, we'll see what shakes down.

i think ned should take it over. to heck with those other hipster doofuses.

The Shoegeezer Nedporium!

also, can i blame Aquarius for the glut of tedious one man USBM all those years ago? i think i will anyway.

but best of luck to them.

count me among those who found their "Best Thing Ever" reviews kind of charming -- you had to take it w/ several grains of salt, but the enthusiasm was usually refreshing.

I didn't mean to be flippant about Aquarius positive role in the music scene, locally and otherwise, just that I guess I was prepared for this story to be a whole lot worse (which is why I referenced evictions/being forced out of business etc.) and knowing that it's a voluntary decision makes it a little easier to be more philosophical (as opposed to depressed) about the passage of a great thing. They were always good to me and I always liked shopping there.

they sure lasted a lot longer than most record stores! they have a lot to be proud of.

I will add that there's definitely a little pushback to SV about making it *all* vinyl, which might be their intent.

yeah, i'm definitely pushing back ...

A short hail and farewell

http://nedraggett.tumblr.com/post/146907900562/today-aquarius-records-closes-after-a-forty-year

There was a low key celebration of aQ yesterday at the Make Out Room hosted by Andee and Allan -- it was also an impromptu fundraiser for the Ghost Ship fire victims, which was good to see. (Raised almost $400 all told IIRC.) Didn't stay for the full length but was around to be filmed for a documentary that is being put together about the store, which I gather is near completion.

So I've heard rumors there was going to be a new Aquarius store set up by former employees? Heard anything about that, Ned? The guy who told me is kinda... slightly shady. But was apparently involved in the old store at some point.

Hm. I haven't heard anything specifically about that, but I can ask around. Nobody mentioned it yesterday, but I wasn't talking to everybody.

A few days ago, I realized that the zillions of old AQ reviews have vanished from the internet. It was such an amazing resource for reading about lots of music that flew well-under the radar. RIP AQ.

My understanding is that there's going to be an archive of some sort, but I should follow up.

Eight hours of hits from Aquarius: http://www.whydoyoulikeit.com/2016/12/over-eight-hours-of-aq-hits.html

Nice!

So as I said a couple of years ago about a post-closure hail and farewell:

Didn't stay for the full length but was around to be filmed for a documentary that is being put together about the store, which I gather is near completion.

And that is out next year...but enjoy the first seven minutes. Lots of, how you say, familiar names:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_0ab_cI65E

nice!

new store that took its place kinda sucks tbh

Not a fan, no.

And another clip!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6bU7KqYP54

enjoyed both of those clips, looking forward to the film! I'll never forget my first time going into Aquarius in the late 80s when it was on 24th St in Noe Valley. I think I ended up buying a cassette of Surfer Rosa. I fell in love with the store that day

Watched that last night, a few times. Didn't expect that last ilxor cameo near the end, very nice!

I still think about their weekly email lists all the time, nothing was like those in your inbox. I'd ordered from them for years, but had never had a chance to go. In January of 2016 we booked a trip to San Francisco that was to take place in September, since it was at the top of my list for places to visit I was really bummed when I heard the news. Still made the trek down to see the sign and check out the new Stranded, which was a disappointment. At the time I put it down to still getting going, but sounds like it hasn't really improved much.

Didn't expect that last ilxor cameo near the end, very nice!

Odd thing was I didn't even recall filming that bit! We were mostly filming inside the Make Out Room.

Okay! So the long in the works documentary is about to get its premiere. If you're in the area or will be, June 3rd at the Roxie

https://sfdocfest2022.eventive.org/schedule/6266fa524f915800bc1a9d73

If you're not in the area, you'll be able to watch live in early June as part of the festival streaming setup:

https://watch.eventive.org/sfdocfest2022/play/626d8a60dfc81600dd8deaa6

I loved the knowledge and recommendations of the Aquarius staff, and had amazing conversations with them over the years (Windy Chien, Andee Connors, Allan Horrocks, Jim Haynes)

Not the first time I've said it, nor will it be the last, but I really miss their emails and recommendations. Sure, there are other sources out there, like Forced Exposure, but none that scratches the same itch as Aquarius did.

Aquarius was hilarious — those emails always got me to buy something just based on the wild enthusiasm. Totally fun.

Just off the top of my head, I have Aquarius emails for introducing me to Loop, Wooden Shjips, Weakling and Gnod and for filling in my Circle and Pharaoah Overload collections.

insert a "to thank" in there

I think everyone who owns the Weakling album bought it because of Aquarius

haha fair

It is a good album, though!

Got to see the early cut of said documentary the other day -- a very enjoyable and moving treat, and yes I am in it briefly in the opening credits and with a small but I think very well chosen bit near the end. Without really spoiling, I can say both Circle and the CONET project get some time -- no Merzbox mention but Merzbow does crop up in various contexts.

Can't wait to see this!

Get those online tickets as I mentioned and you can soon!

Online tickets ordered!

And it's live for streaming! Again, the link:

https://watch.eventive.org/sfdocfest2022/play/626d8a60dfc81600dd8deaa6

And yes indeed I'm in it briefly, at the start in the titles as noted earlier and with a quick bit at the end, but mostly it's others' stories to rightly tell.

Unfortunately life interfered in June and I didn't get to stream while it was available as part of that festival. Keep hoping there's news of a wider streaming or way to purchase this outright, but still seems to be limited to one-off screenings now and then. Looks like LA, NY, Arizona, Utah and.... Portugal on the list.

Can't believe it's been three whole years since the first footage came out!

Still waiting to see this. Hope one of these years it gets a proper release on streaming or.... anything. Seems like it's just slowly rolling out one festival screening at a time, every four to five months.

Screening coming up Sunday in North Carolina, with John Darnielle, among others! Wish I was closer, starting to feel really nervous that this is never going to get a release beyond one-off screenings.

https://catscradle.com/event/it-came-from-aquarius-records/cats-cradle-back-room/carrboro-north-carolina/

among others!

*coughs gently*

Ha, I meant that John will actually be at this specific screening!

Ah now that is true!

Okay, good news for folks if you've not seen it yet:

"It Came From Aquarius Records" the feature length documentary about the beloved, esoteric San Francisco record store announces its streaming debut via Amazon Prime begins in July.

yay! i will finally get to see it!

I'm so looking forward to seeing this, though looks like that Amazon thing didn't quite happen yet. This was posted on the official Facebook just yesterday:

This was a nice surprise!! Another ‘best of’ award for It Came From Aquarius Records!! Thanx a time to the folks at #internationaldocumentaryfilmfestival !Look for the film in the coming months in Amazon - deets soon!

Does the doc talk about when Windy and a couple others protested the Job's Daughters*/Sun City Girls (?) show by throwing paint at the performers for performing in yellow face/kabuki?

My memory of this is v. hazy, pretty sure it was Bottom Of The Hill in the 90s, not having any luck finding anything on the internet of course.

*ft members of TFUL282, Caroliner, The Double U, etc.

It was a different TFUL282 offshoot:

http://www.markprindle.com/heavenly.htm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Iw9-mzMgZc

Wow thank you jabers.... My memory is obviously rather compromised in my convalescence.

But just 👀 at this BK quote:

And I thought, "Here's someone who runs an underground record store, selling odious shit like Pavement and the Mountain Goats, and she considers herself less of an assimilationist than Indians running an Indian music store in Nashville? Or a Cantonese opera singer from Kowloon?"

Well that's all a snapshot in time, isn't it.