Gee, Thanx

Tonight, I'm seeing my dad play with his band, Thanx.

Although he's my father, Thanx is the most atrocious band name I've ever heard.

Anyways, my dad's been a drummer for over 40 years and it's always a pleasure seeing him play.

He originally went to the Dana School of music as a music education/percussion major, but dropped out after his parents got divorced.

Over the years, his adeptness at drums gave him the opportunity to play in a bunch of bands, one of which included the bassist from The Human Beinz.

When I was little, my dad was in a band called The Impalas and the small amount he collected from shows helped us scrape by as we weren't too financially well off.

I always wanted to be a drummer in a band, like better than Meg White, but not crazy like Dave Lombardo.

I'd still like to pick up the french horn again and maybe even dust off my guitar that's been collecting dust in my closet.

I'll probably stick to collecting records and being a follower in the art of 'shoulda, woulda, coulda'.

So you collect records, huh? Why?

Most people who know me are familiar with my standing as a record nerd.

I began collecting records in November of 2005.

They were having a rummage sale at Debartolo on campus and a professor was selling some of his records from when he was writing a thesis on new wave British music.

I can remember exactly what I bought:

Echo and the Bunnymen-Ocean Rain

The Style Council-My Ever Changing Mood

Haircut 100-Pelican West

Modern English-After the Snow

Over time, I discovered this guy at Four Seasons Flea Market on the East Side named David Kleem.

To say Kleem has a Harvey Pekar sized record collection would be an understatement.

For the past two years, Kleem's record stand has become my Sunday escape.

Like some sort of junkie, I rifle through old, dirty boxes of obsolete technology but for me, it's heaven. It's pacifying.

Before Kleem set up shop at Four Seasons, my collection was quite small and unimpressive.

Now, it's large, slightly more impressive and to a degree, more ridiculous.

-Answer to "Why?"-

Some people collect records for the hell of it, to try to fit in to some sort of delusional, hipster scene.

I collect records because I am a fan of music. Music on vinyl is pure and sweet and magical.

Just as sorting through records is a favorite pastime, so is listening to them.

Everyday, I try and fit in time to listen to my records, especially when the house is empty.

It's become a means of unwinding and changing up the daily monotony of my life.

-Buying phases-

I'll go through hunting spurts where I'll be looking for stand-up albums, soundtracks, imports, Prince (huge fan) or Factory Records albums.

I also buy duplicates of records I already own, especially if they're in better condition than the other copy.

My inclination to share stuff with people can be seen when I lend out and give my records to people whom are attempting to start a collection of their own.

-Pipe Dream-

Records stores like those in the movies High Fidelity and Pretty in Pink have made me salivate over the idea of starting up my own shop, but I think the music community has to get over seeing vinyl as archaic and instead, timeless.

Youngstown Skate might have DJ positions opening up in the Fall and they have a turntable that I could use.

Spinning might be a better direction to go, but I'm not sure. In a couple of years, I'll know.