Numero Group's Record Store Day "Pop-Up" Plans
By Kim Bellware in Arts & Entertainment on Apr 15, 2011 8:30PM
Among the 500 some-odd official Record Store Day releases set to hit stores tomorrow, one you won't find on the list will be Chicago-based Numero Group's Eccentric Soul 45." The record isn't an official RSD release--though their double LP "Local Customs: Pressed at Boddie" is (but more on that in a minute)--and will only be available at a store that doesn't exist now and won't exist by Sunday: The Numero Group pop-up shop.
Both Ken Shipley and Rob Sevier of Numero Group have been quoted extensively on their estimation of what Record Store Day has become (for good or ill), and their solution for conscientious participation in the celebration was to (paraphrasing very broadly) put together something they cared about that was meaningful to their patrons.
When Shipley spoke with Chicagoist, their plans for Record Store Day were already revealed: A pop-up shop, a map tracing Wicker Park's record store past, a "pirate" radio station and the aforementioned 45" and "Pressed at Boddie" releases.
Shipley says that the pop-up store will open at 9 a.m. on Saturday at 1371 N. Milwaukee, closing at 9 p.m., or when everything sells—whichever happens first. Inside the store, patrons will be able to pick up copies of their Record Store Day map. On top of the shop will be a low-power antennae broadcasting found footage and oddities from the '60s and '70s.
The Store:
Shipley says the idea for the pop-up shop wasn’t intended for Record Store Day. “We came up with the idea 4-5 months ago," says Shipley. "Originally, we thought of it for the holidays but we didn’t get it together in time for Christmas. Then we thought, ‘let’s do something for Record Store Day. Something for the heads that want to beat the crowds.’”
“We made the record store that we’d want to get in to,” Shipley says. “We want you to go in with $50-100 and walk out with stuff you really like and will actually listen to.”
For the store's inventory, the label tapped their broad network or collectors.
“We asked a bunch of our friends who collect rare records. This stock has never been picked through. It’s not like some guys selling stuff at Hillside that literally hundreds of people have already picked over," says Shipley in reference to the every-other-month Chicagoland Record Collectors Show in Hillside, IL.
Getting the suppliers to part with their stock wasn't hard either, according to Shipley. “When you’re a collector, you gather, you gather, you gather. The older you get the less records you need. You have more records than you have time for.”
Shipley went on to explain that Numero’s pop-up shop will price records at rates, Shipley says ,“everyone can afford,” between $5-15. He emphasizes that unlike many record fares and swap meets, the pop up shop’s inventory will be in rather immaculate condition. He added that shoppers need not fear crates of nothing but obscure LPs, indicating that there will be plenty of familiar records (albeit ones in unusually good shape).
“You’ll be able to find a good, clean Al Green record. Everything will be really clean and affordable.”
The Map:
The Numero Group Record Store map will show all the stores in the area since the '70s, including the story behind each storefront shop, whether long gone or still in business.
“We wanted to honor the stores; we’re all in the same trench [in this business]. We want to see them do well. If [patrons] get a map and then go to Permanent or Reckless [because of it], that’d be great, " says Shipley. "We also kept the map to just the 60622 ZIP code and discovered that something like 16 record stores used to be in that area."
The Radio Station:
“[Numero’s] Michael Slaboch wanted to get a low-power radio frequency," says Shipley. "He bought a transmitter for $400 from China. If you’re in the neighborhood, you’ll be able to tune in” (Shipley has mentioned in email blasts from the label that the broadcast radius will be approximately 5 miles).
“We had content that we licensed from and old Chicago radio guy, Richard Pegue. There’s going to be accounts from Vietnam in 1969, old weather reports, vintage regional advertisements, air checks...Someone living in the neighborhood is going to wake up and hear a weather report from the 1970s!" says Shipley. ”Hopefully it won't be too alarming."
The broadcast will run from 9 p.m. Friday to 9 p.m. Saturday on 89.9 (WTNG).
The Releases
The "Local Customs: Pressed at Boddie" release will have a slightly different name depending on the media. Shipley explains that if you buy one of the limited copies on wax, it will be "Pressed at Boddie;" buy it on CD and it'll be "Burned at Boddie." If you still rock a cassette deck: "Dubbed at Boddie."
The label acquired the Boddie Recording Company in 2010 and found, after journeying to the Ohio-based company, that the tapes left behind ranged from small groups who made one pressing, to large orders of several hundred, spanning genres of boogie, soul, funk and gospel. Their box set deals with Boddie's in house Bounty, Soul Kitchen, Luau, Cookin’, and Soul Mine labels and will have a full history of the now-defunct rust-belt label.
The Numero Group pop-up shop will be located April 16 only at 1371 N. Milwaukee, open 9 a.m. to 9. p.m. or whenever inventory is depleted