“Even though it’s really worrying that we have this bombsite out the back now, it’s actually better than where we were a year ago where we just had this fight that had been going on for about five years. There didn’t appear to be any end in sight.” Well the end is most certainly in sight now and Dave is looking forward to the promise of the future. “Once it’s done it’ll be great. We won’t have the 8pm curfew. We won’t be cringing every time a guitarist walks in with an amp, thinking, ‘Oh no!’ At the moment I worry if a drummer with brushes hits too hard… at 3pm in the afternoon.”
The ability to put on regular gigs is something Stephens is visibly passionate about. And watching young artists grow and develop is one of the highlights of his job. “Someone like Alex Lashlie, who came in here at about 16 and asked for a gig and I put him on a Friday night and he played every Friday night for 18 months. And then he went overseas and played in Europe and now he’s come back, he’s 21 or 22 and he’s just one of the most amazing singer/songwriter’s in Melbourne. Just to see him start and grow into this amazing artist is so rewarding and that’s almost bigger than getting the huge names.”
But the huge names also seem to love playing at this 49 capacity venue. Artists such as Paul Kelly, Tim Rogers, Conway Savage, Kate Miller-Heidke, Glen Hansard and The White Stripes have all graced the Pure Pop stage over the years. So how does he manage to pull the big fish? “It’s the sort of place they want to play. I don’t actually have to push too hard. They know it’s not going to be big money but they know it’s going to be a good atmosphere and the crowd will be attentive to the music. There’s also no band room. The musicians mingle with the punters so there aren’t any rock star trips and the musicians who come to play know that.”
So what can you expect to see for Record Store Day tomorrow?
Well, live music is still going strong at Pure Pop Records! Head to 221 Barkly Street, St Kilda to see Paul Conroy play his brand of acoustic punk at 4pm. He will be followed by singer/songwriter Alex Lashlie at 6pm. And if you happen to buy a record and find a ticket hidden inside, you will win a lovely bottle of wine supplied by Cake Wines!
You can also support the rebuild of Pure Pop by donating in-store or buying a brick online here.
But most importantly, by getting out and buying a cd or a classic vinyl, you’ll be helping independent music stores like Pure Pop Records stay afloat! So get out to your local record store tomorrow and show your support because as Dave said, “We all need to fight the fight together!”
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