A RECORD STORE IN BERHAMPORE?

Everything goes in cycles. A few months ago national music street press seemed like it was dying off. Real Groove magazine was over, Groove Guide had shut-up shop, and the internet looked like the way forward for music news and commentary. Circa October 2011, Groove Guide has been resurrected, and APN has started up a new weekly national music giveaway called Volume. Throw the Capital Times in the mix, and some days when I’m at a cafe, I’ll have three or four free publications in a pile in front of me to read through. From a famine to a feast it seems.

On a similar note, earlier in the year, institutional music store Real Groovy closed their doors, seemingly signalling the next phase in the slow decline of physical music retail. And again, circa October 2011, that void has been filled, and actually doubled through Rough Peel Music on Vivian Street, and from this Saturday onwards, Evil Genius – Records, Design and Cafe at 462 Adelaide Road in Berhampore. Again, from famine to feast it seems. Obviously despite the convenience of digital downloads and cloud based streaming services, we still retain a love of tactile physicality.

Founded by a bunch of full-blown characters from Lyttleton, Evil Genius is the second incarnation of a store which, for a grand total of five days, graced that port village, only to be knocked down for the count by the February 17th Canterbury earthquake. After a moment of pause and rest, they’re regrouped and will be purveying their uniquely pacific take on touchingly garish voodoo rock and roll culture, psychobilly garage rock, provincial folk, psychedelica and beyond.

Expect rare, niche and generally limited run vinyl records and CDs, both new and second-hand, quirky original clothing and accessories, and quality coffee and light cafe food, caffeine exclusively supplied by the Lyttleton Coffee Company. Evil Genius is shaping up to be a destination store with a penchant for bizarre pulp art house culture, and that could be a very good thing. After all, cultures require hubs and social meeting points to truly flourish. And again, despite the digital age, we obviously aren’t quite ready to let go of certain traditions.

To help with celebrations on Saturday, Evil Genius have rounded up some musician friends to provide live entertainment, Ryan Prebble, Iraia Whakamoe, Sage Kamaru, Riki Gooch and Aaron Tokona, names you’ll know from bands/events like The Nudge, Eru Dangerspiel, Fly My Pretties, Spartacus R and others. I think it’s safe to say we can expect some special guests along for the ride. The proceedings kick off this Saturday at 2 pm . You should stop past if you can, it could be quite something.