RHINO RECORDS IS BACK THIS MONTH ... FOR TWO WEEKS!!!
Rhino Records, the famed Westwood hole-in-the-wall storefront that begat the iconic catalog record label of the same name and defined the independent music store paradigm -- just celebrated on "Record Store Day"-- will be back for a very limited run from May 17 - 30. It's the pop-up store to end all pop-up stores, a reprise of a golden era when idiosyncratic customers and clerks sparked a musical revolution and catalyzed real-life debates that were more passionate than anything seen in High Fidelity.
Rhino is, for a fortnight, back from the grave bringing its legacy of eccentric, eclectic and unabashed fun with incredulous deals, in-store performances , the irreverent attitude typified by the "worst customers" chart for one last spin on the merry-go-round in the name of Hope in Action. All proceeds will go to Chrysalis Enterprises, an LA nonprofit that transitions the unfortunate and hopeless into employment.
The impetus for this riotous resurrection is that Richard Foos, Rhino founder and éminence grise, is bidding farewell to Los Angeles after 40 plus years to move to New York. Foos, who strongly believes in merging one's social values with business has installed a strong sense of purpose and giving back in all his business concerns. He loath to move the thousands upon thousands of albums and DVDs to New York so decided, in a flash epiphany, that if you can’t take it all with you, why not blow it out with purpose? The store, located at 1740 Westwood Blvd. (Map: tinyurl.com/Rhino1740) will be selling not only his stuff but also thousands more that Foos and his accomplices have cajoled out of his many media industry friends. It is expected that over 100,000 individual "pieces of product" will be sold over the course of Rhino's reanimation with a goal of raising $100,000 for Chrysalis Enterprises, a non-profit organization that has helped address the problems of the economically disadvantaged of Los Angeles county for more than 25 years. Foos, it should be noted, serves on the board of Chrysalis as well as other organizations that have a strong commitment to social progress.
As the Rhino pop-up store is on the cusp of launching a two week run just 50 feet and a few doors down Westwood Blvd. from its original location, a schedule of rhinoesque -- there's no other way to put it -- events is shaping up. Some highlights:
Monday, May 17: Screening of No Autographs, No Encores, a 35-minute performance film of Nirvana's live performance at Rhino Records in 1989. This was the band's first gig outside Seattle and the late Kurt Cobain's favorite document of his pre - Dave Grohl band when it was a four-piece.
Wednesday, May 19: Mixology with DJ Clockwork
Thursday, May 20: The Blasters reunited in-store performance
Friday, May 21: Richard Thompson in-store performance
Saturday, May 22: mike watt + missingmen in-store performance
Sunday, May 23: Spain in-store performance
Monday, May 24: Los Angeles Songwriters night - stay tuned for details
Tuesday, May 25: Roger Steffens screens and curates his Intimate Moments with Reggae’s Greats
Wednesday, May 26: Maria McKee Band in-store performance
Thursday, May 27: Peter Case and guests perform selections from Wig! to be released June 29 on Yep Rock
Friday, May 28: Life After Rhino: former Rhino employees plus in-store signing of Record Store Days by authors Gary Calamar and Phil Gallo: Screening Final Vinyl film chronicling historic Rhino Records in-store performances by Nick Lowe, Del Rubio Triplets, They Might Be Giants, Lucinda Williams, Steve Wynn and more.
Saturday May 29: First U.S. screening of One Man Beatles, Italian documentary film about the life of the enigmatic Emitt Rhodes. Members of his band The Merry-Go-Round will be in attendance.
Sunday, May 30: Return of Wharf Rat Tales with Wednesday Week, The Urinals a/k/a The 100 Flowers and The Last with Joe Nolte
Monday, May 31: Original Rhino Daze. A cast of characters closely associated with Rhino in its hey day will be on hand to whatever it is they do. Among those expected: Dr. Demento, Wild Man Fischer, Ruben & The Jets, Barnes & Barnes (the "Fishheads" duo), Big Daddy, Temple City Kazoo Orchestra.
