Rejoice, vinyl record fans — and casual or prospective fans— a new medium through which to enjoy your hobby has reared its head in downtown Eugene.
On Sundays beginning at 5 p.m., roughly, the coffee shop/bar hybrid The Barn Light, in collaboration with Eugene music shop House of Records, hosts “Analog Sundays,” a theme-oriented vinyl listening party — and it’s free of charge.
These listening parties are a chance for casual listeners and aficionados alike to kick back, grab a preferred beverage and enjoy vinyl records, a music medium that has experienced a rebirth of sorts in recent years because, according to event coordinator Tanner Johnson, “MP3s suck.”
Each week features a different host, or DJ, and that host gets to choose a theme and then brings in records of their choosing that support this theme.
This past week’s theme was “True Detective,” homage to HBO’s new firecracker of a miniseries about two detectives in Louisiana investigating a gruesome killing.
“Sometime they get off the wall; sometimes the theme is just a color,” said Johnson, who also works at The Barn Light. “ The week before this the theme was ‘soundtracks.’”
Michael Knackstedt was the host this past Sunday, and he pointed out the range of themes the event has experienced, from “Dad Rock” to “old 70s soul, to even more abstract themes.”
This past Sunday’s fell into the “abstract” (but timely) category, judging from the raunchy Louisiana bayou flavored licks that emanated from the speakers on “True Detective” night.
About 15 odd people sat in on Knackstedt’s performance, spread out in The Barn Light’s intimately lit interior, enjoying coffees, beers and cocktails.
According to Johnson the event was a logical addition to The Barn Light’s weekly repertoire; it’s a way to generate business on a historically slow day and a way to create space for people to enjoy records together.
“It’s a pretty cool mix of people,” said Christie Hill, of The House of Records. “It’s got The Barn Light crew of people, like in their 20s and 30s, and also a House of Records crew of people in their 50s.”
And attendees don’t just have to come and listen, they can participate too. According to Johnson anyone can bring in their records or request songs on any given Sunday — and anyone can be one of the theme-choosing hosts, as long as they float the idea to The Barn Light beforehand and have the appropriate records.
That’s how Knackstedt became involved.
“(The Barn Light) is kind of my haunt,” said Knackstedt. “ I got to know the bartenders and one day they asked me if I wanted to host.”
The event may be laid-back and modest, but does get its fair share of interesting moments.
“This one guy brought in a bunch of old 70s Prog-rock and made me take a burned CD of a live Phish concert,” said Knackstedt with a rueful grin.
And, during one Analog Sunday, according to Hill, a woman around the age brought in a vintage Ice Cube 12-inch vinyl.
Analog Sundays may be a small and largely unknown gathering, but it’s got a distinct blend of music, people and pop culture to it, and it’s always open and welcome to the prospect of more.