When we set out to open a new and improved Hoodlums, one of our main goals was to get involved with the community.  Upon reflection, February was the kind of month where we really feel like we achieved that goal.  The coolest thing was the way that all the connections to the community, and to our friends, made the events happen, and better yet, made the events fun.

Hands on Fire

First, we hosted a great local band called Hands on Fire.  These guys came and played a great Thursday night set on our stage, and we had a great time.  The event was set up by our friend Becky, who we’ve known from the ASU store and her connections to The Blaze (ASU’s radio station) and Sony.  It was promoted by our friend Mary, who we’ve been working with in the music biz for many, many years.  Last but not least, and this is the part we loved the most: three out of the five band members were fellow record store geeks.  Two of them work at Zia, and one works at Eastside, so when they told the crowd to “support your local record stores”, they really put their hearts into it.  Just to show you how good indie record stores get along in Phoenix… all three are also Hoodlums’ customers (Jeff is even a member of our old Music Junkies club).  Check out the pictures here.

We Live Here Art Show

Then, we hosted our “We Live Here” Tempe art show.  It was super cool.  The coolness started with our excellent curator, Beth Tom, who was very chilled out and positive throughout every stage from planning to set up, and continued on as the night progressed.  I didn’t even know Beth prior to a few months earlier, and even then I only knew her because her partner Brian worked with our old buddies and business partners at Bill’s Frames.  Anyway, Beth had arranged for Tempe guitarist Joe Myers, a guy who I had watched play many times back in my more youthful days, to come and play on stage with her.  The two of them had a great time as Joe played his way through Beth’s choice of banjo, accordion, and violin.  Lots of customers and artists came to enjoy the prints and music.  You can enjoy the prints and see pics of the performance here.

Afterwards, we went to the house of Joe and his wife Casebeer, one of the artists who made a print for us.  We hung out and talked music, Tempe, politics, etc. until a lot later in the night than I usually go these days.

Pink Floyd Support Group.

Holy “we’re not sure what to expect”, Batman.  What a whacky idea – hatched by one of our new customers: Take one completely obsessed Pink Floyd fan (our friend Dan, who hosts the website Man of Leisure Music), put out a call to others like him, and then set aside part of the store and an hour of our time to get them together.

Considering that we had no idea what to expect, the support group went well.  Eight people joined Dan on our stage as he used our sound system to play rare, live Floyd and Roger Waters music (they played Waters after I went back and made the proclamation that Gilmour was just as important to the band as Waters was… a claim I will defend) while discussing the band and looking through Dan’s immense collection (he brough it all) of apparently every Pink Floyd recording ever made, by the band… or by some clown in the thirteenth row.  Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves.  Who knows, we may have to try and help other fans of other bands.  Who’s your obsession?  The Beatles?  The Stones?  Let’s hear it.

In the end, we had a great time.  We met some new friends.  We tried some new stuff.  Thanks to all of you that participated!!