St. Louis woke up with no records.

words by DJ TREW, pics by DJ VERB

In this new digital age that we're living in, most of us are plugged into some hi-tech apparatus during the waking hours. Whether for work or leisure our iPods, Blackberrys, and wifi-ready laptops are slowly connecting us to a Tron-like dimension of Light Cycles and glowing Jai Alai gladiator games. I for one am down for this next evolution of man + metal. But every so often, it's probably a good idea that we disconnect, and in the words of Bill Withers "Take It All In And Check It All Out."

In the world of digging this is becoming more important as the popularity of file-sharing programs increases and as services like iTunes better their offerings. Some may argue that we're already in living in that future and I'd tend to agree. The other day I used iTunes to search for a rare psych piece thinking 'there's no way it'll be on here,' and there it was. What would have taken me years to find in the field, was right there ready to download.

So when the time comes to kill two birds with one stone, Verb and I hit the road, drive for five hours in any direction, cop rare wax, and leave the wires behind. STL was our latest victim.



















Holding work at the Red Roof:

Not only was the the room inexpensive, but the thought put into the adjacent shopping center's design was eerily calculated.

In Chicago, we're used to seeing a currency exchange neighboring a liquor store, but in STL they've gone the extra mile catering instead to bank account-having, bargain-seeking alchoholics. And whatever extra costs one might incur by being a bank patron, are easily made up with beer and/or Newport carton purchases.



















Scenes from the field:

The Record Exchange in STL. The owner bought an old US Post Office, gutted it and packed-in thousands and thousands of LPs & CDs. He's even got a few rooms of vintage / hi-end stereo equipment.

The odd thing about this place is the owner's tendency to use an old school paper cutter (the guillotine-esque joints) to trim rough seam openings on old LPs. The first time I witnessed this, I nearly fell out from shock. The last thing a DJ wants to see is records being endangered.

The rental that almost was...

After a busy two day trek through STL, we had more than our fair share of black wax hotness. Short on storage space, we prayed for deliverance and your boys at Schnuck's Grocery Store made it happen.

Fast enough to get us back to Chicago in 3 hours, and with plenty of extra room for the modern soul rarities crowding my old Camry. In case you're wondering, the steering wheel is located in the child's seat and that engine is SO serious.