This year, as a prelude to the Fête de la musique celebrated on June 21, the 10th edition of the " Disquaire Day " takes place. A season that promises to be special due to the health crisis of the Coronavirus. The organizers of the event in France have decided to “ break down ” the festivities linked to the vinyl record in four major days: June 20, August 29, September 26 and October 24.
This is not the case for the United States, creators of the event, which will start their Record Stores Days across the Atlantic, from August. It was therefore necessary to completely review the official selection of this first key date, by only offering French labels. "All orders that we placed before confinement were canceled " , says Julie David, who stands with his partner Caroline Vinrich the store bar Walrus , located in the 10th arrondissement. Then, we had to reconstitute our list according to the new selection and there ... we still haven't received anything. »Every day, the manager runs to her shop at 9 a.m. "Hoping for a call from Chronopost."
The Walrus record store and bar is located rue de Dunkerque, in the 10th arrondissement of Paris. Lea Mabilon
The place
For the two bosses at Walrus , who have participated in Disquaire Day since the creation of their shop in 2014, this new year represents a real risk-taking. Participating in this big event requires putting money into it and typing in the cash register after two months of closing is complicated. " We are not sure whether we will make a profit ," worries Julie David. B uch expect Albums Cures or other international groups and know they do not have the 20 June. Added to the limitation of people in the store (Editor's note, 10 people max.) , It is obvious that it will not be a rush in front of the store. "
Due to the lack of customers, Walrus opens its doors from 2 p.m. instead of 9 a.m. Lea Mabilon
Fortunately, Walrus multiplies the pleasures. With its long checkered tiled bar and colorful chairs, music lovers come to rummage through the vinyl tubs between two cafes.
At the bar, the menu offers a wide choice of drinks, between coffees, juices and fruit and craft beers. Lea Mabilon
Before / after the coronavirus: what has changed?
With one of his managers in the provinces and the other bedridden because of a broken leg, it was impossible for Walrus to make any sales during the crisis. “We had to use creativity and be active on social networks. Every day, we post a mood post, anecdotes on the store, or memories of concerts, explains Julie David . This allowed us to keep in touch with our artists and with our regulars. ”
The shop is also famous for its concerts of choice, between show case and release party, which counts among its artists, big names of today such as Father John Misty, Baxter Dury, Liminanas or Hanni El Khatib.
So, if since the reopening, they follow the hygiene rules to the letter, they quickly hope for a return to normal. " We miss our artists and the concerts, we really can't wait to resume, " concludes Julie David.
Walrus' 5 favorites
1) The disc to listen to in the selection of " Record Stores Days "
The Detroit Punk Archives compilation, The end of the night. It's a double LP that brings together sounds from the Detroit wave punk and new wave scene in the 70s and 80s. We often think of England for this musical genre when there was also a big scene in the United States. These are just discoveries.
The double LP of Detroit Punk Archives, The end of the night , brings together pieces from the punk and new wave scene of the city of Detroit in the 70s and 80s. DR.
2) The disc to listen to by the pool this summer
To play it Los Angeles in " show off " mode , we look at a good electro classic. A must-have is the first eponymous album by Moderat, released in 2009. For the swimmers by the pool with cocktail, it's really not bad!
3) The disc to listen to for dancing in the evening
We recommend a bit of Africa, because Black Lives Matter and especially in music! To listen to, the compilation of Mogadisco, Dancing Mogadishu , released in 2019 on the superb label Analog Africa. It grooves to death!
4) The disc to listen to hover
A little jazz to hover. The classic Money Jungle of the hellish trio Duke Ellington, Charles Mingus and Max Roach. Exceptional session recorded in 1962. It takes you very far and we prefer that to something hovering over the synth.
5) The disc to listen to make your cinema
A disc that can also work to hover. It is the cult BO of Ghost in the Shell, a manga by Masamune Shirow. A very sought-after disc and still quite expensive, because they are very beautiful editions.