I was exposed as a child in the late 1960's to vinyl LPs and the joy of music. It was the beginning of a life long obsession. Dreaming about records and record stores became a regular occurrence. Mostly on my own as a young teen in Jr. High, I'd take a north easterly swing (a much longer way home) up through the University campus (UNB) and hit the Bookstore and a joint called Little Records in the student union bldg. LPs in these times were fucking cheap and I marvelled at the selections and pondered on what I did not know. Learning became paramount and I recognised I had "the itch". I spent many lunch hours and after school in my high school years combing the cut out bins and racks in any and all chain department stores of the early-mid 1970's. Trips to other provinces became a thing I looked forward to in life as record shops were always on my hit list. In 1978 I landed my first gig at Sam The Record Man and fondly recall these times as nothing but awesome. Sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll were ever present. The being in a band thing was getting more serious as well after getting a start in elementary school (Grade 6) in my first group Motorized Milk.
The Curbs happened in the very late 70's evolving into
Angered Wrecks and Sam's was closed in 1980-81? I next landed a job at the legendary Magic Forest Music Store run by my now longtime friends Rick and Nancy Bastedo. These times were also a ton of fun with many great friends made and and good times had. I had also begun doing community radio and hosting a general music program in 1980 at CHSR-FM (UNB).
In the summer of 1985 I relocated to Ottawa, Ontario to primarily study Broadcast Journalism at Algonquin College and straight off "the boat" just a week in town, began a tenure as host of the legendary flagship punk show "No Future Now" at CKCU-FM (Carlton University) as well as programming a show on Algonquin's radio station CKDJ.
Living in Ottawa became dangerous instantly as I lived just around the corner from one of the cities GREATEST Record shops: Shake Records ! We became fast friends and I was in that place pretty much 6 days a week for 3 straight years. Iain and Peter; the owners, became good friends and I landed a job with them doing load ins, backstage security and door duty at dozens of shows that Shake booked in those times! Absolute heaven and unbeatable, this period of live music in Ottawa! I was in the thick of all the very best shit, not to mention an insanely awesome record selection!
With a variety of CKCU shows hosted (No Future Now, Meltdown, Countdown, New Revolutions and general music slots on Monday's, then Tuesday's before taking over Friday mornings, I also held paid positions as Music Director and Program Director. My first 4 years in Fat Cat City were clearly paving stones.
I began moonlighting while PD at CKCU at the original Spinables record shop on the east side of Dalhousie around Christmas of 1989, a truly great used record shop run by new friend Andy Taylor (originally from Toronto's Vortex Records). While working full time here I hatched the plan for Birdman Sound and started selling LPs then at record fairs and mailorder in Goldmine magazine.
Travelling back east for various Exploding Meet shows at this time (keeping my hand in it) coincided with turning Birdman Sound MK I into MK II as an official brick 'n' mortar. On August 1st, 1991 593-B Bank Street housed 29 years of crazy music history ! During this entire time I hosted Friday Morning Cartuneson CKCU, started Resin Scraper, Beld, played drums in Crash 13 for a year, Four 'N' Giv'r and began a now 16 year tenure as drummer in The Band Whose Name Is A Symbol. I booked and promoted 100 + shows at nearly any and all venues I could (mainly The Dominion Tavern and Bumpers) and had my own fully curated stage for 2 years (2003 and 2004) at Ottawa Bluesfest. The shop turned 25 in 2016, I gave notice in 2017 and closed MK II when my lease expired in 2020.
Birdman Sound MK III has been ongoing with a bigger and better selection than ever. The current shop is vetted hard and is by appointment only with pop up shops in downtown Ottawa every Saturday since 2020, held mostly at Dave's Drum Shop. I rebooted The Ottawa Community Record Shows started by myself and cohort Dave Aardvark many years ago, as The Ottawa Record Fair in the fall of 2022.
The Band Whose Name Is A Symbol continue to perform live and see the release of records, cds and cassettes mainly through the UK's venerable Cardinal Fuzz Records, 💕
August 1st, 2024 marks the 35th anniversary of Birdman Sound. My enthusiasm remains unwaivering in my constant pursuit of discovery, music old or new! "When you climb to the top of the mountain and look out over the sea...👽
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