EWB PODCAST 005 TRASH AMERICAN STYLE

Once upon a time, before the internet, before downloading, there was a golden age when people bought all their music at record stores. Often times these record stores became meeting places where people would congregate, get turned on to new ideas, expand their minds. They became the nexus point for kids that may not have fit it, where weirdos, the malcontents. Trash American Style was one such store that existing first in Brookfield and later in Danbury, CT. Officially, the store existed from November 29, 1986 to September 27, 2006. Malcolm and Kathy, the owners, are two of the most radical people that I’ve ever known. I can’t even begin to calculate how many hours and gallons of coffee I logged in hanging out there, getting turned on to new music, talking to the cast of characters that worked there, discovering new bands. It opened me up to things that I would have never been exposed to if I played it safe. I want to emphasize that the closing of Trash wasn’t brought on by financial hardship, but instead by greed and deceit. Ultimately, it the underhanded, cowardly methods of Minuteman Press, Trash’s neighbor coupled with the landlord’s refusal to renew the lease that did them in. A great documentary called “I Need That Record” summarizes the entire saga. Despite this, the story continues. Malcolm and Kathy, faced with the obstacle of their store closing, decided to take it on the road and travel with the store, taking it to the people. This is one of the primary lessons I learned from the Trash American Style crew; the refusal to give up, to choose your path and stick with it despite everything else. That’s why Malcolm will always be the Man. I caught up with Malcolm in the parking lot of the Heirloom Arts Theater in Danbury. The occasion was an Adrenalin Overdose show; the parking lot was filled with old punks and younger kids. Malcolm rolled up with his distro and we talked.