Chris Lee hangs out with Jesse LeBlanc

Spin-It Records is a local vinyl and video store. They've been posted up on main street since 2011. Since then they’ve been supporting the music scene in any way possible. Whether it be buying used records, disc repair or hosting live shows for people of all ages--Spin-It plays a huge role within the music community. Chris Lee spoke with Spin-It employee and long time music scene supporter, Jesse LeBlanc about the job and the importance of live all ages shows in the city.

How did you get your start at Spin-It?

My wife about four or five years ago was working at a daycare, I was managing Calactus and she came in one day and said she quit, couldn't take it anymore. I said, “you know what, we’re about to hit our 30s, screw it I'm quitting too, we'll quit our jobs and live the summer hobo style.” About two days after Eric (Fear of Lipstick) called me and asked if I wanted a record store job. “Just put on a record, drink your coffee and finish your smoke." Eric basically got me this job.

What goes into picking the first record to play in the store in the morning?

When I wake up in the morning I pretty much already have songs in my head I’m rifling through, but there's a list of usual suspects, The Wipers, Vacation, The Freeze. Usually it starts off there and just kinda trails off during the day. We can usually put anything on, as long as it's not too vile.

What's your favourite part of the job?

The fact that it's still easily on the worst of days, still the coolest job. My job consists of listening to records and peddling records and it’s pretty hassle free. It does get busy and stressful, but even that stress is nothing. I've managed kitchens and before that worked kitchens for 16 years. For a guy like me It doesn't get much better than this.

How does or how has working in the store changed your music taste?

I still find stuff. I've been collecting music for a long time, since I was a kid. Obviously I would get into Nirvana and people would say, listen to these bands or whatever, but Nirvana was great for plugging bands, and during pre-internet era that was awesome.

I was like 11 years old soaking up the Dead Kennedys, Thrash, and that fed me for years. Moncton is kinda tied to sub- pop through Eric's Trip so I started getting into the local scene that way.

"When we moved to this room there was already a built in stage in here and it was kind of a no brainer."

How did the shop start hosting these all ages shows?

That was the travesty of my era. All ages got so many kids in Moncton into bands. At one point it was insane, there were great turn outs even on weeknights. Then, there's always that one person who would do that stupid thing. Then there were no more all ages shows. Then we hit 30 and you know, some of us can't go out every night. So we're like, “where's the kids? Oh yeah, we never showed them that this world exists." I thought immediately we have to start figuring something out, so that's kind of where it started. When we moved to this room there was already a built in stage in here and it was kind of a no brainer.

Why is your job so Important for the younger music community?

It’s them sponging everything. I'll see kids come in here and buy like really bad records and instead of laughing at a kid, it's like alright. I say, "if you like that, you should try this, this is what you’re actually looking for," and it never fails. They always come back and that sets them off a whole other side of things.

How often do you find new music in the store?

Customers often trade in old albums and collections to re stock on fresh tunes so basically there's no shortage on something to rejuvenate the old eardrums.

This guy brought a ton of weird 80s garage rock and most of it was from Australia, like the Psychotic Turnbuckles, Olympic Sideburns to name a couple that I've been into. That and really weird releases lately. As long as the record store is open, I'm always gonna have something to listen to.

"There's always that one person who would do that stupid thing. Then there were no more all ages shows."

Why do you think record stores have stood the test of time, even in the internet age?

The record store has lasted because it’s always had a very strong foundation. The record store has always been a shrine, but at the same time does it really stand the test of time? It didn't for many people, if it wasn't for the last few years it wouldn't have lasted, it was dead. But in cities like Moncton, fringe societies can thrive. This may be a bit more of a key to the reason it has lasted around here. I guess my answer would be I have no fucking Idea.

Nostalgic Post Script from Chris Lee: Talking to Jesse about kids finding their own musical paths was extremely nostalgic. I could vividly see a younger self digging through CD bins at Franks in Champlain Mall, eagerly searching for new music, unsure of what it was exactly I was looking for. I remember anytime I did that, Mark Gaudet would have a suggestions for me. And it was true, it introduced me to new genres, styles and ideas that I may have never came across if I was shut down by a stuck up, unappreciative store clerk. I remember going into a record shop as a kid and just soaking up so much shit. It was like salvation for me, from whatever.