The Trend "Band Aid"

Don't you love studio chat on records? Thinking back, I'm pretty sure the reason why I love it so much can be attributed to Paulie Chastain's endearing "Hey, Mr. Engineer man" at the start of  his adorable "Raining All Day". There's a fine example of studio chat on the astounding "Band Aid" by The Trend where the young guitarist starts playing the wrong song. Something about his response to being corrected doesn't ring true, suggesting it might be scripted. Whatever the truth, it's a fine way to start a track. "Band Aid" is a knockout punch of a song, full of bite and lovable ineptitude (the brief guitar solo shambles along like a shopping trolley missing a wheel). "Band Aid" was a YouTube recommendation and I fully expected to pay 20 quid for it on discogs. A quick search, however, revealed that it was a $1000+ single. It just goes to show how little Not Unloved knows about punk! Thankfully, Rome's Hate Records reissued it in 2016. Turning up a copy proved to be tricky, Hate having long since sold out of it, but Slovenly's online store eventually came up trumps. Now to play the a-side...

When In Rome: Soul Food Records

If you follow the blue line to right of the cars in the picture above, your eyes will end up alighting on a tiny Colosseum.  There can't be many record shops in the world in a better location than Rome's Soul Food.  If my bank account (and baggage limit!) had permitted it, I could've gone a bit loopy nuts in this rather fine store.  Their vinyl racks were bursting at the seams - they really could do with a bigger shop! - with decidedly well-chosen titles both new and second-hand.  It's good to know that Rome's popkids have somewhere local to go for the latest Slumberland, Captured Tracks, M'lady's etc. waxings.  As it was I could only justify springing for a few 7"s from their new arrivals section and that smashing Boys Club single on Bachelor from a couple of years back.  Added plus points are awarded to Soul Food for having the good taste to spin Beat Happening's "Black Candy" when I was browsing and for releasing a rather splendid Black Time single a couple of years back.  Well worth a visit when ya need a break from the antiquities!