Phoenixville's The Creep Store

My journey through the narrowing maze of PA's record stores begins not with a whimper, but with a bold buzzing beacon of truth and soul revivalism. It does not begin in the dusty aisles of a crumbling record store terrified of whether it will still be open in 2 years. No ma'am, it starts inside a tiny, cozy house of music--and with one album in particular that has set me hot on my path to set the record straight.

"By the year 2006, the music known today as the blues will exist only in the classical records department of your local library."

These were the first words to come to me through headphones after I made my way to The Creep Store in Phoenixville, the first record store stop on my "For The Record" tour.

My rickety ol' turntable read these oddly prophetic words from the thin grooves of a vinyl record cut 30 years ago (1978) by a duo of alter-egoed SNL comedians who bravely ventured out on a mission to resurrect a fading tradition of gritty blues rock and blue-eyed soul in a time when popular music was sinking into a toxic cesspool of recycled electronic hash and disco. Catchy (but altogether lifeless) music was taking form and becoming the norm. Something needed to be done. (anyone else feel like 2008 is sinking into the same state of affairs?)

Of course, I'm talking about The Blues Brothers; Elwood J. Blues and Joliet Jake E. Blues (or Dan Akroyd and John Belushi, respectively). And the album is their 1978 debut, "Briefcase Full of Blues."

I stumbled upon this little gem record at The Creep Store for $8 while quickly fingering my way through their small selection. The moment I touched it, cigarette smoke filled my head. I heard harmonicas wail. And then, a great burst of sunlight blasted through the window and shown on me, and I felt like I was Jake in the Blues Brothers movie when he had his epiphany to get the band back together.

Unfortunately James Brown wasn't singing gospel at the front of the store, and I didn't bullet down the aisle doing wicked back flips. But I knew than that my mission to uncover the stories of every record store I can this summer was not all that different from The Blues Brothers.

So perhaps, I too, am on a mission from God. (Which means I can run from the cops all I want!)

This 10-track live recording, and debut of the brothers may mean little to 21st century popular culture, but at it's time of release it accomplished their flagship mission to bring soul and blues back to the masses. The album topped the Billboard 200 sales chart, and the single "Soul Man" reached #4 on the Billboard Hot 100. People heard what they wanted them to hear.

But don't get the wrong idea about The Creep Store. This ain't no house of blues. The fact that I found the Blues Brothers hanging out there in the Phoenixville store's vinyl collection was more of a freak accident than a likely one.

The store is actually a supplemental store to West Chester's Creep Records, which is the label that such bands as Guns On The Run, The LadybiRdS, and Danger O's all call home. I would venture to guess the store began as a way for the label to get their CD's in a record store? Clever.

What?! Punk is supposed to be wickedly unapologetic! Blasphemy!

And given the state of the music business, you might be wandering what these guys are doing just opening a record store now while others are closing up their doors all across the nation? Well that's the devoted character I like about this store. They already know the state of business in music is whacked. It isn't run by washed up nostalgic dogs. It's simply run by your run of the mill dudes. But they like music and they like music stores...so...why not?

And to compliment the musical leanings of the Creep label's releases, most of the libraried music you'll find for sale--NEW and USED--at the Creep is of the usual run of underground staples--The Clash, Social Distortion, NOFX, Gorilla Biscuits, etc. But there are tiny dashes of everything else in the alternaverse too. They had the new Coldplay, Wolf Parade, some Metallica, Burnt By The Sun, Simon & Garfunkle, and on and on. They have about an equal amount of CDs and vinyl.

Less is more. The Creep's stash of new and used vinyl and CD.

But be weary, the inventory is hyper small for what you might expect from your typical new and used record store. But there's a perfectly good reason for that. It's NOT your typical record digs.

When I went back for a 2nd visit and some photos, co-owner Arik Victor (who mostly runs the store) told me the store isn't the only thing they got going on--obviously, they have a label to run, among other things. The store exists because it's something more for them to do with music. They don't want to compete with the big mall retailers. They just want to hang out listening to music all day and selling a couple records to a couple fellow music heads.

"I'd really just like for 200 people around here to know that there's a record store here," he told me.

And normal independent record store rules do apply; they will get you most anything you specially request that you can't find on their shelves without charging you the shipping costs that you'd get from ordering off online or with eBay. Bring in a list if you have to.

The other plus to keeping the shelves a little bare boned is that the guy behind the counter always knows what he has in the store. He knows if there's a little gem stashed away in the vinyl section or not. He knows if he has the new Lil Wayne CD sitting back there for you or not when you stroll in and ask if he has it. You don't ever have to worry about getting lost or confused. It's incredibly straight forward and a well kept atmosphere.

Personally, my type of music store is the one where you want to be lost. The endless tomb of endless music. Where used records could have sat on the floor for the past 3 decades before I stumbled upon it. The sort of spot where you end up digging through piles and piles of lost music that was once treasured by some total stranger, and you end up doing it all day, and before you know it it's time for dinner and they're closing up the store. The Creep Store is not this type of place. You come in, you get what you want, and check out.

But limited shelf selection or no, you can't complain considering there is no other music store in the local area. With digs like The Steel City Coffeehouse and Molly Maguire's along the main drag in the Phoenixville 'renaissance,' the town was so overdue for music retail.

And music is certainly not all that the Creep sells. They got some books, a colorful selection of shirts and some turntables as well as some other little 'scene' accessories.

And what about pricing? Well, you can easily walk in with 20 bucks and walk out a content little fella with a handful of goodies.

My first trip there, I browsed through their whole CD and vinyl collection in about 10 minutes and paid $23 for:

Blues Brothers - Suitcase Full of Blues (used 12 inch) - $8

Sonic Youth - Daydream Nation (used CD) - $7
What can I say, I'm a terrible music fan for not getting this landmark album until now. And considering how much I love The Pixies, I really don't know why I never invested in this late 80's noise rock masterpiece. It's probably one of the most beautiful things I've ever heard. And it absolutely is the cement on the road that drove us to the music of the early 90s.

Tokyo Police Club - Elephant Shell (used CD) - $7
I dug their EP, and been meaning to pick this up so I couldn't resist when I saw it here for cheap.

Of course I said I made a 2nd visit, and I additionally picked up Social Distortion's classic self titled album on CD (because it's my favorite 'hang out drinking at the bar' album and I don't own it), as well as the Sonic Youth book "Confusion Is Next" because I now perpetually hate myself for ignoring the band until now.

As for The Creep, all I got to say is, about time we got a store close to home. Thanks.

But this is only the first chapter of this journey of mine. There are many more record stores around PA for me to dive into, and get lost in. Stops in Kutztown, West Chester, Philly, and Allentown are all on the horizon.

I got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and I'm wearing sunglasses. Let's go.

CREEP RECORDS is located at 239 Bridge Street, Phoenixville PA, 19460. You can reach them via email at info@creepindustries.com and by phone at 484-927-4390. For photos from the store's grand opening, check this blog out. They are currently open 7 days a week. They got a Myspace too.