A touching goodbye from Andrew Gyger

As the well-known brick 'n mortar record store monsters close, one by one, a new era of music commerce has been budding. The Internet is going strong, and I don't think anyone can really say where all of this is going. Print publications and record stores are slowly going out of business, and while I'm thrilled to see some of the most memorable/important American independent record stores thrive, there was definitely some good deeds done by the giants. Andrew Gyger writes a fond farewell, featured below:

Hi Friends,

Today is my last day as a Virgin employee.

It all started when I was three months out of high school in March 1990 at the Pitt Street Megastore in Sydney Australia.

Since then I have worked as a classical sales assistant, buyer, assistant manager, processing manager, assistant warehouse manager and product manager.

I've worked in Sydney, Los Angeles, New York and Orlando. I have worked in 4 stores and done buying for over 20. And been at head office for almost 10 years and had my dream job for almost 3.

I have seen countless bands thanks to my job and have amassed a CD collection that would have made the 18 year old me green with envy.

I got to `work' 8 Coachellas, 5 SXSW's, 3 Winter Music Conferences, 2 Lollapaloozas, 2 V-Fests, an Outside Lands and an All Points West. Awesome. Oh and also that surf thing at Huntington Beach in '95!

So a quick list of memories/factoids:

The album that came out the week I started at Virgin – March 1990 – Sinead O'Connor – I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got

The album that came out the week I started at Virgin in the US – September 1994 – R.E.M. – Monster

The album that came out my final week – May 2009 – Grizzly Bear – Veckatimest

Best Stuff I got to do because of my job – Go to Acapulco on a label's dime to see a DJ, go to Live 8 in London, live in New York for six months with a per diem (drinking money), traveling all over the country to do store visits and go to events.

Now on to the important stuff- the people.

(blogger's note: names have been removed from this post)

If I have forgotten someone (kind of inevitable) I am sorry.

19 years is a long time and I wouldn't have lasted this long without phenomenal people to work with…and a lot of luck. It didn't end the way any of us wanted but I am, and everyone else should be, incredibly proud of their Virgin life.

I am leaving this job the way I came into it, a complete and utter music junkie. I have been incredibly lucky to have worked in a job that I was passionate about for this long and I hope that whatever is next has music involved in it somehow!

As for what is next…who knows. A trip to show Australia to my son, and then the next chapter.

In the words of Jeff Fenech (Australia's Mike Tyson) – I love youse all.

Andrew Gyger
Senior Music Product Manager – Virgin Megastores

My New Neighbors

I'm usually not impressed by celebrity shots, but I've got to admit this pic posted on the always-pleasing What Would Tyler Durden Do? (a staple of my RSS reader) is really breathtaking.

Guess who...



See more here: Is that someone famous?

Annoying Abe

So good. My current obsession.



The Whitest Kids 'U Know

Kohler Knows What's Up

I feel kind of weird - a little too nerdy - to be staring at a showerhead with soft "ooohs" and "ahhhs" accompanying my exhales. Still, this new Flipside handshower from Kohler is making me want to spend a long time in the bathroom. $125 seems a little steep for a showerhead, but the more I contemplate it the more I think it might be worth it.

Dear Kohler - please feel free to send me a free sample. Cheers.

More info: Kohler Flipside Handshower

Absolut Pears...Finally, More Useful

I haven't particularly been a fan of Absolut Pears simply because I am not a fan of mixing it with ginger ale, soda water or tonic. Anything else with bubbles I'm wholly uninterested in drinking, period. A new (?) recipe has come along that seems to be a nice spin with a twist of risk. Glad to see the recipes for pear-infused vodka getting more love.

Jalapeno-Pear Caipiroska
2 oz. Absolut Pears vodka
1 oz. honey syrup
1 lime, quartered
2-3 jalapeno slices
ice

Tools: cocktail shaker, strainer, muddler

Glass: rocks glass (aka old fashioned glass)

Muddle (mash together) the lime and jalapeno in the shaker. Add the remaining ingredients and shake well. Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice and enjoy. You can add a jalapeno for garnish like I did if you wish.

For further info on the drink can be found here.

Truck Bearing Kibble

I've done zero research, but have looked through every comic on this site. Absolutely brilliant. In addition to the above we have this and this.

Enjoy.

DO WANT: Chikuno Cube

I'm a sucker for trendy-meets-useful, and this is it. Chikuno Cube is an air freshener made from ultra fine powder of bamboo charcoal and clay minerals. Bamboo Charcoal has a high capacity of absorbing odors, but the secret to the superior absorption powder of the Cube is the micro-honeycomb structure that amplifies its surface area by hundred fold. The 2" cube has the surface area of 4 football fields and works ingeniously in refrigerators, closets and cars. It’s eco-friendly and can be re-used for up to 1 year just by exposing it to direct sunlight every month for 6 hours.

For more information go here and to purchase it go here.

First of all, this is fucking ridiculous.

Secondly, you might remember when Bitch was in the dumps back in September.



Well the guillotine is upon Paste Magazine, truly one of the best pubs in the music industry. I would be rightly sad to see this magazine go. My time as a publicist was spent very close to this company - especially due to the personal connections I used to have to Atlanta/Decatur.

"The global recession has taken its toll on Paste as advertisers have slashed their spending. We are turning to our readers to help bridge the gap. Even a small contribution can make a big difference."

Just like Bitch is essential to the feminist community in America, Paste is a key player in independent rock music. Their coverage has been top-notch. I often wonder if I have ADD because I am constantly falling asleep or getting fidgety when I try to read long articles and books (many tell me I'm just too busy for my own good), but Paste is a magnet. An eyeball magnet.

Please help the cause. This is very important.

The Campaign To Save PASTE

Pink Mountain

Sam Coomes of Quasi has another project called Pink Mountain. A noisier Nirvana with hardly any vocals and way more synths, I am definitely a fan. This is not their first record, but I expect the new one to garner much more attention. Sputnik Music manages to be exceedingly eloquent in their review of the record in comparison to what I might have to say about it. Alarm also has a great short interview with the band here.

MySpace: Pink Mountain

Thanks [for putting up with my shit], Mom

Mother's Day is fast approaching (May 10th) and I'm not entirely sure what to do. I am as broke as most of my friends, and fresh out of ideas. More than anything, I know that my mother just wants my company, but there is the big Frodus show at Death By Audio that night in Brooklyn. See a great band, or honor the woman who put up with your shit when you were a goth teenager? I think the choice is clear!

eMusic has a sweet feature called "Indie Moms Sound Off!" which features the maternal praise from the people who really birthed these bands: Beach House, Cut Copy, The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart and others.

eMusic: Indie Moms Sound Off!

p.s. that's not my mom. my mom is way hotter.