Never Records Part Deux



The Never Records logo was designed by artist/musician Jason Farrell. Jason is the graphic designer for Washington D.C.’s Dischord Records and played in the bands Swiz, Bluetip, and Retisonic. The sign over the front counter was made by the “queen of foamcore” Brandi Merolla. Brandi was the art director for this Tower from 1983-1986. A kiosk of her window and store displays is located across the room from the front counter.


Punk legend Arturo Vega has created the Never Records bulletin board. The bulletin board contains annoucements for real events as well as fictional ones. Two of Arturo’s posters will be editioned and signed and available for purchase in No Longer Empty’s store. Arturo designed Never Records a t-shirt as well.



Arturo convinced Richard Hambleton to paint one of his world famous shadows on the wall of the store by the front entrance, right next to luminist painter Jake Berthot’s poster on the pillar as you walked in the front door of the shop.

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Artist Brent Birnbaum appeared at the opening dressed as "Ice Ice Maybe". He signed autographs on a limited edition reproduction of a painting by Tom Sanford. View images the opening night here.




Michelle Matson made our "employee of the month" out of paper. I call him Herb.




Lessons Learned, Secret Knowledge Confirmed.

Nicholas Brooks, 2010

Never records even had a head shop. Artist Nicholas Brooks created a mini meth lab installation inside of our front counter. And the counter itself was even a working water pipe, for display purposes only of course. Rumor has it there was some "heavy hitters" at the opening trying out the bong/front counter. Nick may have gotten kicked out opening night but he made many visitors happy with his "performance".






All of the stickers on the front counter and around the store were designed by Allison Hester and Doug McQueen. The photos on the side of the counter are by photographer John Bush. And the poster on the front of the counter was made by Shane Caffrey. For a more detailed description please consult the Never Records Zine. The good luck dollar and Sadam Hussein dollar is by artists Johnny T and his brother Crispy T.





To the left of the front counter is a bin containing the workd of two artists, Josh Shaddock and Nathan Gwynne. Both Records are for sale. Josh’s 7” records are $10 and Nathan Gwynne’s double LPs are $50 a piece.


“New Order”, Josh Shaddock

Shaddock has taken the lyrics and sent them to a song writing service that takes lyrics and sets them to music. Customers of this service choose what genre they would like the song to be and what style of vocal they would like to have. Shaddock then pressed 500 copies of the rearranged song on vinyl 7”s.

Rock and Roll Record, Nathan Gwynne 2009 (Edition of 50)
Double LP, 33 1/3 rpm, 12 inches
Black vinyl with black ink stamps on white labels and black enamel silkscreen on white gatefold jackets. Side one is the sound of the artist repeating the word "rock" continuously. Side two is the artist repeating the words "and roll" continuously




There were three video stations aroud the store. The first display on your right as you entered the store is a loop of five short videos by artist Mathew Bradley. These include actual music videos for bands like Ted Leo and the Pharmacists.


The second looped video is by DCKT artist Josh Azzarella. It is located on the front of the pillar to the left of the front counter. Entitled “The funk of Four Hundred Years.”Azzarella has edited Michael Jackson and all of his actors and dancers out of the Thriller video. We are left with a desolate nightscape, the sound of crickets and billowing fog rolling across the sets.


The last video station is located behind the front counter and contains videos by Ethan Minsker, Ramiken Crucible, and James Woodward, as well as a short program selected by Lauren Rosati from Artist Pension Trust’s catalog.






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