Written by Gracie Wachtel
Photographed by Bibiana Agüero
Savannah’s well-known record store and label, Graveface Records & Curiosities, held yet another successful event on Friday, Jan. 16. Among the dozens of bodies making up the audience, the venue displayed both new and used releases, cocktail supplies, various forms of toys and games and much more.
The night’s art and cover show exhibited the works of students studying photography, illustration, animation and other disciplines at SCAD. A few photography students featured in the gallery include Matt Lamourt, Michele Mobley and Danielle Leonard.
With walls covered in music, posters, stickers and various forms of taxidermy, Graveface provides a unique place for local music lovers and appreciators to hang around.
The venue swarmed with locals and students, including most of the band members who are currently enrolled or have attended SCAD in the past.
“I found out about Graveface when I was a DJ at SCAD Radio. I was helping out at Record Fair and they had a stand, so I went and checked out the shop later. We’ve actually performed at Graveface several times,” said third-year sound design major James Lee from Columbia, Maryland.
Event coordinator Rachel Braun contacted Josh Taft, the bassist of Generation Pill and Lee’s fellow band member, requesting they perform.
“We were excited to play with our pals, The Anxiety Junkies, covering the Misfits,” said Lee.
“My band, The Anxiety Junkies, headlined. We covered the Misfits. The first band was jeffXgoldblum and they covered a multitude of different grindcore bands, and second was Generation Pill (who have an amazing EP on Bandcamp). They covered Nirvana songs that Nirvana covered,” said third-year 2-D animation major Van Tyler Mills from Atlanta, Georgia. His band regularly performs at local houses and bars; their music has also been played on SCAD Radio.
The Graveface staff offered a welcoming environment allowing incomers to alternate between head bobbing by the stage and socializing out front.
“The energy in the room was good and the people in the crowd seemed to really get into the music, you know with the whole mosh pit going on. The vibe was really interesting. It seemed pretty laid back and chill, everyone was there to enjoy the music of the different bands playing,” said second-year animation major Michaela Bost from Columbia, South Carolina.
“I’ve bought a ton of things from Graveface. It’s the only worthwhile record shop in town, and a great one at that. I’ve found all sorts of used gems there and they do a great job of getting new stuff, too,” said Lee.
Graveface is known to present live music, screen documentaries and even host release parties for newly signed bands.
“There is a big music scene that SCAD doesn’t really acknowledge or know about, I think a lot of students would love to know more about it. There’s a lot of experimental bands and a lot of punk influences,” said Mills.
For more information, Graveface Records & Curiosities can be found here, or contacted at (912) 335- 8018.
