Navigated to Ep511: Nick Aguilar - Record Collector

Ep511: Nick Aguilar - Record Collector

August 5
1h 14m

Episode Description

Nick Aguilar of Frankie and the Witch Fingers and Slaughterhouse is a vinyl maniac! Today we discuss his collection, his obsession, the rarities and a life of music & record collecting.

Topics Include:

  • Nick Aguilar plays drums in multiple bands including Frankie and the Witch Fingers
  • Currently focusing mainly on Frankie due to busy touring schedule ahead
  • Extensive tour dates planned through end of year across US and Europe
  • Considers himself a music fan first, musician second since childhood
  • Dad played tapes during Nick's colic as baby, introducing classic rock
  • Father went to San Pedro High School with future Minutemen members
  • Dad chose commercial fishing over music after graduation in 1976
  • San Pedro's shipping port culture shaped the local music scene
  • Nick has surpassed his dad's music knowledge over the years
  • Started collecting at age 11 when neighbor gave away record collection
  • First records included Rolling Stones "Some Girls" and Led Zeppelin "Physical Graffiti"
  • Still regrets not taking Buzzcocks "Singles Going Steady" from that collection
  • Casual collecting through school, seriously ramped up after high school graduation
  • Pandemic period 2020-2022 massively accelerated his collecting and cataloging habits
  • Taught himself DJing during lockdown to play records for people
  • Discovered new genres like soul, funk, kraut rock through deep diving
  • Got lucky buying expensive records cheap before current inflated market
  • Focuses on 45s and 12-inches that work well for DJing
  • Extreme organization needed to juggle multiple bands, touring, collecting, DJing
  • Record store strategy: always hit new arrivals section first
  • Holy grail wants include The Litter and James Knight records
  • Uses both Discogs hunting and in-person digging at stores
  • Thrift store finds getting much rarer as market knowledge spreads
  • Appreciates reissue labels like Numero Group for discovering rare music
  • Limited record shopping time while touring due to tight schedules
  • Favorite shops include Breakaway in Austin and Academy in NYC
  • Most expensive purchase: Helen Smith soul record for $2,900 on credit
  • Most sentimental record: The Frighteners, reminds him of deceased friend
  • Keeps multiple copies of key records for DJing versus home listening
  • Band creates multiple vinyl variants through their Greenway Records label

See Frankie and the Witch Fingers and order their vinyl here.

High resolution version of this podcast is available at: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide

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