I have that same feeling about Madam Wong's West. I had so many awesome experiences there that when they tore the building down I kinda went, "Yup. End of an era....". Esther Wong just died a few months ago. And I said it again. I usually put on Story Of My Life by Social Distortion or Prom Theme by FOW and then wallow in it for a while...... Grumprist Subject: Re: Aron's Drew, Was it Sym"pop"phony..or something like that? Cherry Twister was on there? A quartet of bands? Everybody, Speaking of Not Lame, go buy the Everyday Things. For some reason I think if Buddy Holly made power pop, it might have sounded like this. And... if you haven't bought Not Lame's Hook Heaven compilation, and you're a power pop fan....*holds hands up in confusion* And... the latest (and final) edition of the Home Runs series on Sound Asleep is a SUCH a treat. If you've been gushing over the Yellow Pills: Prefill, then this should really be next on your list. And it's so damned limited that if you let it go now, it'll be gone. Oh yeah, our own John Borack does the baseball themed liner notes, too. My 2¢ on Arons... This Aron's thing is killing me. I grew up in L.A. I played "All The Beautiful People (Shop on Melrose)" on my show this morning, remembering when Aron's used to be on Melrose (across from Fairfax High, my Dad's alma mater!). Kinda funny to think back on the burgeoning shopping spot that was Melrose in the early 80's and this little ghetto of music geeks at the end of the street. The very last time I visited Aron's was when I went to Wendi Colter's pre-IPO Highland Grounds show a few years back when Beagle played. I don't remember what all I found but among my treasures was the just issued P.F. Sloan "trousdale sessions" album in the used bin. There was always something. I will really mourn this loss, and miss that place. And this: is it me, or does this particularly sort of mourning make anyone feel old? I can't help but think of my parents mourning the lost icons of their generation when I was younger (and they were only a bit older than I am now). I know there are particular experiences about these record stores that I will miss and I can argue these merits to anyone who claims it simply doesn't matter and I should understand that people get their music online, yadda, yadda. So, it's not as though I think it's simply nostalgia, nor was it that simple for my folks and the things they cherished. But I do feel old, and more weary than wise. -craig>>