Three Weeks, Two Friends.
My entire working life I have been employed by the city’s finest record stores in some form or another. In San Antonio I was at Hogwild. In New York I am with Turntable Lab….
In Austin I will forever be a part of Waterloo Records.
The last time I can remember losing anybody in my life where it hurt this much was losing Frank Lugo from Hogwild in San Antonio. Come to think of it, it marked the first time anyone close to me passed away. It hurts. It fucking sucks.
Frank introduced me to so much music that I will forever hold near and dear to my heart. He, along with my other Hogwild family, helped shape me into who I am in a huge way. I think of Uncle Frank every time I hear Mission Of Burma, Thelonius Monk, and especially Sparklehorse. Everyone was in shock. I remember getting the page (yeah, pre cell phone culture) from Jester. I was still in high school. Frank passed away.
New Year, 2012. Esme Barrera found dead, the first homicide for the year in Travis County. The thought of not ever being able to see or talk to Esme again keeps haunting me. We worked at Waterloo Records together for a few years, she and I are the same age. Though I haven’t seen her in over a year, my heart will always hurt thinking of Esme.
January 20th, 2012. Slippy found dead. The lore of Slippy preceded my actual introduction to him, but it was all very true. What a crazy fucking guy. Funny as could be. I know Waterloo was still hurting from the loss of Esme, and this is just the worst news to follow up with. This fucking sucks.
My thoughts are obviously all over the place and it’s hard for me to think straight right now. I wish I was in Austin right now.
