Sleaford Mods // Record Store Event // Vinilo Record Store

Sleaford Mods // Record Store Event // Vinilo Record Store

Saturday 4^thMay, 2019

4pm: I arrive to an already heaving store. 

Vinilo, Southampton’s newest and favourite record store, is packed with eager Sleaford Mods fans awaiting the band’s highly anticipated arrival. Given the band’s punk aesthetic (one of the key reasons we fell in love with them), there is a slight uncertainty that the Nottingham duo won’t show up. The poster out the front and splattered across the shop walls states the signing starts at 4:30. I must admit, at 4:20pm when the guys are still a no-show, I also start to question the promptness of the duo.

Vinilo is everything you could want from a record store. The people behind the counter are bursting with musical knowledge (including old and new releases), walls stocked to the brim with all the records you could imagine and today’s endeavour, Sleaford Mods signing copies of their new record, Eton Alive. Formed in 2007, the Nottingham electro-punk duo have a vast collection of albums under their belt including English Tapas and Key Marketsall to critical acclaim; of which none of it though is really radio or child friendly due to its abrasive and explicit nature. Bringing a sprechgesang style over minimalistic beats, Sleaford Mod’s sound is something that brings with it an air of frustrated honesty. It’s also worth noting that being politically charged within your music is rather trendy right now; and Sleaford Mods are the ones doing it right.

The band arrive at 5pm, only half an hour past the time expected (the phrase ‘better late than never’ springs to mind) and the shop immediately erupts into a loud cheer. I think it is part excitement and part relief from everyone involved. However, it seems no one cares that they have been waiting for what seemed a life time. The band are clearly worth the wait for those who care. People immediately form a queue and flock to have their records, tops, notebooks– anything really- signed by the guys. The record in question, Eton Alive, blares through the walls of the shop as the giddy fans begin to tell the band about times they’ve met, how much they are looking forward to the show tonight and how good the band were at [enter any venue the band have ever played here].The hands of the fans shake as they attempt to take photos of their friends amongst the two brutal yet approachable personalities held by Nottingham’s leaders of austerity. 

I can’t help but wonder how strange it must feel for artists to meet fans who seem to know so much about them when in fact, they have never met before. The band hit the fans back with a surprisingly charming response to strange questions and act with nothing other than courteousness and grace as their album blares out, which, let’s face it, listening to your own album as people say how much they love, must make the experience feel a whole lot weirder for them. But regardless, Sleaford Mods are a delight. And despite the whole afternoon clearly not really being their ‘thing’, the afternoon is one I am delighted to be a part of.