Racks In The City

Record Store Day last Saturday was the chance for Terri Hooley to throw a party in Belfast. To remind us that he's been in this caper for over 30 years and that in April 2004 he lost Cathedral Records to arsonists who torched the North Street Arcade. Add this to a series of beatings, bombings and bankruptcies and it's not a convincing story for the joys of running a record shop.

But this is Terri's life, his rationale and his community. The new location for Good Vibes on Winetavern Street still hankers after that old ideal - that you can browse, purchase and shoot the breeze in a location that cares for that old-fangled physical dimension.

At the party, Terri had gathered musicians, traders and ne'r-do-wells from many decades. The going was surprisingly well ordered and a feeling of good-will was certainly in the house. I knew many of the people there and in truth I did my best to avoid a few of these. Terri has a habit of collecting strays and even his tolerance has been stretched by the needy, the delusional and the pathologically boring.

Every now and again, I spied a half-familiar face. Terri would oblige with their life story, the reason they'd been out of circulation for a while and a short list of their psychic troubles. It became clear that this was about more than a record shop. For many people, Terri has been a strangely dependable feature in the city, a connection and a solace for the lost tribes and their mashed-up aspirations.

I was reminded of the closing scenes to Goodbye Mr Chips, when the legendary old schoolmaster has a vision of his lost 'sons' - the many schoolchildren who have found value in his company. Terri would probably find this kind of thought embarrassing, but it's basically true. He has been the touchstone, the confidante and the godfather. Love your record shop and the social dimension that revolves around it.