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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

4,000 Holes Music Store Victim Of Vandalism, Negative Article

At the beginning of June, my roommate handed me the latest copy of Maximumrocknroll magazine and suggested I look in the section that housed scene reports.

I did.

Surprisingly there was a report on Spokane. It’s about time, I thought. Spokane has always had one of the better punk scenes in the country, yet almost no one knows about it.

As I read through the scene report, I found it to be extremely negative, exclusive and a poor representation of Spokane’s punk scene.

But what really caught my eye were vicious remarks, smearing local independent record store 4,000 Holes. The authors, who assumed ghost-names, accused owner Bob Gallagher of gouging people’s wallets, deceiving customers and ripping off bands.

“It simply isn’t true,” explains Gallagher. “I’m not getting rich off of local punks. I have a hard enough time trying to keep my store afloat.”

In the two weeks that followed the appearance of that issue of Maximumrocknroll, 4,000 Holes, which specializes in indie rock, imports, vinyl and all things Beatles, has had seven of its eight windows smashed on three separate occasions. The third was the most serious when the perpetrators hurled five bricks. Surprisingly, nothing has been stolen.

Making matters worse, 4,000 Holes’ insurance policy doesn’t cover broken windows. And the store has racked up a crippling $2,500 in damages.

Though he has virtually no proof, Gallagher believes the story incited the vandalism.

“We can’t find a reason, except for that,” he says. “There’s nothing to indicate, except for the week that that magazine hit Spokane, my windows started getting broken.”

After the first incident, Gallagher wasn’t concerned. After all, he’s had windows broken before. By the third time, he was alarmed.

“I felt it was personal. Someone was trying to put me out of business.

“The phone at my home rang at 7 this morning (Monday) and I thought, ‘Oh my God, someone just discovered more broken windows.”

Gallagher hasn’t been able to replace any of the broken windows permanently. The one’s he replaced were smashed in again. For now, plywood boards have been put up.

Enter Sancyre Hruby and LeaAnn Salvo, a local musician and recording-studio manager and record-label co-owner, respectively. They organized a benefit concert for the store Tuesday at the Northern Corner.

Slated to appear are the Sissies (members of the Flies and Velvet Pelvis), Quitters Inc. (former members of Velvet Pelvis, Crudlers, Overwhelming Colorfast and Nice World) and Fatty Lumpkin (featuring former members of Fatty Lumpkin).

“I feel that since (Gallagher) has done a lot for the bands in this town, that the bands should turn around and try to help him cover his cost before he has to go out of business,” Salvo says.

The bands on her label, Nervous Wreckords, as well as dozens of other Spokane bands, have long benefitted from Gallagher’s store. The owner sells any local release that walks in. And, he doesn’t pocket a single penny from the sales of local releases. All of the money goes back to the bands.

Plus, Gallagher and others have tried to stir up interest in the Spokane scene by promoting shows.

“Everyone has come together,” says Hruby. “Everyone’s been concerned, from your metal bands, your punk bands and your college bands. The positive feedback has been amazing. One thing we have to remember about what keeps our scene going is everyone must do what little part they can.”

“It’s been overwhelming,” says Gallagher. “Everybody from Shoveljerk on down has offered to do benefits. The support from my customers has been overwhelming. It’s just a business. It’s important to me. I’m surprised that other people like it enough to say something.”

Even the local promoter of the “Rocky Horror Picture Show” showings every Saturday at midnight at the Magic Lantern, is holding a benefit. It’s Saturday, July 12.

And the publisher of the Berkeley-based Maximumrocknroll, Tim Yohannen, donated $250 to the store to help pay for the damages.

Tuesday’s benefits starts at 9:30 p.m. The cover is $4. Stay tuned for more benefit concerts.

Ripe for the picking

Denver’s always-ripe Apples in Stereo returns to the Lilac City tonight to plant its quirky, unconventional indie art pop at the Northern Corner.

The Apples in Stereo harvest a mouth-watering bouquet of sounds, from psychedelia and new wave to noise and garage rock.

The Apples are fresh off a tour opening for musical oddity Beck.

If you haven’t sought out the band’s debut album “Fun Trick Noisemaker,” do. It’s one of the best pop albums you haven’t heard.

Strawberry Woodhammer, Elizabeth Emblem and Method open. Music starts at 9:30 p.m. The cover is $3.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo

MEMO: Nightwatch picks Best bets at area clubs: TONIGHT: Apples in Stereo, Strawberry Woodhammer, Elizabeth Emblem and Method at the Northern Corner TUESDAY: 4,000 Holes benefit with the Sissies, Fatty Lumpkin and Quitters Inc. at the Northern Corner

Nightwatch picks Best bets at area clubs: TONIGHT: Apples in Stereo, Strawberry Woodhammer, Elizabeth Emblem and Method at the Northern Corner TUESDAY: 4,000 Holes benefit with the Sissies, Fatty Lumpkin and Quitters Inc. at the Northern Corner