As I have mentioned before in these dispatches, Wyatt Earp Records is an extremely important component to the entire Flint Hall Show scene.  One could say that the scene probably wouldn't have grown as it did without Wyatt Earp Records, and the support of it's founder, Doug Earp.  Doug passed away in 2004, and Al Steele (Doug's longtime partner in the store) has kept the store going with the same enthusiasm in music and support of the local music scene as Doug.

Growing up with two older sisters provided me a default soundtrack of '70s music like KISS, Led Zeppelin, Supertramp, Chicago, and Grand Funk Railroad (I grew up in Flint afterall).  So when the time came to discover my own music in my teens I found myself enjoying punk rock and bands like Sex Pistols, Dead Kennedys, Black Flag, Minor Threat...  I learned that there was this little record store in Flint that stocked that sort of thing, and could order stuff not in stock, so I checked out this place called Wyatt Earp Records.  Upon walking into the original Earp's I knew that it was like no other place I had ever been before.  First, there was this guy behind the counter who greeted you when you walked in (Doug), and there were all of these crazy records that made it seem like you just reached a musical Nirvana (not the band, the state of mind).  I often had questions about bands, music, events, and Doug always was able to offer answers.  More importantly he provided pointers to other options to the questions you asked, rather than just the stock sorts of answers you might get from someone who just wants to sell you something, and get you out of the store.  It is this helpful attitude, and friendly, quiet nature that kept me coming back again and again.  It was also at this point that I started finding out more about the local punk scene and the bands that sold their tapes at Earp's and the Hall Shows.

Flash forward to 2009, Wyatt Earp is still hanging in there in the most distressed city in the most distressed economy in a long time.  Al is there when you walk in (just like Doug always was)  with a friendly nod, and musical knowledge that you just can't find anywhere else.  Best of all is the Vinyl that Al is stocking and selling.  I still prefer to listen to my music on a vinyl record more than any other way (except maybe live).  Well, Al took the time to give me some insight on the history of the store, and his friend and mentor Doug.  I had gotten a little bit of an interview started when I met Tanya at Earp's for her interview, but I knew there was more that Al could share, and share he did!