Goners for life

Eric Freidl and Zac Ives teamed up to open Goner Records in February 2004.

The two were old friends looking to team up for a project, but Eric was also in the notorious garage-punk band The Oblivians and had a mail order business and record label on the side. Now the record label, the mail order business and the retail shop cross-promoting each other. This helps maintain Goner’s international underground reputation.  

Joe Simpson (l) and Zac Ives (r) at the counter.

“I think out thing works because it takes all three of those arms functioning and trying to figure out a way to grow all three of them at the same time. I think that has been part of our struggle, and so far we’ve been pretty successful with it.” - Zac Ives

Goner Records is the classic example of turning a passion for a hobby into one’s livelihood. Neither could make ends meet without a second job. For Eric that would be running the in-arena graphics for the Memphis Grizzlies. Zac picks up freelance copywriting jobs when he can. Both of them would choose the store to be their primary income if the store’s revenue permitted. Zac even calls Goner his dream job. Yet the job has altered how they approach the music that they love. 

“Sometimes you just want to get away from it and listen to something you now you hate, without the possible implications for buying it for the store or putting it out as a record.” - Eric Freidl

“I’m still getting blown away by things that blew me away fifteen years ago, and I’m still getting turned onto things that I’ve never listened to before that blow me away now. There’s not a whole lot better than that.” - Zac Ives

 “If I keep that record, it’s not doing anything for the store. But I look at my records and think, ‘Wow! These are some trashy records! But we’re selling the good copy of that in the store. Hopefully someone will come in and buy it.’” - Eric Freidl

Looking for record gems.

 

Zac Ives prices records shortly before closing time.

“Once you make it too much business in it . . .

 . . . the fun kind of leaves, too.”                                              

                       

Mr. Herbert Wiley has approached work many different ways during his long life. He is an Oxford native who owned Wiley’s Shoes on the Courthouse Square and played music in his band the Checkmates. He was raised working in the shop, learned his work ethic from his father, and eventually ran it until 2003 when he retired. His nephew Raymond Wells has moved the shop north of town where he runs it today. Mr. Wiley’s retirement allowed him to pursue his true love, music. In the 1962 he formed the Checkmates, a rhythm and blues band that played juke joints and frat parties around northern Mississippi as well as Memphis, Atlanta, and Chicago. They cut a few records, but the gigs never paid the bills. He continued working in the shop during the day and playing in the band at night. When Mr. Wiley’s second child, a daughter was born in 1970, he began working full time in the shoe shop and put the band behind him. 

Wiley and the Checkmates performing at the Ponderosa Stomp April 2008. House of Blues; New Orleans, Louisiana

Or so he thought. Just before Mr. Wiley closed shop in the new millennium, he was overheard playing bass in his shop. As Oxford punk rockers The Preachers Kids rehearsed nearby, Mr. Wiley played along with the band. One could hear his bass on the street. Word got out, and from there the second version of the Checkmates formed. Even though Mr. Wiley had worked his whole life to earn the leisure time to spend doing things he enjoyed like playing music, he says that forming the new band “was like somebody threw me a hot potato, and I had to catch it,” says Mr. Wiley. As they record their third album, he laughs about how much more work this band is from the old days, calling it a “three way heart attack.”

While Mr. Wiley enjoys attention for his music, he is still proud of his craftsmanship from his days repairing shoes. In the following pages he demonstrates some his old equipment, now in his nephew’s shop.

Mr. Wiley polishes a pair of shoes at Wells Shoe Repair.

Mr. Wiley demonstrates how that knife sliced open his arm. He had hit an artery. Blood was spurting. He sewed up the wound himself.

The Crew Behind Ajax Diner, Good Eats

Ajax Diner dishes up plates of comforting soul food on the Courthouse Square in Oxford. Its tin roof awning, brightly painted façade, and colorful strings of lights welcome a steady stream of hungry diners. Exuberant folk art watches over the rustic dining room as patrons linger over sweet potato casserole, jerk rubbed pork chop, tamale pie, and other tasty dishes. While these surroundings are familiar to many, few patrons ever see the kitchen, the source of their meal. Owner Amy Crockett was kind enough to invite me into the back where I dodged the hustle as the Friday lunch rush tapered off.

(l-r) Parks and John G. in the kitchen at Ajax Diner

Ajax's famous cornbread

(left) Bringing on the heat with Tobasco and Rotel (right) Matty Crockett checks up on the recipe for cheese dip.

Stacks of clean stoneware are stored neatly for the next dinner rush.

Trash with a smile

Health codes require a hat or headband be worn at all times.

Taking my daily constitutional

Oxford is a very walkable town. With the wooded campus connected to the town square by quiet streets lined by sidewalks, easy to head out for an afternoon of lazy meandering with camera in hand. These photos are a product of one such stroll in early October. 

mud buggy on the Square

Making the wheels of the car go round and round

 

J&J Auto Repair repairs cars, lawn mowers, and small engines. Owned by Jerry Hancock Jr. since 1968, the garage has been located on South Lamar just north of Highway 6  for fourteen years. Itching to explore beyond Oxford city limits, I stopped by here to get my car serviced. There is one essential truth to a road trip which is that you can’t hit the road without making sure the car runs well.

During my visit, the men who work there were friendly, flattered that I thought to photograph them, They teased each other about how they were so ugly that I would break my camera if I took pictures of them. 

The clutter was overflowing, and appeared to have changed little since the business first opened.  Even a sizable lawn mower “graveyard” had wrapped one end of the building. The place looked very well rooted on its little knoll overlooking South Lamar. 

Welcome to Oxford... Now get to work.

On this anniversary of Mississippi's admission to the union in 1817,  I launch a blog about my new home in Oxford, MS. These first few posts come from work for my documentary photography class. Have peek!

When Southern Studies 533 confronted me with the task of portraying work and leisure in the South, I balked. I was new to town, new to the university, and primed to delve into all kinds of fun. The last thing I wanted to do was interrupt some busy people to get their story and fumble with camera settings to take their picture. But all that fun comes at a price, a price worth recognizing. Always, someone’s labor supports our good time, that pleasurable past time, that wild party or some good eating. Some folks work these jobs because they have to. Some have managed to create a livelihood out of something they love. We might envy those people when in reality a lot of sweat went into building their businesses. This blog entry peeks into the that world, the world of work behind our fun. 
 

As I acquainted myself with my new town, I visited an Ole Miss football game, an Oxford garage, and two legendary Oxford area restaurants. I also spent some time interviewing and photographing a local musician and African American entrepreneur, as well as both of the owners of an independent record shop in Memphis, Tennessee that enjoys an international cult following. Each of these people and places tell a different story about the kind of work behind our leisure time. Some worked to live while others lived to work. You decide which one of subjects fits which expression.  

 

What is more iconic than hitting an Ole Miss football game? I visited Vaught-Hemingway Stadium where Ole Miss took on Fresno State. 

Before the game, the university campus fills with tents and tailgaters. Generations of fans carouse from tent to tent As the day progresses, football fervor rises until everyone files into the stadium and cheers on the Rebels. Hotty Toddy! 

The Ole Miss Rebel Marching Band took the field before kick-off while the dance team warmed up the crowd. Ole Miss went to win that game by a decisive 55-38 margin.

Of course all good Rebs fans need sustenance. A hot dog is "essential stadium food."

Kari Edwards enjoys a snack. 

But not everyone at the game is having fun...   

pouring soda under the stands

Cotton candy!

The beer seller shoots me the stink eye.