Today we’d like to introduce you to Jacob Gunter.
Hi Jacob, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m serious, sincere, and enjoy irony, which can sometimes make things awkward socially. Like a lot of kids who grow up in small towns, music saved my life. There weren’t a lot of things for young people to do in Western North Carolina unless it involved the great outdoors, and although I spent a lot of time outside, I found an escape from the mundane in rock ‘n roll. When I was about 12 years old I discovered punk rock, and that was it for me. I found my voice. I survived my adolescence by listening to music, making art, and offending as many people as possible. I got off on making small town America feel as uncomfortable about themselves as possible.
I never really learned to play an instrument, I have just always had a deep appreciation and connection to music. When I was 16, I started visiting Atlanta regularly for concerts. From 1996-2004 I must have traveled to Atlanta a dozen or so times a year for shows. Charlotte was closer but Atlanta had better venues and a distinct vibrancy. In 2004 I made the move, and have been here ever since, although I admit it’s a love/ hate relationship.
How do records tie into all this? I grew up in the age of cassettes and CDs, but there were a handful of records still in the house that belonged to my parents, mostly 70s Christian rock, so I was somewhat familiar with the format if they sat on the shelf. I bought a few records over the years as a kind of novelty, long before the current vinyl resurgence, and of course I inherited those 70s Christian rock albums.
In 2019 a careless neighbor caught our townhouse on fire and our family lost most everything. Miraculously, the roughly 50 records I had made it out unscathed. In the aftermath, I realized that I liked the format for reasons more than just a novelty. That was the point that I started buying and listening to records as my preferred method of experiencing music, aside from live shows. I started going to local record shops, but COVID derailed that. Like a lot of people, I ended up buying online. As the pandemic waxed and waned I masked up, visited my local shops, and attended record shows. Moonage Music was born out of the realization that the vinyl community of Atlanta was limitless, diverse, and lacking unconventional digging experiences where community mattered.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
At its core, Moonage Music is a community of music enthusists whose preferred method of experiencing music is listening to records. We regularly organize record sales (swap meets and popups) around Atlanta by inviting independent record sellers and record stores to set up shop for a few hours to buy, sell, and trade with the public. Our venue partners include breweries, coffee houses, and other independent businesses. These forums allow people to converse about music and connect with others who share their passion for it. One of the things I like best about our record exchanges, and what sets them apart from other locations, is their unpredictable and offbeat spirit. It’s a bit like the wild west.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
There’s always going to be obstacles, but that’s where real growth occurs. It’s an opportunity to problem solve, reflect, and do better than yesterday. I have a full time day job, family, and fixer-upper home. With that in mind, I’d say my biggest obstacle is lack of time to pour into Moonage to help it reach its full potential. Time management and having the mental and physical energy to do the work is always a challenge, but at the end of the day the lesson is that maybe I need to slow down. It’s a hard one to learn.
I have a habit of overthinking things, so it’s important for me to stay focused on what matters most, which is supporting a growing community of music enthusiasts who enjoy buying, selling, and listening to records. As much as I’d like to do more, I think this kind of work requires cultivation and patience. Having a partner would make a huge difference on Moonage’s growth and impact, but as of now it’s my labor of love.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
We recently had a record swap at Eventide Brewing. Each swap has grown steadily and we’re excited to be partnering with HiFi Buys for the next one in May. In the near future we hope to have a popup record sale with a film screening.
As for the long term, nothing is set in stone. Part of the lure for me is not knowing what’s next. I enjoy the uncertainty that lies just beyond the next event or two. It could all fall apart or it could explode within the same breath. This isn’t paying the bills, I have that gig. Moonage is about music and the connections that come from a shared love of records.
Contact Info:
- Website: moonagemusic.org
- Instagram: @moonage.music
- Facebook: moonagemusic/facebook
Image Credits
Moonage Music
