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I stopped in Relative Theory for the first time in a couple of weeks to check out their polaroid gallery entitled “The Spit Years.” This gallery is a collection of polaroids taken since the store’s opening, featuring the “scene kids” of the store’s “punk house” years (thats my description, not theirs). I don’t know if this gallery signifies any milestone changes occuring in the store– I haven’t been going in very regularly for the last six months.

I’ve been a customer at Relative since the store opened two years ago, but I do not hang out at the store as regularly as I used to, and not as regularly as I would like. As a casual friend of J-Dub and Diamond Dave, I have watched the store struggle to do something never before accomplished in the Hampton Roads Area. Some of their lofty ambitions have become unprecedented realities (for Norfolk, anyway) and some have turn into serious disapointments. Still, through their success and failures I think this store has made Hampton Roads a better place for a previously unspokenfor contingent of the Tidewater Area..

I’m sure if I put the effort into it I would be more inclined to include myself in their extended family of bartenders, musicians, artists, DJs, B-Boys and deadbeats, but this owing a ton of money thing has really cramped my ability to have a good time and my attendence has been scarce at the store’s functions.

I believe polaroids are like the vinyl record of photography. No matter how camera technology advances, we will be attracted to the nostalgia encapsulated in a single polaroid. Something about the washed out color of a polaroid always makes it look 20 years old. Seeing these particular polaroids made me kind of misty-eyed, which, I know, is ridiculous. But seeing them made me miss seeing shows at the store, sticking around for the after hour bro-down sessions, and getting the occasional drink at Empire on Granby Street with my new friends.

Looking at these hundreds of pictures, I remembered all of the fun I’ve had at the store over a relatively (sic) short amount of time. I felt like I was looking at a high school year book, except I remembered these people much more fondly. The good news is that RelTheRec isn’t over like high school and I’m sure those dudes are ready to serve up some good times this very moment.

“The Spit Years” is going on from Dec 3rd to Jan. 4th. Go check it out and be on the lookout for the “Cherry Bandit.”

Here’s their address:

Relative Theory Records
271 Granby Street (2nd Floor)
Norfolk, VA 23510