I have a not-so-brand-new copy of a cassette tape released in 1982 by a Las Vegas nightclub powerhouse I have no desire to actually listen to. Nevertheless, I am very excited to have it in my possession. The reason why? The Runaway Five, a Tucson band of four (the 5th member being their Nintendo Gameboy), offered a pre-release of their forthcoming album Primary Function.
My new (to me) cassette had the songs from Primary Function on an upcycled, one-of-a-kind, redesigned tape. Included inside was a download code for a digital copy of the release. Now, this is not a review of their latest release (although that might prove inevitable). We just wanted to take a moment to acknowledge originality, which counts for a lot in this business.
Well, in any business I suppose, but particularly in the arts where a first impression is a lucky break and a second chance an unlikely possibility. When staffers went to a show at Solar Culture to procure one album, they left with two. How can you resist a copy of Neil Diamond’s 12 Greatest Hits Vol. II… I mean, The Runaway Five’s Primary Function. Get your copy, for whichever format you prefer, today.
