Toxic Ranch Records

Some people are music lovers intrinsically. I don’t just mean she or he enjoys a good tune on the radio, I mean they are out right desperate for music! Becoming impatient, often irritable, especially if left in silence or (worse) in the presence of bad music. I am one of those people. And I’m pretty sure the man known as the Jolly Rancher, head of Toxic Ranch Records, is as well.

I could recap the story of the man that began in Illinois and wanders around the country, along the West Coast, finds pauses in places like 29 Palms and Spokane, before settling in Tucson where Toxic Ranch Records resides today. However, the Jolly Rancher has done so quite eloquently here.

On the day I found myself in the record store, Julianna was running the ship. She let us peruse the stacks without intrusion or monitoring, always a respectful quality we like to see when shopping as opposed to the all-too-common assumptions that if you like punk you must be stealing. You can tell she’s one of us.

She was also very informative. I inquired about bands in the area, latest releases, what folks are buying, and whatever else she might have to offer about Tucson music. I left with a list of band names and a few records.

The punk collection was extensive as was the news rags stash featuring all sorts of yet-to-be discovered zines. A locals’ only space highlighted not only Tucson acts but regional releases as well.

Whether you’re looking for something specific or just hoping to shuffle through shelves of musical offerings to find that one gem you didn’t know you were looking for, Toxic Ranch Records is ready for you!