Upon first entering Abraxas Wax, you’d be forgiven for thinking you’ve stepped back in time. The little shop contains a wealth of physical media in all formats from crates of records to shelf after shelf lined with CDs, cassettes, and DVDs. A stack of VHS tapes even sits on top of a dinky little CRT set up at the front, seen playing 10 Things I Hate About You during my most recent visit. Nostalgia practically seeps through the walls of this place, a procession of dancing bears followed by posters of ‘90s cartoon icons Bart Simpson and Plank.
While there’s plenty to explore during the day, paying Abraxas Wax a visit in the evening means we’re in for a show. The space is compact, making for an intimate performance. While there may not be room to dance, the acoustics, low lights, and tight quarters make for a more immersive experience than you’ll get at more conventional venues. It’s a perfect set up for the two acts performing tonight, Sleeping Trees and Once More, Autumn.
Sleeping Trees takes the stage—which is not really a stage, but about twenty feet of cleared floor space—first with a beautiful and thoughtfully performed set. Each of their songs seems to make the space a little larger than life, conjuring images of a sprawling landscape of pine forests. “May/June” stands out as a dreamy, hopeful piece. The song carries with it a cyclical message, ushering in the shift from spring to summer, assuring the listener that after the rain, the sun will rise again. “Spring has answered / yet summer calls / Still we lay here / in spite of it all / all in motion.” The minute-long instrumental piece that follows, “Moving…” appropriately feels like an orchestra warming up before the curtain is drawn, restarting a performance that will begin and end again and again.
Between sets, audience goers mill around the shop making small talk with friends, strangers, and the bands. If you take a detour to the bathroom while the next act sets up, you’ll find yourself face to face with the piercing eyes of Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lecter along with the request: “DON’T POOP AT RECORD STORES”
Once More, Autumn resumes the show, playing the captive audience a few tracks off their most recent EP, Foals. The music brings viewers into a calm, but fantastical soundscape. For their first song, the four-piece band is joined by a fifth horn player, adding just a finishing touch of whimsy to the set. Their song “Love is Never Waning” is a standout melodically, mellow and swaying, allowing the listener to settle into the flow of the track. The song pairs perfectly with the thundering rain just outside Abraxas’ window, with a tempo that’s energetic but not frantic, leading into a sweet, understated acoustic outro.
If you find yourself inclined towards alt folk, give Once More, Autumn and Sleeping Trees a listen on Spotify. And if you want to see what hidden treasures Abraxas Wax has for yourself, pay the shop a visit at 20 Graham Ave suite 102 in Eau Claire.
