New Bedford may not yet carry the musical pedigree of cities like Chicago, Philadelphia, or Seattle—hell, maybe not even Grand Rapids, Michigan—but this hardworking coastal city, with its rich maritime and whaling history, could very well become the Long Beach/San Pedro of the Northeast. With an expanding community of artists, an increasingly creative identity, and relatively affordable housing compared to other East Coast cities, New Bedford is a place worth watching. Don’t overlook it.
At the heart of the city’s hard rock and metal community is Purchase Street Records, owned and operated by Roger Chouinard. His connection to rock runs deep: his uncle played guitar in Billy Squier’s band, giving Chouinard a genuine connection to the world of rock that goes far beyond being a vinyl collector who decided to open a shop as a side hustle.
Chouinard is certainly a collector, but don’t walk into Purchase Street expecting to find the latest Tame Impala or Tyler, the Creator records—that’s what Urban Outfitters is for. Instead, the store specializes in the heavier side of the spectrum, with a selection built around metal, hard rock, punk, and other music made by bands that bring real instruments and serious volume to the stage. For musicians and fans who still believe rock should sound loud, dangerous, and alive, Purchase Street Records has become a vital destination.
Chouinard’s connection to the music doesn’t end behind the counter, either. He is also the drummer for All Sinners, a band that brings a formidable combination of heaviness and melody to the stage. The group has toured extensively, playing prestigious venues throughout the East Coast and even making its way to Los Angeles’ legendary Sunset Strip.
In other words, Purchase Street Records isn’t simply a record store—it’s an extension of the local music community and a reflection of the person running it. Chouinard lives the music he sells, plays it, collects it, and understands the culture surrounding it.
We recently got the inside scoop on Purchase Street Records, talking with Chouinard about the shop, his lifelong connection to rock and roll, the New Bedford music scene, and his work with All Sinners.
https://purchasestrecords.com
Purchase Street Records has carved out a unique identity by specializing in hard rock, punk, and metal. What inspired you to focus on those genres, and has that specialization helped make the shop a destination for collectors throughout New England?
For me, as an owner and businessperson, you should really know and live the genres of what a store sells. Since 1980, I have surrounded myself in rock ‘n’ roll, and I have continued it to this day. My relative, my dear uncle Bobby Chouinard, who performed with Billy Squier, Alice Cooper, and many more, started my obsession with rock ‘n’ roll and heavy metal.
What’s your personal history with vinyl? Were you always a collector? What first got you hooked on music as a kid, and which bands initially drew you into hard rock and heavy metal?
I collected mainly what my uncle had performed on. As a lover of music, I collected bands that really stuck out to me, which is the 80s rock genre, such as Cinderella, Mötley Crüe, Ozzy, as well as heavier bands from Metallica to Slayer. My father used to play records in the middle room for the family, and people sometimes forget that music brings people together in the masses.
Vinyl has experienced an incredible resurgence over the past decade. How has that translated to the hard rock and metal community? Are there certain albums you feel have to be experienced on vinyl?
I get this question all the time. I feel that vinyl records have never really gone away, but the collectors have. With the resurgence, there are more collectors and fans of physical media, not just vinyl but CDs and also tapes, which gives a certain collector or person a hobby that makes them enjoy life that much more. As for a record that everyone should experience on vinyl, to me. It should be a record that brings you a memory of a great time in your life. Which always tends to go back to most people’s experience being around family and friends.
Are you seeing younger collectors discovering classic New Wave of British Heavy Metal, thrash, and other vintage metal releases? What artists seem to resonate most with the next generation?
I see a lot of parents bringing in their kids, and the parents seem to push and explain to certain younger collectors, “These are the records you need to start with.” In one instance, I had a parent, very happy that his son was buying Mötley Crüe, Shout at the Devil, as he did with his father at one time. The bands I usually call timeless that I see younger collectors pick up are the obvious Black Sabbath, Mötley Crüe, Metallica, as well as classic records of UFO, Thin Lizzy, and, of course, Led Zeppelin.
When people bring collections into the store, what kinds of records are you always excited to see? On the flip side, what hard rock or metal albums have you seen so often that you don’t really need any more copies?
95% of collections that are brought into the store are usually picked through, or someone found at a yard sale or on the side of the road. The sad thing is the way to get collections. It is people passing away or a hardship in life. As a store, we will also always buy heavy metal records no matter how many we have. Still, I am seeing a stoppage in collectors buying 70s-era records, such as Rolling Stones, Neil Young, and Peter Frampton, due to aunts, uncles, neighbors, and grandparents handing down their record collections.
What are some of the rarest or most memorable vinyl finds you’ve come across over the years?
Probably 90s-era records are the most sought-after, such as Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Soundgarden, Alice In Chains, as well as 90s hip-hop; those are the recordings we would like to come to the door, which one time I fished a collection off the third floor on a hot August night. I worked for that collection.
All Sinners is an impressive blend of melody, heaviness, and top-tier musicianship. It has a timeless feel that reminds me of classic-era Dio and the kind of band that could have been a staple on Headbangers Ball. How did the band come together, and how did this album evolve into such a cohesive record?
The band came together after the world shut down, and we were a cover band before my singer. Michael Golarz had some songs written, and we decided to try and write a great rock record.
What’s it been like representing New Bedford on a national level? What have been some of your favorite touring experiences or career highlights so far?
We always say we’re from New Bedford because that is one of the major cities near us, and where the store resides. The great thing about this band is we’ve been playing for some time, and we feel that in certain places that we have performed many times, they are all our hometowns. Some of my favorite moments were getting a text from Jaq at the Whisky asking us to play. On that same note, I’m standing on the corner of Sunset Boulevard underneath the Whisky sign, and Tracy Guns walks up on me and says, “Roger, what are you doing here?” I said, “I am opening for you tomorrow night. Don’t you look at the openers?” Tracy laughed and said, “I don’t pay attention.”
Can you talk about your drumming style? Which drummers have had the biggest influence on you, and what kinds of songs do you enjoy playing the most? My drumming style is more a simplistic rock style.
I obviously took after my uncle Bobby Chouinard, Stephen Adler, and Fred Coury. Honestly, I really enjoy playing our original songs, but for a brief stint, this band, All Sinners, performed as a Billy Squier tribute band, playing music from the band from ‘81 to ‘84.
New Bedford is a city that many people pass on the highway without stopping. What are some things about the city that might surprise visitors, and why do you think it’s worth spending time there?
New Bedford is a lot of fun. It is one of the largest fishing ports on the East Coast. The restaurant scene is pretty amazing. You can pretty much get the freshest seafood, obviously coming straight off the boats. The art scene is pretty amazing, as well as the musicianship, and I really think this should’ve been more famous or well-known musicians out of this town, just like everywhere no one’s ever heard of.