- Tonight on WPBS Weekly Inside the Stories, the Spire Arts and Community Hub in Kingston is home to more than 20 arts and community organizations encouraging people of all ages to come together to celebrate the arts.

And Brian's Record Option in Kingston is more than just a record store and cultural landmark.

You'll find stories, memories, and a true piece of Kingston history.

Also meet Atom Ghost, the three man rock band, sharing their philosophy of creativity, community, and inspiration throughout the north country and beyond.

Your stories your region coming up right now on WPBS Weekly, inside the stores, - WPBS Weekly inside the stories is brought to you by - When you're unable to see your primary care provider.

The Carthage Walk-in Clinic is here for you.

Located off Route 26 across from Carthage Middle School.

Comfort and Healing close to home when you need it most - North Country Orthopedic Group is there for your urgent ortho or sports related injuries.

With our onsite surgical center and same or next day appointments, we're ready to provide care for patients of all ages.

Your health matters to us North Country Orthopedic Group.

Keeping healthcare local.

- We are the north country where protecting one another like family is who we are and where our tomorrow will always be worth defending.

Find out how we keep the North country Strong, at claxtonhepburn.org.

Today, - Select musical performances are made possible with funds from the statewide community re-grant program, a re-grant program of the New York State Council on the Arts, with the support of the office of the Governor and the New York State legislator administered by the St. Lawrence County Arts Council.

- Good Tuesday evening everyone, and welcome to this edition of WPBS Weekly Inside the Stories.

I'm Michael Riecke.

Over the last decade, the Sydenham Street United Church in downtown Kingston has evolved into the Spire Arts and Community hub with more than 20 community organizations utilizing this historic building, the Spire offers a wide variety of opportunities for both entertainment and engagement.

Before - This is Sean McCann, recovery advocate, author and one of the founding members of the iconic Canadian Folk Rock band.

Great Big Sea performing at the Spire Arts and Community Hub in downtown Kingston.

What was once The Sydenham Street United Church has become so much more.

The United Church is still at the heart of the Spire and its congregation worships there as it has since its foundation in 1852.

But over the last decade, the space has been activated in new and exciting ways.

Today more than 20 community and cultural groups call this historic landmark their home.

- When it came time to importantly, imagine how we might continue to own and maintain the building and fill it as much as we could.

You know, as the congregation grew older, we decided that the thing to do was to create the spire, to create an opportunity for union.

Connecting the congregation with business people who had a spiritual understanding of what the church is trying for, to develop a plan by which the building can become a community hub for all kinds of community activities at the same time that the congregation continues to worship.

- I was a production manager, technical director for 10 years in theater and then I, I took a few years off and went into fund development, particularly doing events and things like that for this job when I arrived, when they needed a lot of money 'cause they needed to purchase a lot of stuff like speaker systems, lighting systems.

So having that kind of background was really helpful.

And then having, you know, a decade plus in production management was great 'cause we're bringing in concerts, we're bringing in different theater groups and, you know, choirs and opera and stuff like that.

So it was a nice synergy of experience that worked well - Through the collective efforts of the Street United Church and Friends of the Spire Incorporated.

This historical landmark has been developed into a place where both religious and secular activities can be enjoyed by the surrounding communities.

- Yeah, I mean, Spire is a big part of our community.

They host over I think three, sometimes four meetings a week.

It's very essential.

It's a very, it's a very safe space.

It's, it's central to downtown.

It's easier to, it's easy to access.

The meetings that are held here are always take, we're very well taken care of by the people.

We're very welcoming and very accommodating - Because this place is, it's just rocking with different events, you know, there's always concerts, there's church services, there's just so many things going on.

It's a very welcoming building.

In fact, if you mention it to anybody, to a stranger on the street, and I tell 'em we're at the Spire and everybody says, oh yeah, I know where that is.

So that's really a plus for any small organization like us, isn't it?

And that's a bonus.

- An interesting point is part of our mission has been our building and offering it to the community.

So we don't particularly have the people power to do a lot of programming for the community.

So we offer programs in the community, the use of our building.

- So I don't do a lot of scheduling of events.

Like they come to us and they say, this is what we want to do.

How can we do it in your space?

Or, or a lot of people just come and say, you know, we have this idea, we want to do a comic con, let's say.

And it's like, okay, well what data are you interested in?

Okay, well we, we can't do it here.

And we kind of work on it and then we, we, we brainstorm with them, you know, oh, we need this, oh, we, there's a company that does that.

So we'll assist different groups with what they want to do.

We'll advertise to the community and be on and say, this is a place if you want to do something that's weird or wonderful, like, come talk to us and we'll try to make it happen.

- Well, okay, I think I represent a couple organizations here at the Spire least.

I started out as a facilitator for an art group through the senior center.

And I'm actually teaching art course as well.

And Chinese brush painting.

I had had an art show in the summer and had lots of art left over and no place to put it.

So I was complaining about that to Sam one day and he said, oh, there's lots of room here.

So I brought about nine pieces and they were sort of like a drop in the bucket.

And everybody liked what I had put up.

Everybody being, there's a lot of people that come in and out of here.

I particularly like the fact that the younger can Albo choir, the youth choir, they, I was actually hanging stuff and they're coming up and they're saying, oh, this is so nice.

Are you gonna keep going to the ceiling?

- Whether providing services for Undersupported, residents of Kingston, we're providing cultural experiences for those that love art and music.

The stewards of the Spire Foster an environment that is accessible and welcoming to all.

- You know, we have a program in the evenings called Helen Tufts, which pairs university students with young people, gives 'em dinner, they get tutoring.

And maybe this is our young people who maybe don't have that kind of opportunity to have a, you know, a tutor or one-on-one relationship with like a positive mentor sort of thing.

Like I, I I think that's beautiful.

I think, you know, keeping the church alive, it's beautiful.

You know, the Buddhists, the, so many of the different things that we do here, it's helpful, it's community positive.

And for me that's really exciting.

My profession or what I come from is arts management and, and production.

So, you know, getting the concerts in is a lot of fun.

You know, it's a tremendous amount of work to do it, but it's a lot of fun work.

It, you know, and at the end there's an audience that are enjoying themselves.

There's a band or or something like that that's enjoying themselves.

It closes.

Everybody is extremely happy.

And then you turn the lights off and you do it all over again.

You know, and that kind of thing is really, it's fun and it's challenging and - Yeah, - And I enjoy it.

So that's what motivates me - From the Spire Arts and Community Hub in Kingston, Ontario.

For WPBS Weekly, I am Guy Carlo.

- For more information, visit thespirekingston.org.

Well, for more than 40 years, Brian's Record Option in Kingston has been more than just a record store.

It's a cultural landmark in Kingston.

With his encyclopedic knowledge and passion for music, Brian has built a loyal community of collectors, artists, and music lovers.

Step inside this haven, and you'll find more than just records.

You'll find stories, memories, and a true piece of Kingston's musical history.

- It is a cultural institution, a place where music lovers and collectors can browse for hidden gems, rare finds, and classic albums.

When this record store opened 44 years ago, the focus was on selling used records.

And that set it apart.

It is still the go-to haven for vinyl enthusiasts.

- In the beginning, it, the sign said, Kingston's alternative store.

No, at that time, it was basically alternative in the sense used versus new.

In those days, every block there was a couple of record stores.

So the competition was fierce.

You didn't have the internet at that time.

So someone says, I want to be into blues.

So I would go and for an hour I would put records on and they would choose something and then we would talk.

So it started very slowly, one person at a time, but all those people are still coming in, - Can't - Read any of the other one.

So - I have - Now it's a third - Generation.

The shop is famously packed with music, treasures, stacks of records, boxes of CDs and crates of cassettes.

A sense of organized chaos that adds to the atmosphere.

At the center of it all is Brian Lipsin himself with his signature wild hair, encyclopedic knowledge of music and a gift for storytelling.

- Someone came in today for the first time, she was from France and she's on an exchange.

And the first thing she said was, this is crazy.

I said, crazy good or crazy bad.

She looked at me and she gave me a hug.

Character is important.

I mean, it's, this is the difference between a lot of the stores are neat and okay, that's fine.

But you know, people get into it.

They, they come into the store and they go, I'm too overwhelmed.

How, how can I, where can I start?

And I look at them and I go from the beginning, but people figure it out.

Some people come with lists.

And eventually I've noticed now, like Saturday I had quite a day and people never ask me for anything.

They, people were here browsing for hours and it, it was neat to see that everyone came in and got it.

- Magic happens at Brian's, the scent of aged vinyl, an old song playing in the background and the walls lined with history.

Through the years, the shop has seen countless changes in the way people discover and consume music.

- I started to come to Brian's in 1980 when he first opened.

Certainly within that, his first year it was my go-to place, right?

And at that stage I was really into the blues and Brian had a good selection.

And so there I, so I went, I knew that there'd always be something for me.

It started much smaller.

I mean, the blue section goes from here to here.

It used to be this big, but it's gotten bigger.

But it really hasn't changed all that much.

Always been Brian.

And it's always been a good selection.

There's always stories to be shared.

I've - Had albums since I was like eight or nine, something like that.

But they were always, they were always gifts at that point.

I didn't actually start buying my own until I was 15 or 16, you know, when you have a part-time job.

So that's what I started doing, collecting.

It wasn't until 1980 where I got into T-Rex, but I have over a hundred T-Rex albums and they're all, they're all, they're all slightly different.

I get all my T-Rex here and I actually, 99% of my record collection is from here.

- With the resurgence of vinyl records have been a way of bridging generations.

It's proof that no matter how much technology advances, the love for vinyl and the stories behind them will never fade.

- Just a, a year ago I had the chance to bring my daughter and my granddaughter here, my son-in-law.

And while I talked to Brian and did my thing, they went off and went through the store.

And it was a very, a generational thing for me.

Like I was even very happy to, to have them here and experience Brian.

They were prepared for what they were gonna encounter.

And - I think it's numerous different things.

You know, it's part of nostalgia.

I think it's a tactile thing there as well.

It's actually handling the record, you know, taking the record out and reading the, the music on the inside or reading the credits.

It's a lot of different stuff - For Brian, running a record store is about much more than just selling vinyl.

It's about the conversations, the shared love of music and the personal connections that come with it.

Whether it's a longtime collector, reminiscing about the first album they ever bought, or a new customer discovering the joy of vinyl for the first time.

These interactions are what keep the shop alive.

In an era of digital playlists and instant downloads, Brian believes there's something special about taking the time to flip through records, talk about music and truly connect not just with the albums, but with the people who love them.

- Yeah, you have to listen to people.

You, you, that's the trick.

You have to listen and you have to talk.

You can't just be behind the counter and just take your sales.

You have to.

'cause otherwise it's boring.

I enjoy talking to people.

I enjoy, I learn a lot from other people.

I learn a lot from other music that I never knew before.

But it's sort of a symbiotic thing.

It's not just, oh, you're, you're coming in here because I'm more knowledgeable than you are 'cause I am the store.

But it's a symbiotic thing.

- For WPBS Weekly, I'm Gail Paquette.

- We wrap things up tonight with some improvisational rock out of Massena three man rock band.

Atom Ghost shares their philosophy of creativity, community, and inspiration throughout the north country and beyond.

Here they are tonight with their original song Apathy.

- I'm Kevin O'Brien.

I am the lead guitar player for Atom Ghost.

Atom Ghost started as the idea of, again, creativity and the human nature of creating spontaneous energy.

For us it became music.

But initially it was me and Ryan Murphy, our bass player, just together, just having great conversations about life and humanity and what it means to be human.

And we both shared a love for music.

So Atom Ghost became that way of expressing those ideas through music.

Something I would really want people to understand about Atom Ghost is that it's not just about jamming in endless songs, it's really about the creativity of in the moment and when we may be improvising stuff that you've never heard before.

We are doing it for you in a live environment and it's your energy if you're coming to see us, that's really creating that You're just as much a part of the music as we are on the stage.

The idea of apathy isn't so much political as, as much as it is about the human nature.

So the idea of the song is about an apathetic nation.

And when I say nation, I don't necessarily mean the United States, but I mean humanity.

And I feel like as humanity moves forward, we've gotten more to an apathetic state of not really caring about what we're creating as we go and not realizing that we have the power to, you know, create reality right in front of us.

And so the song really stemmed from wanting to open people's eyes to, you know, there's more to pay attention to than just, you know, the mundane things of day-to-day life.

We are Atom Ghost, and this next song is Apathy.

- We the Stars and Trains and no answers in our hands, the Apathetic Nation and Wise Must Prayer.

Not enough.

You must take action.

That's a prayer.

Not enough in the prophetic nation.

Wondering and worrying, be living your life.

- Apathy that does it for this Tuesday night.

Join us next time for a fresh look inside the stories.

We go behind the scenes at the Kingston Roller Derby to bring you the story of this fun, fast, and competitive sport.

Then we head to Lake Ontario for some fishing, learn about brown trout and the best tips for catching one this season.

Also, Martello Alley in Kingston combines historical charm and contemporary artistic expression to create a unique experience for residents and tourists.

Meantime, if you have a story idea you'd like us to explore, we'd love to learn more.

Drop us an email at wpbsweekly@wpbstv.org and let's share it with the region.

That's it for tonight, everyone.

For everyone working behind the scenes here at WPBS, I'm Michael Riecke.

Stay safe.

Have a great - Night.

WPBS Weekly inside the stories is brought to you by - When you're unable to see your primary care provider.

The Carthage Walk-in Clinic is here for you, located off Route 26 across from Carthage Middle School.

Comfort and Healing close to home when you need it most - North Country Orthopedic Group is there for your urgent ortho or sports related injuries.

With our onsite surgical center and same or next day appointments, we're ready to provide care for patients of all ages.

Your health matters to us.

North Country Orthopedic Group, keeping healthcare local.

- We are the north country.

We're protecting one another like family is who we are and where our tomorrow will always be worth defending.

Find out how we keep the north country Strong, at claxtonhepburn.org.

Today, - Select musical performances are made possible with funds from the statewide Community Regrant program, a REGRANT program of the New York State Council on the Arts, with the support of the office of the Governor and the New York State legislator administered by the St. Lawrence County Arts Council.