On Thursday, November 13th, Easy Street Records played host to a special event during the West Seattle Art Walk, debuting the short film “Easy, Weirdo” and featuring a live conversation celebrating a remarkable piece of Seattle musical history: a meticulously crafted miniature of the iconic record store. The art piece, titled “The Corner of California & Alaska,” was created by artist Rosetta Greek to benefit the non-profit "As Many Weirdos As Possible" project, which seeks to capture portraits and stories of those making and supporting Pacific Northwest music between 1985 and 1995.

The conversation, hosted by photographer Lance Mercer, featured Greek and Easy Street owner Matt Vaughan, offering insights into the creative process, the store's history, and the profound connection the location holds for the community.

The Labor of Love: Capturing Easy Street

Rosetta Greek  also shared that she is a photographer and explained that she has been with Seattle Opera for 35 years and is currently the Lead Stylist. Greek said that the impulse to create the miniature arose during a team meeting about a fundraiser for the project. While driving home, the idea of building a miniature of Easy Street Records "came into my head". She realized that if she undertook the project, she "had to go big or go home".

Greek immersed herself in the details, pouring over pictures of the store and ensuring every element was local and intentional, from the figures in the windows (Duff McKagan, Brandi Carlile, and Sir Mix-a-Lot) to the materials used. The commitment required tremendous effort and engineering precision, particularly concerning the lighting. "I sat in front of it like during periods of time where I sat for an hour trying to f****** figure out how I’m going to light that marquee because I have to be able to access the bulbs should they blow out," Greek recalled. She even revealed her resourcefulness, explaining that the light inside the marquee was bounced using "the inside of a Pop-Tart wrapper".

Ultimately, the piece was a true passion project benefiting a cause she deeply believes in. Greek stated that the art was created "to benefit the as many as possible project... shining a light on to you know those that helped build our scene and it’s been remarkable to see the progress you guys have been making".

Although it was difficult to part with the piece, which sold into a private collection, Greek said her metric for success was simple: "if I make it and I like it well enough to keep, it’s good enough to go".

A Reflection of Shared Emotional Energy
For Matt Vaughan, seeing the completed miniature was profoundly moving. He expressed his astonishment at the depth of the work, noting that he is intimately familiar with every aspect of the store,saying “nobody’s walked down these the sidewalks more than me".
"Nobody has  transferred that kind of material energy into emotional energy for me like this, you know?" Vaughan shared.

Vaughan reflected on the origins of Easy Street, which he opened in 1987 in West Seattle after moving salvaged product from his stepfather's store on BelRed road on the eastside. He established the store amidst a "black market crash," noting that "every other storefront here was vacant". Vaughan intentionally named it "Easy Street" so he could "just move right in" without the immediate need for a business license. Penny Lane Records was at 4537 California Ave SW (where Mystery Made is today). Matt worked at both stores through his teen and high school years. When both stores went out of business at the same time he converged the remaining inventories, fulfilled the lease of the West Seattle location and kept the name of the Bellevue one. Then he later moved the store to the corner of California Ave & Alaska St, (former People's Drug location) created a logo and hired a couple employees. A Seattle music scene was about to explode and much of it was happening right here in West Seattle. He recounted salvaging the former Meredith's 10 Cent store sign (long time West Seattleites wiil recall) by puling it out of the dumpster, paying $100 for it from to the wrecking crew and putting it up where it remains today.

He emphasized that the store represents more than just commerce; it carries a deep civic responsibility: "there's also a responsibility and a duty to be the breath of life and the street culture and the counterculture for this neighborhood". This vision was born when Vaughan was just 15 years old, sketching out his ideal record store. He concluded by stating that beautiful things happen "if you embed your identity with those that you care about in the neighborhood that you're in".

The Communal Spirit of Seattle
Host Lance Mercer, a West Seattle lifer who shared his deep personal and familial connection to the store, moderated the discussion. Mercer praised the communal nature of the venue and the scene it represents. Mercer who gained fame as a Seattle photographic icon by capturing some of the most memorable images of the grunge era described the atmosphere cultivated by the store: "it really has a Seattle vibe in the sense that I think everybody that comes through here feels safe and it’s this communal thing that happens automatically".

He also noted that Vaughan is much more than a shop owner, calling him a "Seattle historian". Mercer appreciated Greek’s artistic drive, which she applies across sculpture, painting, and photography. He lightheartedly recalled his first impression of Greek, saying, "I knew I was going to like Rosetta because she was able to use the word f* in such a loving way. Hey, she told me to f*** off within minutes of meeting each other"

The event concluded with an outpouring of appreciation for Greek's remarkable work, which Mercer noted was "just stunning. Let’s just say that again. This thing is just beautiful. I love it". The evening celebrated not only the detailed miniature but the shared passion for community and creativity that defines the Pacific Northwest music culture.