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Notes From Underground
Here today, gone tomorrow. The 16th Note record store on 16th Street near Guerrero lasted just over a year, but owner Karen Carney was not sad to see it go. "I was a silent partner in 16th Note," explains Carney, who also holds the Chameleon on Valencia. "Basically, I just financed it. I like to think of the new store as an entirely clean slate." Rechristened Snapper Ticker -- the name is loosely based on a strip song by Barbara and the Boys -- it opened its doors in November and the clientele almost immediately doubled. "It's fun and wacky," Carney says, "and my staff is wonderful [many of whom double at the Chameleon]. People have really noticed the change in energy." "From Vintage to Space Age" is the logo that will appear on Snapper's Web page, an apt slogan for a store that purveys exotica albums, vintage clothing, and space clocks all under one roof. "We carry a lot of clothes right now, but we'll still be carrying the same amount of records," assures Carney. "Our focus will be on local artists and oddities. People that want mainstream albums can go to Tower." According to new Snapper employee Ronnie Rodriguez, a former head buyer at Wasteland, the fusion of fashion and music is a natural (just look at Madonna or the Sex Pistols). "More than anything, though," says Carney, "we want to focus on our in-stores," which will be mostly local in flavor. "That's where my commitment is," Carney says. The in-stores kick off Sunday, Jan. 28, 3:30 p.m., with Paula Frazer of Tarnation. Call 626-7257.

The Cat House
The record release party (pizza pies and all) for Jim Campilongo and the Ten Gallon Cats at the Paradise Lounge last Wednesday could easily have been a BAMMIES celebration with at least three nominated artists in the house -- Chris Watkins of Preacher Boy & the Natural Blues, Ralph Carney, and Campilongo. Campilongo, who also plays with Preacher Boy and Mental Revenge, was touted by Watkins as a "musician's musician," a point underscored by the number of them lending a congratulatory set of lungs -- Marky Luv, Watkins, Carney, and Gary Wayne Claxton. "I can see all the other guitar players in the audience [watching Campilongo]," laughed Claxton, "saying, 'Damn! I need to practice!' " Claxton, who announced at the party that he will be moving to Nashville in March, assures that "it is strictly business." "[San Francisco] is where I plan to settle down. This is my favorite place, by far." A farewell show for Mental Revenge (that's the Cats and Claxton all together again) has been scheduled for March 3 at the Stork Club. "It's where we all started playing together," Claxton says. "It seemed right to end up where we started."

By Silke Tudor