Since forming the The Chunklet Music Preservation Project in 2022, Henry Owings has gathered a massive arsenal of rich and oftentimes overlooked Georgia and Southern musical history from Reconstruction times to the chitlin circuit, college rock, punk, hardcore, hip-hop, and beyond. More than 26,000 postcards, photographs, flyers, newspaper ads, and more have been scanned and added to the Chunklet archive.
This Saturday, December 21, Ella Guru Records will host an unveiling of a limited-edition postcard set documenting Nirvana’s first Atlanta show on May 6, 1990 in Heaven at the Masquerade. The 12-postcard set offers a snapshot of Kurt Cobain, Krist Novoselic, and Chad Channing’s fiery ascent. This was Nirvana pre-Dave Grohl, performing on one of Atlanta’s most storied stages.
“I’ve been fortunate to scan over 26,000 pieces of primarily Southern ephemera, and when special things come across the scan bed, I tend to take note,” Owings says.
“So I have any one of a number of collections that I’ve been given permission to use: R.E.M. at Piedmont Park ‘82, the B-52’s at Memorial Hall ‘78, Talking Heads at the Agora. But I just thought to myself if I can do this concept with any band it’s Nirvana—or the Beatles, but that’s impossibly rare—and let’s just see how it either comes together or falls apart. I’m curious to see how it does.”
Victoria Nicholson, a Wax ‘n’ Facts alum and music superfan, was at the show with her point-and-shoot camera, capturing eleven ethereal photos of Nirvana from the side of the stage.
Heaven in the Masquerade’s original location was around a 1,000-1,300 capacity venue. It is estimated that 150-200 people were in attendance for this show. It was a from the sold-out arenas the band would soon command on the heels of releasing Nevermind.
Kelly Stringer, another attendee that night, had the foresight to snag a flyer off the wall and a small calendar advertising upcoming shows at the Masquerade. Together, these artifacts tell the story of a band on the brink of stardom, performing for a crowd that barely filled the room at the Masquerade’s former North Avenue location.
Owings has restored these relics, compiling them into a machine-numbered edition of 50 postcards with a restored version of the flyer.
Stop by Ella Guru from noon to 3 p.m. and grab a set—along with a margarita or two. All proceeds benefit the Chunklet Music Preservation Project.
Ella Guru Records is located at 2747 Lavista Rd, Decatur. 404-883-2413.
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