The Thousands

For some, heaven is a bearded guy with a guest list. For others, a place where 1000 virgins await. If you imagine it as a world of Fantgraphics comics, Supreme coffee and garage rock records then I’m happy to report that a slice of heaven has just opened in North Melbourne. Taking its name from the classic 1965 Sam the Sham and the Pharoah’s song and with a fit out by Hell Gallery‘s Jess Johnson, Wooly Bully is bursting with colourful décor and stock influenced by the fifties and sixties without being vintage or retro.

Mitch Marks, John Douglas and their pals had an idea about a place they could hang, listen to music and eat gin-soaked salmon bagels. And now their store is stocked with quality records – LPs, 7 inches and tapes – covering garage, punk and weird. The comics veer towards Crumb over Captain America and include vintage freak-outs and classic and contemporary undergrounds from Julie Doucet to Pete Bagge and Charles Burns.

Even Emma the chef is a record and comic nerd, says Mitch. And the name? “Well if any song is going to get stuck in your head…”.