15 regulars, drawn by the door

The wall
of ears

Nobody here is a customer, everybody is a face. We draw in oil pastel, marker and whatever is on the counter, then pin the paper by the till. Some portraits are calm, some are three people at once — that is usually accurate.

Press play on a face — you hear the record that was on the platter while the portrait was drawn

Hand-drawn portrait of Vera, 34, a Grove & Grain regular who listens to Cosmic JazzCosmic Jazzno. 1101

Vera, 34

I buy records for the second side.

On the platter: Second Side BluesLéa Fontaine Ensemble, 1974

Hand-drawn portrait of Otto, 61, a Grove & Grain regular who listens to Baroque & BoneBaroque & Boneno. 1104

Otto, 61

A valve amp is a small animal. Feed it warmth.

On the platter: Valve HymnOtto Brandt Trio, 1969

Hand-drawn portrait of Nour, 27, a Grove & Grain regular who listens to Dub CartographyDub Cartographyno. 1107

Nour, 27

Bass is architecture you can stand inside.

On the platter: Harbour DubNour Ayad, 1998

Hand-drawn portrait of Kira, 19, a Grove & Grain regular who listens to Acid FolkAcid Folkno. 1110

Kira, 19

My headphones are a second face.

On the platter: Bramble SongKira Fell, 2019

Hand-drawn portrait of Emil, 45, a Grove & Grain regular who listens to Concrete MinimalConcrete Minimalno. 1113

Emil, 45

Silence is a track. I pay for it too.

On the platter: Silence, Track 4Emil Náder, 1983

Hand-drawn portrait of Sasha, 38, a Grove & Grain regular who listens to Post-EverythingPost-Everythingno. 1116

Sasha, 38

Every crate is a waiting room.

On the platter: Everything AfterSasha Rue, 2011

Hand-drawn portrait of Ida, 29, a Grove & Grain regular who listens to Ambient WireAmbient Wireno. 1119

Ida, 29

Some records are drawn, not pressed.

On the platter: Drawn, Not PressedIda Lindqvist, 2022

Hand-drawn portrait of Bruno, 52, a Grove & Grain regular who listens to Free ImprovFree Improvno. 1122

Bruno, 52

I came for a stylus and stayed four hours.

On the platter: Free HourBruno Sarti, 1977

Hand-drawn portrait of Margot, 71, a Grove & Grain regular who listens to Chanson NoirChanson Noirno. 1125

Margot, 71

A scratch is a memory with a name.

On the platter: La RayureMargot Vellier, 1962

Hand-drawn portrait of Teo, 33, a Grove & Grain regular who listens to Library MusicLibrary Musicno. 1128

Teo, 33

I collect B-sides nobody asked for.

On the platter: Cue Sheet No. 9Teo Marín, 1971

Hand-drawn portrait of Anders, 40, a Grove & Grain regular who listens to KrautrockKrautrockno. 1131

Anders, 40

One knob is enough if it is the right knob.

On the platter: One KnobAnders Holm, 1975

Hand-drawn portrait of Lu, 26, a Grove & Grain regular who listens to Synth PastoralSynth Pastoralno. 1134

Lu, 26

Warm-up time is part of the song.

On the platter: Pastoral Warm-UpLu Chen, 2020

Hand-drawn portrait of Hana, 48, a Grove & Grain regular who listens to Gagaku & DroneGagaku & Droneno. 1137

Hana, 48

I listen with my eyes closed, always.

On the platter: Closed Eyes, Open RoomHana Mori, 1994

Hand-drawn portrait of Rita, 31, a Grove & Grain regular who listens to Sleep SidesSleep Sidesno. 1140

Rita, 31

The last track should follow you to bed.

On the platter: Last Track HomeRita Voss, 2016

Hand-drawn portrait of Mira, 24, a Grove & Grain regular who listens to Three TemposThree Temposno. 1143

Mira, 24

One song, three of me listening.

On the platter: Three of MeMira Sandoval, 2024