Some items available in Third Man's Garage Sale auction
Last week, Infinity Cat Recordings concluded its long-running tradition of auctioning off its excess stuff to benefit the Southern Girls Rock Camp with its final rarities auction. But iCat isn’t the only local independent label that can play that game. Third Man Records is throwing what they’re calling a Garage Sale — an online auction of a rainbow array of items owned by the label or by founder Jack White. Portions of the proceeds will benefit the North Nashville community nonprofit Gideon’s Army, the youth outreach nonprofit Detroit Phoenix Center and MusiCares’ COVID-19 relief fund.
The goods on offer run the gamut from totally functional to highly collectible to, well, parts you might use to soup up a lighting rig. You’ll find stuff to play, like a Yamaha keyboard that the late Ikey Owens used to practice in the dressing room or the prototype of the Gretsch Triple Jet guitar that White sometimes plays with The Raconteurs. There’s stage equipment used by White for solo tours or with The White Stripes, including a strip of plywood that was once his pedal board. See also an array of studio goodies, like a pair of channel strips from a vintage Helios recording console and a Mackie mixer that was part of TMR’s live-to-acetate recording setup for the first few years of its operation.
A drum kit that appeared in the Michel Gondry-directed music video for “The Hardest Button to Button” can be yours. Need a hat box? TMR is selling a set of 13. How about a Crappy Green Chair? Or maybe The World’s Okayest Green Chair? Oh, so you’re holding out for A Green Chair Worthy of a Messiah, huh? They're just a few of the pieces of furniture available.
Even if none of these items tempts you (or fits your budget), the TMR crew has at least made it entertaining to look it over and dream. See the complete listing of 121 lots via Online Nashville Auctions, and get ready to bid between Aug. 26 and Aug. 30. Each item includes a certificate of authenticity in the bargain.
