A few years ago, Isaac Slade, former singer of The Fray, was facing what many rock stars seem to inevitably confront during their careers: the tempest of relentless touring, coupled with personal and professional pressures finally becoming too much. After resigning as the band’s frontman in 2022, Slade and his family left his home state of Colorado and landed on Vashon Island, a place where many celebrities have moved to live a quieter life. They joined the likes of actors Joel McHale, Alex Borstein and John Ratzenberger as well as musicians such as Los Lobos’ Steve Berlin, Ian Moore and Rob Hotchkiss, a founding member of Train.
“People will approach me and be like, ‘Man, your son ran the 800 [meter dash] so fast yesterday,’ instead of, ‘Can I have your autograph?’” Slade said, laughing. “It’s a hideout for a lot of former major label lead singers. I keep meeting lead singer after lead singer who just kind of hides on Vashon.
” Although Slade wasn’t necessarily after anonymity like some of his peers, the “How to Save a Life” singer longed to find a community and set down some roots. That led him to open Side Stack Records, the island’s only record shop, in January. Slade crammed over 6,000 records, vintage toys and Tintin comics into the shop’s tiny footprint — appropriate for the tight-knit and tightly packed island community.
With a small selection of electric guitars and amps (and free lessons from Slade with every purchase), Side Stack al.
