See Also: In honor of Record Store Day this Saturday: Ten records we treasure. See Also: Wax Trax celebrating 33 1/3 birthday in April See Also: Download a track from Wheelchair Sports Camp's forthcoming EP
Whoever says the music industry is dead obviously hasn't observed Record Store Day. While file sharing has certainly dampened CD sales -- removing the casual music listener from the economic equation -- a contingency of hardcore record geeks can still be found thumbing through the bins most weekends at your local sound dispensary. These were the folks that were never too into CDs to begin with, preferring the assuring weight and sonic warmth of vinyl to the disposable plastic jewel cases that cost a nickel to make and a day's wages to buy. Record Store Day is to vinyl collectors what Black Friday is to suburban parents.
"I'd say between the opening and noon, we do an extra day or two of business," says Dave Wilkinson, manager of Wax Trax Records. "Most everything that comes out on Record Store Day is in limited quantities. We could have maybe ten to twenty copies of something, and then that's it. Last year I showed up an hour before we opened, and there was already a line around the corner. And I'm sure they were there an hour before that."
Twist & Shout co-owner Paul Epstein is enthusiastic about Record Store Day and believes this year's event will be their biggest day of sales ever, but he doesn't necessarily see it as the saving grace for the industry.
"What will happen to the sale of music is really unrelated to Record Store Day," he points out. "It is one day -- a very good day -- but one day. I don't consider this a holiday. It's a fun day where the record labels create some cool, fan-friendly products that allows them to strut their stuff. With radio, MTV, magazines, etc., every day used to be Record Store Day before the industry started changing. So this is just sort of a symbol of how meaningful it all can be when you have something that reminds you exactly how cool rock and roll is to hold in your hands and put in your collection."
This Saturday, April 21, marks the fifth anniversary of Record Store Day, an event that generates a larger buzz each year with more exciting Record Store Day-only releases. While you can visit the Record Store Day website for a full list of the special releases, here are just a few gems that will be on our list this Saturday:
• Afrika Bambaataa/MC5 "Kick Out the Jams" 7-inch • David Bowie "Starman" 7'-inch • Lee "Scratch" Perry Blackboard Jungle Dub 10-inch box set • Lee Hazelwood The LHI Years: Singles, Nudes & Backsides (1968-71) LP • T Rex Electric Warrior 7-inch box set • Tegan & Sara Get Along LP • Townes Van Zandt At My Window LP • Gorillaz Do Ya Thing (featuring James Murphy and Andre 3000) 10-inch LP
From Aurora to Wheat Ridge to Littleton, wherever you are located, there is almost guaranteed to be a nearby record store celebrating Record Store Day with a collection of generous deals, special products and in-store performances. Below is a rundown of all the participating Record Store Day stores and what they have lined up:
Absolute Vinyl Records & Stereo (5360 Arapahoe Avenue, Boulder) opens at 10 a.m. and kicks off an afternoon of live music starting at 1 p.m. with Whiskey Blanket, followed by scheduled performances by the Yawpers, the Alright Band, Monocle, Jamesons Co-Dependent Country Band and Dave Mead, Kurt Bauer, & Steve Goodman
Albums on the Hill, which opens at 10 a.m., will be offering free Record Store Day grab bags and will host a live set with the Yawpers.
Angelos is offering a midnight sale on Friday, April 20, that includes 15 percent off all new vinyl and 30 percent off all used vinyl (Record Store Day releases are not included), and the deal is good at all three locations of Angelos, Aurora (16711 East Iliff Avenue), Littleton (16711 East Iliff Avenue) and Wheat Ridge (16711 East Iliff Avenue). When the stores open at 9 a.m. on Saturday, you'll find free barbecue and a sidewalk sale on CDs and DVDs.
Atomic Records (340 S. Broadway) has a full slate of Record Store Day special releases and is offering 20 percent off all used vinyl all day Saturday, as well as hosting an in-store performance by the Yawpers at 5 p.m.
Arvada's Black & Red will be carrying many of the Record Store Day special releases and will be open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Local thrash band Gomorrah is will be playing an in-store at 1 p.m., and a variety of DJs, including Buncha Grief, will be spinning throughout the afternoon.
Independent Records is offering 20 percent off on all used music and movies, and 50 percent off all green-tagged vinyl, along with live music from a variety of performers, including Mr. Midas, Offbeat Revolution, the Voice, Andy Sydow, Julox & Ugly Azz Entertainment and the Yawpers.
Twist & Shout gets a head start on the festivities on Friday afternoon, offering free beer from 3 to 5 p.m., compliments of Third Man Records in honor of the Record Store Day pre-release of Jack White's new album, Blunderbuss. Special listening party of Blunderbuss at 5 p.m. On Saturday, the store opens at 10 a.m., and the first fifty patrons to walk through the door get a free grab bag of Record Store Day goodies. Over 300 special RSD releases available, with another free keg of beer from 3 to 5 p.m.
See TwistandShout.com for a list of exclusive RSD releases available at Twist & Shout.
In addition to honoring fifth anniversary of Record Store Day, Wax Trax has some of its own drum beating to do, celebrating their 33 1/3 Birthday with an entire weekend of live music. Wax Trax will be opening an hour early at 9 a.m. and is offering free tickets to its birthday festivities for anyone who purchases more than $33 worth of local band merchandise.
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