It’s hard to believe Record Store Day is only in its third year, having quickly become an institution around the US and overseas, drawing thousands of audiophiles into record shops to snag exclusive special-edition releases and watch intimate in-store performances by everyone from Ani DiFranco to the Black Lips to Bill Callahan. It all began when Chris Brown, employee of the local Maine/New Hampshire record store chain Bull Moose, decided to give brick and mortar record shops a day in the sun. Having visited the flagship store in Portland, Maine, we can confidently state that Brown and his co-workers definitely know what they’re doing.
By now, you’ve probably heard about some of the kajillion 7-inch and fancy vinyl releases just waiting to be snatched up this Saturday, so we’re going to give you a quick rundown of the most stellar in-store performances and events happening all over the country, plus a chance to win some sweet Smashing Pumpkins merch.
Enter to win! We have three Record Store Day prize packs, featuring a Smashing Pumpkins limited-edition blacklight poster, Cage the Elephant EP, and a Record Store Day T-shirt and poster. Use the comments to tell us what you’re most excited to check out at Record Store Day and why. We’ll pick our favorite responses in the next week; be sure to enter with a valid email address, so we can contact you if you win!
Click below to find out what’s happening in your area of the country.
MIDWEST
White Mystery and the Puffy Areolas In-Store Concert at Permanent Records – Chicago, IL
Permanent Records of Chicago is throwing a shindig that Rob Gordon would almost smile upon, with live performances by early-20s Chicago brother/sister garage punk duo Francis and Alex White (aka White Mystery), and psychedelic chaos of Cleveland’s own Puffy Areolas. As WFMU’s Beware of the Blog points out, the Areolas win solely based on the fact that they have a singer named Krauty McKraut. As for White Mystery? They can make even Chicago public access TV look cool (see below).
Dr. Dog In-Store Concert at Electric Fetus – Minneapolis, MN
If you happen to live near the Twin Cities, you can make your way over to Electric Fetus and grab free coffee and breakfast before settling in to watch the sweet ’60s sounds of West Philadelphia’s Dr. Dog, who have charmed NPR and Pitchfork alike with their earnest harmonies and feel-good ballads. Check out a video of the band performing “Stranger” from their new album
below on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.
NORTHWEST
Exene Cervenka In-Store Concert at Tyrannosaurus Records – Renton, WA
If Renton isn’t exactly local for you, never fear! You’ve got a chance to see Exene Cervenka of legendary punk band X in more than a dozen other cities. Cervenka is going on a free tour in honor of Record Store Day, and folks at Tyrannosaurus Records happen to get the big show. Here’s a list of the other free shows she’s playing, all at record stores! Talk about supporting the right people.
4/16 Seattle, Easy Street 4/17 Renton, Tyrannosaurus Records 4/17 Seattle, Damaged Goods 4/18 Eugene, CD World 4/20 Woodland, Gearhead Records 4/21 Santa Cruz, Streetlight Records 4/22 Ventura, Buffalo Records
Zia McCabe (Dandy Warhols), Steve Turner (Mudhoney,) Allan Wilson (!!!), Benjamin Weikel (Helio Sequence) and Danny Seim (Menomena) DJ set at Everyday Music – Portland, OR
Wonder if Everyday Music knows it’s hosting the Great Summit of the ’90s and ’10s in the form of a DJ battle? If you kick yourself out of bed early enough, you can score some music-related comics and books from Floating World Comics and some tasty treats from Voodoo Doughnuts. Besides, who wouldn’t wanna party with this guy (Danny Seim) as the DJ?
SOUTHEAST
Racontwoers In-Store Concert at Third Man Records – Nashville, TN
The sweet thing about owning your own record label and shop is that you could give yourself top billing on Record Store Day, but you could also resist temptation and give the spotlight to the Racontwoers, as Jack White has. Yes, we still know how to type, and the Racontwoers are simply a two-piece made up of the Raconteurs’ Brendan Benson on guitar and vox and drummer Patrick Keller. Clever, ain’t it? Record Store Day at Third Man promises a barbecue, DJs, performances from “some friends,” limited edition colored vinyl copies of their new album
, and a chance to win the go-karts used in the “Steady As She Goes” video. Mustache and raccoon cap not included.
No Age In-Store Concert at Sweat Records – Fort Lauderdale, FL
Sweat Records is actually taking over the lot next door to their shop with “Sweatstock,” celebrating the store’s fifth anniversary and featuring their signature vegan cupcakes. Performers include locals the Jacuzzi Boys, DJ Le Spam, Raffa & Rainer, and LA punk duo No Age, making a stop on their way to Coachella. Comedians from the monthly Casa De Ha Ha series will keep people entertained between sets, and marine-biology collective Coral Morphologic will light up the room with deep sea aquatic projections. If there’s a better way for a record store to celebrate five years in business during the digital age, we’re sure not what that could possibly be.
Those Darlins, Janelle Monae, and more In-Store Concert at Criminal Records – Atlanta, GA
Want some PBR? How ’bout some cake? Live music, too? You’re a demanding little bugger, but luckily for you, Criminal Records in Atlanta has all three, plus the premiere of We Fun, the new documentary about Atlanta-area bands like the Black Lips, Mastodon, Deerhunter, and the scene from whence they came. As if that wasn’t enough, Those Darlins’ Facebook makes a great point about their 2 p.m. show: “We can be your hangover cure.” Check out a video from their 2009 album release show with the Black Lips below.
Eef Barzelay of Clem Snide In-Store Concert (Alex Chilton Tribute) at Grimey’s – Nashville, TN
Record Store Day without any mention of the late, great Alex Chilton would be nothing short of a crime, and luckily, Eef Barzelay of Clem Snide has stepped up to the plate. Of course, there’s no better city than Nashville to harbor a tribute to their native Alex Chilton. Aside from an all-day schedule of music, revelers can take a break in the basement of Grimey’s and watch films such as Lambchop Live at Merge XX, the Mountain Goats documentary, and more. This here’s where you’ll find the real Nashville Sound on Record Store Day.
Click here to hear Barzelay’s cover of “Nature Boy,” from the Big Star album Third/Sister Lovers.
The Drive-By Truckers and Langhorne Slim In-Store Concert at Harvest Records – Asheville, NC
Allow us to be subjective for a moment and posit that it is impossible to have a bad day when it involves seeing the Drive-By Truckers perform. Whether you’re drooling over Mike Cooley, grinning your face off with Patterson Hood, or wishing you could belt it like Shonna Tucker, it’s hard to deny that the Truckers are the embodiment of a good time. Plus, they should be feeling extra-comfy playing with current tour mates Langhorne Slim. Why not watch ’em outside at Harvest Records and hang around for some autographs and a peck on the cheek? Below, watch one of the Drive-By Truckers webisodes, released in connection with their new album,
.
NORTHEAST
Kurt Vile and Creepoid In-Store Concert Beautiful World Syndicate – Philadelphia, PA
While plenty of artists are celebrating Record Store Day away from home, Kurt Vile keeps it local at Beautiful World Syndicate, right in his stomping grounds. Our boy’s currently hard at work on his follow-up record to
, but he’s taking a break to lure you into the mother of all vinyl stores in Philadelphia, or so we’re told. And hey, maybe you’ll get lucky and hear a new tune off Mr. Vile’s
EP, coming out on May 25. Kurt Vile was also the last artist to ever open for Big Star (in Brooklyn last year), so perhaps he’ll pay his respects as well. Hmm, maybe we should go to Philadelphia on Saturday.
Cymbals Eat Guitars, Black Wine, Walter Schreifels of Gorilla Biscuits & Quicksand, and The Budos Band In-Store Concert and Andrew WK DJ Set at Generation Records – New York, NY
Figures New York knows how to party almost better than everyone else on Record Store Day. At Generation Records, Brooklyn’s Daptone mainstays (and Sharon Jones labelmates) the Budos Band will have everyone shakin’ it like Lower Manhattan is still the place to be on a Saturday night. If the stellar music lineup isn’t enough to get you moving, just wait till Andrew W.K. takes over the turntables. PARTYPARTYDRUNKPARTY! WE WANT FUN! (Note: Flavorpill is not responsible for your actions, so party hard, but party safe! Oh, and buy some records.) Example of the groove to be brought below.
TEXAS & THE SOUTHWEST
Roky Erickson Autograph Session and Zach Blair (Rise Against) as Employee at Waterloo Records – Austin, TX
The valuable lesson learned here is that you don’t need to pretend your name is Warren and wave a gun around to get a job at a freakin’ record store. You just have to be Zach Blair from Rise Against. Want to sign autographs at a freakin’ record store? Sure helps to be Roky Erickson and have a kickass new album (
) with Okkervil River coming out on Record Store Day. Art always triumphs over violence. And if you own a record store and wish all of these things could happen there, you may consider a location switch to Austin, easily one of the most music-friendly cities in the U.S. Waterloo Records is the place to be on Saturday if you hang your hat in Texas. In the video below, Will Sheff of Okkervil River picks Roky’s brain in Austin.
Yo La Tengo In-Store Concert at Rhino Records/Mad Platter – Claremont, CA
If anyone should know how to do Record Store Day right, it’s Rhino Records, one of the best chains of independent records stores still in existence and creator of ridiculously elaborate and wonderful handmade box sets (Vanilla Fudge’s Box of Fudge, anyone?). As for Yo La Tengo, despite their indie rock gods status, they’re never above a good in-store concert to pay tribute to a store/label like Rhino. Pick up a Yo La Tengo record (their
just came out last year) and get a lithograph poster for the show. And did we mention this is their first acoustic performance since 1993? Just saying. Click here for a reminder of how awesome “Cherry Chapstick” sounds without the ‘lectric.
One AM Radio, Lou Barlow + The Missingmen, Dum Dum Girls, Male Bonding, and Adam Harding In-Store Concert at Origami Vinyl – Los Angeles, CA
Sometimes you get lucky and Sub Pop decides to have a record release party at your record shop. This happened to Origami Vinyl, who will be lucky enough to have both the Dum Dum Girls and UK honeys Male Bonding playing live on the same day the indie kids can buy their split 7″, Pay For Me. Don’t you love it when a plan comes together? Doesn’t hurt to have a vet performer like Lou Barlow throwing his hat in the concert ring, either.
Charlotte Gainsbourg CD Signing and Jónsi of Sigur Rós In-Store Concert at Amoeba Music – San Francisco, CA
Don’t try and bring any old record to Amoeba Music for Charlotte Gainsbourg to sign… pick up a copy of her new album,
on CD or vinyl, and her limited edition Record Store Day 7″, containing live versions of tracks from the new record. Remember, you’re supposed to buy records tomorrow, ya turkey! If you’re not charmed enough by Ms. Gainsbourg, stick around for Jónsi of Sigur Rós, whose debut album
just came out. Sounds like the dreamiest Record Store Day ever. Click here to watch the video of Jónsi’s single, “Go Do.”
The Smashing Pumpkins In-Store Concert at Space15Twenty via Amoeba Music – Hollywood, CA
Here’s the big kahuna, ladies and gentlemen. If you want to see the Smashing Pumpkins on Record Store Day, get your fanny over to the Hollywood Amoeba Music, because the first 250 people to pre-order the upcoming Smashing Pumpkins Kaleidescope Vol. 1: Songs For A Sailor EP will receive a wristband to see their show down the block, plus a limited-edition blacklight poster created for Record Store Day. Check out some new tracks below.
Still not sure what to check out or pick up? Well, let Chris Brown fill you in below with some visual aids, and you’re going to be the most prepared little record-buyer on your block, dont’cha know.