Guernsey, UK | Guernsey entrepreneurs look to put a “fresh spin” on vinyl: Forgotten vinyl players left wanting on shelves could see the dust depart and the cobwebs brushed off, as two local entrepreneurs have launched the Guernsey Record Exchange. The initiative will see records of “lesser commercial value” sold at pop up shops across community events, with proceeds being donated to charity, towards global aid, and environmental causes. These records in question will have been purchased from second hand collections, repurposed or restored, and then select pieces would be marketed to international collectors and music enthusiasts. It’s the brainchild of Nigel Chescoe and Rob Roussel, and works in partnership with the Vale Earth Fair. “We wanted to build something that combined our passion for music with a sense of responsibility,” said Mr Roussel.
Birmingham, AL | Owner of Seasick Records in Bham talks aliens & Alabama Shakes: “…Seasick opened in 2013. As long as you want to buy physical media, we want to be the place for you to pick it up. I wanted to cater to people that wanted to pick up punk artists and metal and more underground things that you couldn’t find in most places and just be an outlet for that….I think it’s been going on for 17 years at this point, but it was basically created in a time where independent record stores were kind of dying out, and iTunes was killing everything, and big box stores were really just taking over. So, they created this day to push people back to independent record stores. There are all these limited releases that come out on Record Store Day, and you can only get them at independent record stores. We fortunately have some really dedicated customers that camp out overnight, and they make it a big thing, and it’s just kind of continued to grow each year.”
Accord, NY | Freakout Spot, a new record store, brings eclectic music to Accord: Rob Davis is seeking to do something different with his new record store, Freakout Spot. Since opening at 5059 U.S. Route 209 in late January, Davis, who lives in Stone Ridge, has stocked the store shelves with music spanning genres, languages, decades, and cultures. Davis, who is originally from North Carolina, was drawn to the area for rock-climbing opportunities. “It’s kind of crazy how much this area reminds me of where I grew up,” he said in an interview on Thursday. “My family is all in the Blue Ridge Mountains now, and it’s so similar that they have the exact same weather patterns as us.” “It feels like home, but I get to have rock climbing right in my backyard,” Davis said. A former teacher, Davis has spent years collecting vinyl and working in record stores. “I was always hustling records, trading them, doing fairs,” he said.
Richmond, VA | The Vinyl Crypt of Scott’s Addition: Wax Moon’s strange magic. Off of Broad Street, deep in Scott’s Addition between warehouses and alleyways, is a black hole in the wall filled with music, vintage VHS, and (perhaps most importantly) Richmond’s preeminent collection of horror-themed pinball machines. I came to Wax Moon on a cool evening, unsure of exactly what I was looking for, until an all-black, barn-like building loomed out of the cramped lines of buildings like a spectre out of the ether. Its door hung open, and the sound of The Cure’s Plainsong leaked into the street; a siren’s call for any searching for the gothic and uncanny. Peering into the Moon offers one a view of stacks of vinyl records, teeming walls of DVDs and VHS, memorabilia and stuffed horror-themed displays, the all-encompassing presence of a decade’s worth of accumulated artifacts. It appears dark from the outside, but my eyes adjusted to the warm glow of exposed bulbs once I stepped into the Moon’s welcoming halls—collectors milled about the record bins…
Logic’s Paradise Records Is a Ridiculously Fun Ride That Will Bring You Back to Your Favorite ’90s Hangout Movies: The movie Paradise Records is making its debut at the Tribeca Film Festival today, and I was able to watch it ahead of its release. The film was written, directed, and produced by hip-hop artist Logic, who also starred in the film, making his big screen debut in each of those capacities. In the movie, Logic plays Cooper, a record store owner who, along with his cousin and friends, is trying to keep the store alive despite unpaid bills piling up. While this seems like a simple story that we’ve seen before, quirky characters, star cameos, and a hostage situation with bloody mayhem makes the story unique in the best ways. It’s reminiscent of the ‘90s movies we all loved, which take place in malls, record stores, comic book shops, diners, video stores, and other small town businesses we grew up hanging out at.
Paris, FR | A giant vinyl braderie arrives in Paris: 3,000 records for just €2—and there won’t be enough for everyone! Are you a music fan? On June 14, A-One Records is offering a vinyl sale at knock-down prices! Enough to complete your collection and find some nuggets! It’s news that instantly puts a smile on your face. On June 14, the famous New York record store A-One will be holding a sale of 3,000 vinyl records at low prices! Just two round euros. It’s the perfect occasion to celebrate the two-year anniversary of its Paris branch. An XXL vinyl sale for just two euros: Get ready to heat up your credit card! On June 14, the hippest record shop in Paris will be celebrating its second anniversary at the Gallia bar in Pantin. Two years of music, two nuggets and treasures to be unearthed every week in this store in the 11ᵉ arrondissement of Paris.
Maplewood, NJ | Classic vinyl is the star of the show at record fair in Maplewood: Twice a year Elusive Sounds holds a record fair at The Woodlands. And twice a year, the venue is mobbed with record collectors. This year they had more than 30 vendors selling records, CDs, comic books, books, shoes, clothing, buttons, and other things. The event was sponsored by Jennifer McManus Real Estate and Furnace Manufacturing. The Maplewood Record Fair was started by Charles Maggio and Jennifer Klein back in May 2019. There’s a mix of everything so a mix of genders and ages can find something special. There’s also delicious vegan food, which Klein said is “Lovingly prepared by my sister-in-law, Deb.” …Gary Balaban is a friend of Klein’s who she’s known since the 1990s when they met on St. Mark’s Place. What Balaban enjoys about the Record Fair is the fair prices. “More music loving vendors as opposed to hustlers,” he said.
Minneapolis, MN | John Cusack dishes on ‘High Fidelity’ at Minneapolis screening: The Chicago actor spoke following a 25th anniversary screening of the record-store film at the Uptown Theater. Record shops have enjoyed a resurgence in the 25 years since John Cusack starred as a store owner in “High Fidelity.” And to the thousand or so fans who bought tickets to see the actor speak after a screening of the movie on Friday night in Minneapolis, Cusack himself seemingly has never dwindled in popularity. For about an hour, the Chicago area native answered questions and heard a lot of fawning over what that film and several others he starred in still mean to the attendees of Friday’s “High Fidelity” screening at the Uptown Theater. “Grosse Point Blank” and “Better Off Dead,” in particular, were singled out as favorites among his other films—but not by Cusack, who, it turns out, has a hard time ranking his movies or anything else.
10 Power Pop albums that deserve a vinyl release: Chris Stamey, Bill Lloyd, and other major label and indie acts make the short list. Somewhere back in the late ’80s/early ’90s, I recall former Goldmine editor Jeff Tamarkin penning an article for the magazine where he listed several top-notch albums that had not yet been released on compact disc. Now here we are more than 35 years later, and the tide has turned — the vinyl resurgence has seen the reissue of many fine albums on wax, but there are still several that remain CD-only. This certainly holds true in every musical genre, but let’s focus on 10 excellent power pop albums that have not yet been reissued on vinyl. In no particular order…
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