Author Archives: TVD HQ

Ta’ Xbiex, MT | New Record Store/Hangout Concept Has Opened Its Doors In The Heart Of Ta’ Xbiex: Big Ron’s Records is a new record store and hangout concept that’s opened its doors in the heart of Ta’ Xbiex and its serving all music lovers some well-needed “beats for the soul.” “Big Ron’s Records is a space that was born out of a desire to create an atmosphere fostering inspiration and community. Visit Big Ron’s and embrace music discovery spanning genres and decades,” the website reads. The store is the brainchild of two local DJs – Mathieu Fabre, otherwise known as Mato, and Bengy Borg. The main musical concept of the store is to have artists play music that they wouldn’t be able to when playing their usual gigs. Friday’s have now become somewhat of a staple at Big Ron’s with different people coming together weekly to enjoy the store’s “fantastic cocktails, amazing fresh juices, matoasties, records and good vibrations.”

Dayton, OH | Downtown Dayton specialty shop Skeleton Dust Records celebrates five years: A five-year anniversary is a milestone for any small business. For Skeleton Dust Records in downtown Dayton, it’s a major accomplishment considering the arrival of the coronavirus pandemic two-and-a-half years into operation. To mark the momentous occasion, owner Luke Tandy is throwing a party at his specialty music shop on Saturday, Oct. 15. Tandy, a native of southeastern Indiana, recently answered some questions about Skeleton Dust’s Five-Year Anniversary Party. “…There is still uncertainty and struggles, ups and downs, but I’ve gotten the store closer to where I ultimately want it to be. It’s been a little slow, particularly now. Retail is slow in the summer with pretty much everybody, but it also seems like people are worried about the recession which is impacting things right now. But the holidays are coming so hopefully it will pick up again.”

Greenville, NC | The Cat’s Out of the Bag: Alley Cat Records Opens: What’s new pussycat? Whoa … an unassuming storefront in the heart of Greenville is charged with the spirit of the open-shirted, gold-necklaced musician. His four-disc set rubs shoulders with the red-headed stranger and Conway Twitty, hovering over Placido Domingo and John Denver like the godfather of chest hair. My, my, my, Tom Jones might have had to wait a few years for an answer to the question in his 1965 hit, but entrepreneur David Brown and local spazzevangelist and eclectic music curator Jeff Blinder are happy to provide one that’s just purrfect: “Alley Cat Records.” The record store opens today at 205 E. Fifth St., next door to Blackbeard’s Coffee. It’s the long-awaited culmination of a vision by David Brown, owner of David’s Used Books and Records at 107 E. Arlington, Jeff Blinder, the communications and events coordinator, and co-manager Dallas Dawes. A private “preview party” last Saturday gave faithful fans a taste of what is to come.

Toronto, CA | Legendary Toronto record store treated to new full-length documentary: For 25 years, a small record store took residence on Yonge Street to serve Toronto’s DJ and hip-hop scene. In 2016, the shop took over a new location on Spadina, surviving through a changing cityscape. On October 22nd, you can watch a special documentary made in this small record store’s honour, browsed by the likes of Nas, Raekwon and many more closer to home. Play De Record, owned by Eugene Tam, will be in the limelight on October 22nd from 6:00 p.m to 8:00 p.m, as Drop The Needle premieres in the city at the Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema. This documentary will showcase this modest record store that flourished and survived into the modern music era, where vinyl, physical record players and the like seem almost obsolete. Watch the story of how a small business owner became a cornerstone for Toronto’s DJ and music scene, with commentary from industry heavyweights like Kardinal Offishall and Maestro Fresh Wes.

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NY | Where to find ten thousand records, CDs, DVDs, in upstate New York: Poughkeepsie: Darkside Records A vinyl; lovers dream. Thousands of records, CDs, and even cassettes. Remember cassettes? Give yourself plenty of time when visiting here. They even have old turntables. Lots of related items too, like rock T-shirts, posters, DVD movies, music magazines and more. A multi-winner as “Best Record Store in the Hudson Valley. Located at 611 Dutchess Turnpike, Poughkeepsie, NY 12603. Buffalo: Revolver Records What is your vinyl pleasure? Classical, hard rock, New Wave, jazz, soul, spoken word, gospel, classic rock, and more. More than 30,000 albums from the 1950s-1970s. They also feature vinyl from Buffalo area bands. Two locations: 831 Elmwood Avenue, and 1451 Hertel Ave., both in Buffalo…

Madison, WI | B-Side Records moved 5,000 albums and a neon sign — carefully — to its new State Street location: B-Side Records’ new location will be familiar to customers. It begins with the nearly 5,000 vinyl albums and compact discs that late last month made the one block move to 514 State St. The wooden display bins were put on casters and rolled down the street, the vintage posters of Husker Du, The English Beat and John Coltrane decorate the walls and the more than 40-year-old B&W speakers continue to add ambience to the shop, that on this day included the sounds of Eerie Wanda, the indie pop solo project by the Dutch–Croatian singer-songwriter Marina Tadic. The most delicate move involved the blue neon sign that has been in the store’s front window since it opened in 1982 at 436 State St. It survived the trek to a space that is more than twice the size of the old shop, has better lighting, ample storage, wider aisles, more record bins and even a kitchenette in the back. “It’s a major upgrade in every way,” said Steve Manley, who has worked at the business since 1983 and purchased the shop in 2007. “Everything’s a little bit different now but it’s pretty much the same.”

Wichita, KS | The Record Ship drops anchor: The Record Ship, located at 230 N. Cleveland, is the latest record store to open in Wichita. Located at 230 N. Cleveland, the store quietly opened in August after extensive preparation. Featuring a selection of new and old vinyl as well as CDs and books, the store is open six days a week with generous hours to allow music lovers a chance to swoop in on one treasure or another. Owner Les Easterby says he’s long wanted to open such a shop and that his decades as a musician (with bands such as The Wichita Flag, The World Palestine and And Academy) have helped him hone his taste in curation. (Easterby is also a real estate agent.) He recently stopped by KMUW to discuss the store’s history. “…There are a lot of smaller stores in bigger cities that are able to flourish. People like to go into a place a couple of times a week, spend 30 minutes and find something they want. There’s a nice flow of inventory that comes in and out. I think it always stays fresh with having a smaller store.”

Norman, OK | Best of Norman 2022: Guestroom Records Guestroom Records started out as two friends selling vinyl records from the back of their truck at concerts in Norman and has since evolved into two record stores and a record label. This record store offers an array of genres and artists, like Taylor Swift, Pixies and A Tribe Called Quest. Visitors can sell their records, buy new and used ones, or order an album. The store has a laid-back, comfortable feel, with natural light, music posters and rows of vinyl records to sift through. It also sells cassette tapes and CDs and features a section where visitors can find hidden gems for under $5. Guestroom Records also hosts Record Store Day every year on the third Saturday of April. On this day, record stores around the world sell exclusive vinyl, like limited edition reissues.The company also has its own record label, and visitors can purchase exclusive Guestroom vinyl at its Record Store Day event. For all music lovers, this place is the jam.

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Lancaster, PA | Mr. Suit Records owner to close Lancaster city shop after ’15 years of wonderful memories.’ After 15 years in downtown Lancaster, the owner of Mr. Suit Records has announced his plans to close the record store by the end of December. Owner Mike Madrigale said business at the 118 W. Chestnut St. shop suffered during the pandemic and has been slow to rebound. Many vinyl record customers are downtown workers who don’t stop by the shop as often since they’re working remotely, he said. Madrigale said he will be selling off inventory before the end of the year and might close before Dec. 31 depending on how those sales go. After the store closes, Madrigale said he plans to get a “calm job that I can clock out of at the end of the day.” “I’m very sad to wrap this up, but I have 15 years of wonderful memories,” he said.

Fort Collins, CO | Choice City Spins: Old Town Fort Collins has a cool, new vinyl shop: At a spot that used to be a gallery, is another gallery of sorts: A record gallery. Just off the ‘beaten path’ of Old Town, yet right in the heart of it, you may find just what you’ve been looking for. It’s great to see that the nation is at a point where owning and listening to vinyl records isn’t “weird,” anymore. There’s a new place that you can stop in at, and pick up some great tunes for your turntable and listening pleasure, while shopping in Downtown Fort Collins. The next time that you’re in the Old Town area, maybe after getting a bit at Silver Grill, or before having at bite at Rodizio Grill, you’ll be in the perfect spot to check this place out. It’s on Pine, which runs between Jefferson and Walnut, not far from any of the action happening in Old Town/Downtown Fort Collins. How big is your record collection? Some people, these days, just have a select few. others have a collection of hundreds or more albums. With the way that music is widely available digitally, it’s good to see people getting back to “the basics,” of grabbing a record, putting it on the turntable, and just kicking back to enjoy it.

West Elgin, ON | Another spin for vinyl record show: Vinyl record enthusiasts can quench their thirst for new additions for their collections on the weekend. On the heels of a successful show last April, the Brantford Record Show returns to the Dunsdon Legion at 9 Tollgate Rd. in Brantford on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. “We were very happy with the turnout, and ended up having 320 people through the door,” said show organizer Paul Partington. He noted that the $2 admission once again will be donated to the legion. He said Sunday’s show will feature about 20 vendors, up from about a dozen at the earlier show. “I’m still working on the layout for the space. We don’t want it to feel too crammed in there.” Partington said record shows attract everyone from teenagers to retirees. “Years ago, the demographics were different, and it was only older guys that were showing up,” he noted. “It’s great to get younger people interested in the hobby.”

Comox Valley, BC | Record show returns to Comox Valley Curling Centre: After three long years, the event vinyl lovers dream about returns for the yearly deep dive into the magical world of records and more. The record show organizers Keith Parry, Dave Read, and Jack Tieleman couldn’t be more excited to bring the show back. Recent years have seen an amazing resurgence in records being made to where it has surpassed the CD. The once-banished format is now back as witnessed in the plethora of new record stores up and down the Island. The art of collecting records has become a thing. New pressing plants are emerging across North America. Viva the revolution! This year’s show returns to the Comox Valley Curling Centre with nearly 30 tables for the hardcore collector or new record devotee alike to delve into. There are dealers from all over Vancouver Island, the mainland and beyond. Some have stores and others are private dealers downsizing collections. Thousand upon thousands of records magically appear for a few short hours then ebb back into the ethers. If you love records this is your nirvana.

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New York, NY | Razor-N-Tape is opening a record store in Brooklyn: Celebrating the label’s 10th anniversary by opening a store. New York dance label Razor-N-Tape has shared plans to open a record store. Opening on October 21, the record store will sell the Razor-N-Tape vinyl catalogue, apparel, merchandise, DJ accessories and a mix of new and used international releases. The label plan to host a series of live and streamed in-store events and will be open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. “We see this storefront as the logical next step in our evolution; a place that will highlight our full vinyl catalog and apparel, showcase new music from our favourite labels & artists, and be a place of convergence for local and visiting artists,” Razor-N-Tape explained in an Instagram post. In support, a Go-Fund-Me has been launched to “get the store on its feet.” Head here to support the fundraiser.

Baltimore, MD | Mount Vernon Records opens as a ‘community store’ for all: West Read street retains a quiet mystique which harkens back to early Baltimore days. While walking past the cozy brick and mortar buildings, I spy an old-fashioned pub, a barber shop, a deli, a bakery, and a cafe. This little Mount Vernon enclave feels like something from Rick Steves’ Europe and less like any place else in the city. Nestled amidst the quaint shops is the newly minted Mount Vernon Records and despite a bit of drizzle folks have shown up to celebrate its grand opening on a chilly autumn day. Glizzy’s Hot Dog cart rolls up offering a yummy reprieve from the comparatively chilly weather with mustard, ketchup, or relish. I find William Hicks, one of the partners in Mount Vernon Records, very busy greeting old friends, patrons, and random folks walking by who are curious about all the new commotion.

Hamilton, CA | Hamilton record store owner finds rare tape of ‘lost’ 1973 Neil Young concert at McMaster University: ‘If any other store received this donation, it’d be in the landfill,’ says Chad Silva. Chad Silva, owner of Flashbacks Records on Concession Street in Hamilton, received a large donation of cassette tapes last year. Silva, 24, said most record shop owners wouldn’t have given the pile of homemade mixtapes and recordings a second glance. “I went through everything because I’m thorough,” he said. “Everything else was almost trash worthy.” That is, except for two unlabelled tapes containing notes in looping handwriting on the back of the set list for a lost 1973 McMaster University Neil Young show. “As a fan, I was like, ‘Oh my God, Neil Young at McMaster University. I never even thought he would play there,'” Silva said. The Sugar Mountain Neil Young fan website has curated a list of all the known shows by the Toronto-born artist and their recordings. Silva found the date of the McMaster show: Oct. 28, 1973.

The Animals ‘Retrospective’ getting vinyl debut: Twenty-two track collection due Nov 18th on LP. ­On November 18th, ABKCO Records will release, for the first time, a vinyl edition of Retrospective, the definitive 22-track collection spanning the years 1964-1970 from Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees The Animals. Originally released in 2004 on CD and SACD formats, the 180-gram black 2 LP set gathers all 14 US top 40 hits by The Animals and late ‘60s lineup Eric Burdon & The Animals, including “See See Rider,” “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood,” “San Franciscan Nights” and the transatlantic No. 1, “House Of The Rising Sun.” The set is capped by the 1970 smash hit “Spill The Wine” by Eric Burdon & War. An exclusive edition pressed on 180-gram orange vinyl is available at Target. Formed in Newcastle, England in the early 1960s out of the ashes of The Alan Price Rhythm & Blues Combo, The Animals moved to London in ‘64 and were signed to EMI’s Columbia label by the visionary independent producer Mickie Most. Influenced by folk, blues, jazz, R&B, and early rock and roll, The Animals and front man Eric Burdon seemed tougher and more brooding than their British Invasion peers The Beatles and even The Rolling Stones.

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Lausanne, CH | Swiss record store Legram Vinyl Garden to close end of 2022: Run by DJs Anaïs Liro and Oscar Conway (AKA Oscar VG), the shop isn’t having its lease renewed. Beloved record store Legram Vinyl Garden, located in a suburb of Lausanne, is closing down at the end of the year. Owned by DJs Oscar Conway (AKA Oscar VG) and Anaïs Liro, Legram VG sits in the sleepy commuter town of Renens. As Conway explained to Resident Advisor, the closure was inevitable. “When we moved into the spot we knew that at some point we’d get bad news, we just didn’t know when,” he said. “The local council who provided the building have been amazing with us though, we’ve had a solid relationship with them since the beginning. They come in all the time to eat in the restaurant downstairs and often have drinks after work—the mayor even bought a funk record once (€2). It’s just people above them poring over graphs, generally not thinking about bodged-up, second-hand record stores. We just hope that the string pullers over the next spot are into their tunes.”

York, UK | York Record Fair returns to city next month: A popular record fair is returning to York next month – with thousands of records available to customers under one roof. The second York Record Fair of the year is to be held at York Racecourse in The Knavesmire Stand on Saturday November 5. There will be up to 50 record sellers from all over the UK, bringing with them a selection of vinyl records of all genres. There will also be some CDs, 78s, music-related books and magazines, ephemera, posters and jukeboxes. Fair organiser, John Cox, said: “From Abba to Zappa, there will be something for everyone, with many rare collectables and lots of bargains. In addition to sought after first pressings from yesteryear, there will be recent releases of current music. Some stalls will specialise in particular types of music and others will have a wide range. “In addition to all the record stalls, there’ll be six hours of DJs spinning an eclectic mix of music, and jukeboxes playing for the final hour. “The first fair in April was a great success and this one looks like being even better, with even more quality stalls.”

Frederick, MD | 300-plus volunteers serve Frederick community on ‘Day of Action’ …Business owner Sam Lock was especially grateful for the support. Volunteers came to his store at 410 N. Market St. in Frederick to help transform what will be the new home of The Record Exchange. The record store was damaged in August after apartments above it caught fire, forcing Lock to relocate the business from 151 N. Market St. Thankfully, he found a new spot quickly. Customers donated records to help him refill inventory. He hopes to open Dec. 1, but much work is to be done. Volunteers primed the store’s walls Friday morning. Lock estimated it would have taken two weeks to do it without their help. When the priming is complete, he plans to paint the walls red, like at the old shop. Lock said he has been overwhelmed with support from the Frederick community, citing fundraisers and donations of vinyl records. “It’s incredible,” Lock said. “Just so heartwarming.”

UK | Beyonce rocks Rolling Stones T-shirt, blue jeans and cowboy boots to sign vinyl versions of new album Renaissance in slick new video: Beyoncé’s latest studio album, Renaissance, is already another huge hit for the pop superstar, debuting at number one on the Billboard 200 chart weeks after lead single Break My Soul topped the US Billboard Hot 100. As a result, she now has the distinction of being the only female musical artist to have her first seven studio albums debut at number one in the U.S. Still firmly entrenched in promo mode some two months later, Queen Bey made her way to a record store to sign copies of her record-setting album, looking casually-cool rocking a Rolling Stones T-shirt, vintage blue jeans and black cowboy boots. Still firmly entrenched in promo mode some two months later, Queen Bey made her way to a record store to sign copies of her record-setting album, looking casually-cool rocking a Rolling Stones T-shirt, vintage blue jeans and black cowboy boots.

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Toledo, OH | Record Store Recon reviews Culture Clash in Toledo, Ohio: The Record Store Recon edition of the Goldmine Podcast takes a look at the record store Culture Clash in Toledo, Ohio. The Record Store Recon edition of the Goldmine Podcast takes a look at the record store Culture Clash in Toledo, Ohio, which will be featured and rated in the Dec/Jan 2023 issue. Goldmine editor Patrick Prince and anonymous record store reviewer Dr. Disc detail the experience of shopping at this clean and well lit store. Listen to the podcast episode.

Los Angeles, CA | The 5 Best Independent Record Stores in Los Angeles: We narrowed down our choices around Los Angeles County, from as far South as San Pedro to as far North as Atwater Village. Record collecting has existed for nearly a century now but in the past few years, vinyl sales exploded. In 2021, vinyl records outsold CDs in the United States for the first time in 30 years, with 38.3 percent of album sales coming from the unstoppable medium. Thousands joined those among us who demand the tactile feel of a record and to own the album art and liner notes, or prefer that warmth of sound and crackle of a needle on wax, and of course, look forward to the weekend trip to a local record shop to dig through their crates—keeping an unlikely format alive and kicking. …Los Angeles is no stranger to a trend, and soon enough, record shops began popping up again all over the city. Vinyl sales also grew in the city’s flea markets, with special booths dedicated solely to records now occupying nearly every market.

Rochester, NY | Selling nostalgia: Rochester businesses bring low-res comfort into a high-res world. In the Rochester of not so long ago, pop culture nostalgia hits had to be collected piecemeal — through toy baggies at Savers, album bins at Salvation Army, VHS pits at Goodwill, and clothing racks at all three. Today, entrepreneurial collectors provide the city with curated nostalgic immersion. From vintage toys and comics to retro tech and long-thought-dead fashions and media formats, even a handshake from the voice actor behind a favorite childhood cartoon character — the era you long for is not far from reach. A handful of Rochester’s nostalgia-inducing shopping destinations…

Stroud, UK | Sean launches new record shop with a Klang: Owner Sean Roe explained the choice of name: “Klang means ‘sound’ in German, and a friend suggested Klang Tone and I loved it.” The logo has been designed by Sean’s Son, Akira and features a cat, loosely based on Enid the resident cat at Sound Records, a business started by Sean and Tom Berry. “The ‘klanging’ sound means that the music I’ve got is a little bit more abrasive or a little bit more edgy.” Sean and Tom went their separate ways earlier in the year, with Tom opening a new Sound Records store in George Street, Stroud. “Tom and I achieved great things over the four years we were together – Tom’s amazing energy and social media skills helped make the shop extremely popular – but I reached a point when I needed to concentrate on the music that was closer to my heart and so we agreed to amicably split – with Tom continuing with his plan to grow the Sound Records brand – and he’s doing remarkably well now at his new location,” explained Sean.

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Bellefonte, PA | Fez Records Opens with a Purpose in Bellefonte… Michael Fester had always dreamed of opening his own record shop. However, it wasn’t until he moved from across the country to central Pennsylvania that he found the perfect opportunity. Fester, the owner of Fez Records in Bellefonte, opened his shop to the public on Oct. 1. The independent record store at 2042 Axemann Road offers a mix of new and used vinyl records, CDs, cassette tapes, turntables and more. Products are also available through an online store. “I knew that there was a need for hardcore vinyl fans to have a place to pick up new products,” said Fester, who works with two distributors to keep vinyl in stock. “There’s something special about thumbing through stacks instead of going to Amazon or an online service.” While more dedicated customers could browse Fez Records’ shelves for hours, Fester hopes the shop will cater to music fans at large, too. After months of preparations, the first-time business owner says initial feedback has already been encouraging.

Salem, OR | New vintage drum, records shop offers a Salem couple’s lifetime of work: Vinny Galarce knows how music savants like their vinyl records packaged and sealed. Having spent the past 15 years selling vintage drums, he also knows which models people will want to buy, and in what condition. It wasn’t until two months ago that Galarce’s previously online store saw new life in brick and mortar. He and his wife, Lina Toledo, opened Drum Bug Music at 345 High St. S.E. on July 22. Galarce, 53, said his love for music dates back to the first time he heard Creedence Clearwater Revival in the third grade. He started playing drums and played in a couple of bands in his home city of Santiago, Chile. A fan of Kiss who became disappointed by the band’s foray into disco, he was eventually introduced to Judas Priest through their 1979 live album from Japan. “Since then, I didn’t look back. I’ve been into metal and hard rock forever,” he said.

The rise and fall of Tower Records: …The lesson from Tower Records that most stands out for me is about a special kind of capital that does not involve dollars but is still valuable. Sociologists call it “social capital,” which accumulates when people get off their couches, put away their screens and mix in person. At Tower Records stores, people came together in a physical space to share passions, exchange ideas and explore new content. In an archival sequence from the film, you can see a ’70s-era Elton John on one of his weekly foraging trips to the Tower Records on the Sunset Strip in Los Angeles. The pop legend is dressed down, holding a pen and notepad, a man on a mission looking for all the world like a discerning chef choosing his greens at a produce market. One voice in the film observed it was “as much social as retail,” with people “spending hours together at the record bins.”

Rochester, NY | Bop Shop Records Celebrates Its 40th Anniversary with Special Series of Live Jazz Performances: Bop Shop Records, in Rochester, New York, opened its doors in 1982 and has been presenting live jazz (and other musical genres) for 34 years – well over 1,000 concerts since 1988. As it celebrates its 40th year, the record store and performance space is in the midst of presenting more than 40 concerts throughout 2022. The Fall Jazz Series at Bop Shop Records continues on Wednesday, Oct. 12, with Concert #32: TRYYO, featuring Michael Vlatkovich, Jonathan Golove and Damon Short. The Fall Jazz Series runs through October and November, culminating in the Bop Shop Records 40th Anniversary Jazz Festival on Nov. 25, 26, 27 and 28. …Music is something that mends the soul, whether it be jazz or other forms. Bop Shop Records has created a listening environment that enables artists and listeners alike a chance to, as Hamid said, “come together with the combination of good intentions, good hearts and hopefully good music, and us all together to create something that is hopefully very positive and beautiful.”

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