Record Store Day

This Saturday, April 19, is Record Store Day. Why should you take this opportunity to support your local owned independent record store? Not surprisingly, Nick Hornby says it much better than I ever could...

"Yes, yes, I know. It's easier to download music, and probably cheaper. But what's playing on your favourite download store when you walk into it? Nothing, that's what. Who are you going to meet in there? Nobody. Where are the notice boards offering flatshares and vacant slots in bands destined for super stardom? Who's going to tell you to stop listening to that and start listening to this? Go ahead and save yourself a couple of quid. The savings will cost you a career, a set of cool friends, musical taste, and eventually, your soul. Record stores can't save your life. But they can give you a better one."

Here in Nashville you'll have two chances to celebrate. Over on the east side, The Groove will be having with a massive sale featuring 50 cent LPs (meaning vinyl records for half a buck, not overhyped rap artists), $2 CDs, 15% of all used music, and 10% of everything else. They'll also have live music in the parking lot featuring a kickass lineup of some of Nashville's best indie bands... JEFF, The Nobility, Aaron Robinson, and Eureka Gold among them. Not to mention Panty Raid, Music City's finest purveyors the burlesque arts. For those who haven't checked it out yet, The Groove is located in 5 Points at the corner of 11th and Woodland, right across the street from 3 Crow Bar. Hit up their website for more info.

And of course Grimey's will be commemorating the occasion with one of their bi-annual Big Ass Sales and parking lot concerts. If you live in Nashville and haven't been to one of Grimey's daylong parties, you either hate music or live under a rock. If you don't already know the drill, you can find out here. It is worth noting that the band lineup is probably their most eclectic yet, ranging from bluegreass (Tim O'Brien) to funk (The Soulphonics) to the guy who wrote the ubiquitous "Closing Time" (Dan Wilson). Which ever store you choose to patronize, you can't go wrong. But if you really want to improve your karmic standing in the universe, go to both!

Sadly, I will not be visiting either of my local record stores on this particular Saturday because I'll be heading up to Lexington, KY to see Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and The Duke Spirit. I do plan on getting up there early enough to patronize their local indie store, CD Central, where both bands will be doing in-stores that afternoon. It should sound a little something like this...



Wherever you live, get out and support your local record shop this weekend. Because buying music at Wal-Mart sucks. Actually, buying anything at Wal-Mart sucks.

The Replacement - "Customer" (mp3) from Sorry Ma, Forgot To Take Out The Trash
Marty Willson-Piper - "Forget The Radio" (mp3) from Hanging Out In Heaven