Sat 4/18
Record Store Day was founded in 2007 to remind people of the special experience of walking into a record store as opposed to downloading digital files or ordering off Amazon: the chance to interact with other music fans, exchange opinions and learn about new music from them, the opportunity to browse bins and find an unexpected treasure, and being able to hold in your hands the object you’re going to purchase.
The organizers arranged with labels and artists to put out special releases that would only be available at actual brick-and-mortar record stores, starting on that day. Often they were rare unreleased tracks, live tracks or covers that fans had heard about and long coveted.
It’s grown into a huge international event, and with many of the releases limited in quantity, has left some fans disappointed. And there’s been grumbling in recent years about how some of these hard-to-snag releases find their way onto eBay prior to the day at inflated prices. But Record Store Day still gives music lovers a reason to walk into a real store and talk to real people. If they don’t find that one special thing they sought, maybe they’ll find something else.
Music Saves, the Exchanges, a Separate Reality, Loop Coffee Art and Records, My Mind’s Eye, Akron’s Square Records, and Buzzbin and Checkered Records in Canton are some of the northeast Ohio stores participating. (Blue Arrow Records up the street has opted out and is sponsoring their own Customer Appreciation Day so you can still find two events going on up on Waterloo Road).
Here are a couple of things we’ve heard about. Tremont’s A Separate Reality, which specializes in used vinyl, will be grilling burgers and hot dogs, both meat and veggie, for free. They’ll also have Detroit garage rock trio Blaire Alise & the Bombshells on hand.
My Mind’s Eye Records over in Lakewood has something really special going on for all their brothers and sisters in rock. If you have been missed former WJCU host Mitch Capka since he quit his show Kick Out the Jams nearly five years ago, mark your calendar. Capka will be doing his show live in the store from 10am-3pm.
“Every song I play will be offa vinyl & the playlist will consist entirely of songs from the 1960’s, ’70’s, ’80’s, & ’90’s that I played on my decades-long radio show,” he says. “It’ll be five hours of total kick-assness. Furthermore, each record that I play will be available for purchase directly from me on vinyl on the spot.”
They’ll also have vegan donuts for sale.
And both My Mind’s Eye and Music Saves on Waterloo Road will be open at 8am for the early birds.
Photo by Anastasia Pantsios
Cleveland, OH 44110
Cleveland, OH 44113
Lakewood, OH 44107
Akron, OH 44303