Record Store Day is for browsers and buskers (and people who want free stuff)

Record Store Day (this Saturday) is the one day a year your humble independent record stores blatantly say, "Hey, get the hell on in here, people!" and we say, "OK, because it's hard not to look at you as the good guys." They're among the few remaining outposts of fun and discovery in our nation's downtowns and strip malls, and some of them act as makeshift ATMs when you've got too many CDs and not enough cash. Just about every store has the option of getting flooded with various LP re-issues and one-off 7-inches record labels pump out in honor of the national event, but most of Madison's establishments are doing a little extra.

Strictly Discs (1900 Monroe St. 608-259-1991): In addition to possibly becoming the only Madison record store to ever open at 8 a.m., Strictly will give away various vinyl-related gear (including turntables), beer, and "local, desirable" gift certificates, and offer various sales throughout the store, owner Ron Roloff tells The A.V. Club. A few DJs will be playing throughout the day, including Greg Hudalla, who, according to Roloff, spins "Northern blue-eyed soul."

Sugar Shack Records (2301 Atwood Ave., 608-256-7155): Not quite as early-bird as Strictly Discs, this Near East Side record store and memorabilia-pile will be open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Owner Gary Feest will be offering some discounts, and adds that "I think my wife's gonna make some dessert-type stuff to hand out."

B-Side (436 State St., 608-255-1977): Owner Steve Manley will be raffling off some LPs and CDs and putting together goodie bags for customers. He'll also recruit some buskers to play by the benches outside the store from 11 a.m. until 2 or 3 p.m., including "my son's band of seventh graders [The Shrunken Heads]" and local garage-rock/power-pop devotees Bob Koch (The Low Czars), Matt Joyce (The Midwest Beat), and Erika Zar (The Hemlines).

Exclusive Company (508 State St., 608-255-1077): Apparently, Exclusive Co. has lined up DJs to play from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., including shifts from locals Vinnie Toma, The Real Jaguar, and Wes3. It's offering a 10 percent discount to anyone who brings in a food donation for the Second Harvest Food Bank.

MadCity Music Exchange (600 Williamson St., 608-251-8558): This is the one local record store that seems to have a really firm lineup of live music for RSD. Asumaya (a solo project from Luke Bassuener, who's explored math-rock and all manner of world music in his bands This Bright Apocalypse and Control) breaks in the busking spot outside MadCity's door at 10 a.m. After that, the strip-mall sidewalk will also host spiffy local power-poppers Meteorade (11 a.m.), El-Tin Fun (noon), convincing-beyond-his-years folk-singer Mike Behrends (1 p.m.), and, again, Bob Koch and pals (2 p.m.)

Ear Wax (254 W. Gilman St., 608-257-6402): The punk and metal shop hasn't really jumped on the bandwagon—owner Rob Cleveland points out that special RSD and reissues fall too much in the "indie" or "mainstream" camp for the harsher tastes he caters to—but he'll be carrying the special RSD vinyl reissues from Pantera (Cowboys From Hell, Far Beyond Driven, and Vulgar Display Of Power).