Live music, cheap stuff, and surprises: A local guide to Record Store Day
Stacy Schwartz
Eclipse Records, before the rush
April 17 is Record Store Day, a time to tell fretful music industry executives, “We still buy music, just not from the same places where we get cell phones, jeans, or lattes.” So head to your favorite locally owned business and spend, spend, spend! In addition to stocking RSD-exclusive releases by bands like The Hold Steady, Sonic Youth, and The Flaming Lips, several independent shops around town are offering special events and sales as a way of luring the crate-diggers. Plan your Saturday accordingly.
Eclipse Records (1922 University Ave. W., St. Paul, 651-645-7724)
The St. Paul shop is throwing its doors open early—9 a.m.—which gives it plenty of time to get through its long list of special guest DJs. Throughout the day, local musicians including Martin Devaney, Puppies And Trains' Kermit Carter, and Heiruspecs’ Sean McPherson will soundtrack your shopping experience. In the evening, Red Daughters and Joe Hysell & The Dirt Road Ramblers perform, because it wouldn't be Eclipse without some live, local music, would it?
Electric Fetus (2000 Fourth Ave. S, 612-870-9300)
Expect an early-morning line: The first 200 people to spend at least $15 at the store will get tickets to a special same-day Solid Gold/ The Idle Hands show at Nick & Eddie. The Fetus knows how to treat its patient customers, offering breakfast in the morning (courtesy of the Birchwood Café), a cookout in the afternoon, and in-stores by Dr. Dog and Paul Cebar.
Fifth Element (2411 Hennepin Ave., 612-377-0044)
The home of hip-hop in the Twin Cities is giving its day a theme: Soundset 2010. Preview the festival’s lineup with live sets throughout the day from a bevy of artists including Eyedea, Dessa, and Prof & Rahzwell, take advantage of a 15 percent discount on all albums by Soundset performers, and enter to win a pair of tickets just by buying something. On top of all that, Rhymesayers CDs will be priced at $9.99 or lower.
Shuga Records (165 13th Ave. NE, 612-455-6285)
The Northeast store is taking the celebration online, offering a 30 percent discount on all inventory from its website. Which is not to say you should just stay home. Show up in person to get 50 percent off all used media and to see the latest installment of the monthly Short Circuit series, an evening of live circuit-bending and electronica by Tim Kaiser, FoodTeam, Exuviae, and Low-Gain.
Treehouse Records (2557 Lyndale Ave. S., 612-872-7400)
The store formerly known as Oar Folkjokeopus is opening two hours early (9 a.m.), and giving you good reason not to sleep in. The best of the recent used arrivals have been reserved so they can be “debuted” on Saturday. Plus, hundreds of used records will be marked down to $1. Treehouse workers also promise “surprises,” possibly ones they don't even know about yet: Though there was no plan for live music last year, that didn’t stop Knife World from showing up and playing on the sidewalk outside the store.
