by Bill Pearis

Discerning vinyl lovers with disposable income left after taxes and Record Store Day will be pleased to learn that the Brooklyn Flea Record Fair is back this Saturday (5/4) at Smorgasburg in Williamsburg. There are 50 vendors, with tables from labels like Domino, DFA, Captured Tracks, Merge and Warp, and also record stores/vendors like Other Music, Turntable Lab, Kim's Video & Music, and Record Grouch.

There are also a few specialty items available, like Captured Tracks' Cleaners from Venus Vol. 2 Box Set (which isn't official out till 5/14), Cass McCombs/White Magic 7" on clear vinyl, and that PAWS cassette that was only available at their merch table on their North American tour last month. DJs picked by the Red Bull Music Academy folks will be spinning tunes, including sets from Throne of Blood's James Friedman, Dean Bein (True Panther Records), DJ/rupture and more. Hours for the record fair are 11 AM - 6 PM and it's free entry. Smorgasburg gets insanely packed these days, so go early.

Full list of vendors, specialty items and DJ schedule are below.

Continue reading "Brooklyn Flea Record Fair returns to Smorgasburg this weekend"

by Bill Pearis

Bleecker Bob's, gates closed (via @pfpants)

We knew it was coming, but iconic NYC record store Bleecker Bob's closed its doors for good this weekend after 46 years in business. The official last day was Saturday (4/13) but the store stayed open till 5 AM, selling records till dawn. The space will reportedly become a frozen yogurt shop. On the bright side, the store is looking to relocate to the East Village and, according to a post on the store's Facebook, they're hoping to make it a done deal very soon. Keep your fingers crossed.

Meanwhile, someone found the original awning signage in a dumpster and is selling it on Craigslist.

While I don't think I'd been to the W. 3rd St. location in about three years, it was the first record store I went to the first time I ever visited New York and was enough of an institution to be involved in a Seinfeld episode. You can watch a clip from that, along with a documentary about the store, below.

Continue reading "Bleecker Bob's, RIP (though new EV location soon?)"

"Music and DVD retailer HMV said it was calling in the administrators after a last-ditch attempt to secure funding failed, bringing the curtain down on one of Britain's best-known high street retail stores.

The accounting firm Deloitte has been named as the administrator and intends to keep the business running while it seeks a potential buyer, HMV said in a statement late on Monday." [Reuters]

---

oh man:

The WFMU Record Fair is cancelled due to Hurricane Sandy. All dealers will be refunded their payments, and the Fair will return in the Fall of 2013. We're very sorry about this, but the Pavilion has no power, WFMU has no power, mass transit in NYC is still not working and there are no estimates as to when electric or transit will return to normal. Our apologies to anybody who is inconvenienced by this.

The record fair was set to happen from 11/2-11/4. Meanwhile, Other Music is also closed and their website is down.

Happy Halloween!

On October 6, The Brooklyn Flea's Smorgasburg in Williamsburg will move aside the uinoa falafels, huaraches, lobster rolls, and doughnuts to make room for vinyl... it's another edition of the Brooklyn Flea Record Fair. The fall incarnation will play host to 32 vendors including labels like 4AD, Captured Tracks, DFA, Merge, Mexican Summer, XL, Warp, True Panther, and many many more.

In addition, look for private collectors to be on hand to peddle their new and used wares, as well as traditional record stores like Coop 87, Other Music, Halcyon, and Mondo Kim's to set up satellite stores for the day. It all goes down from 11AM to 6PM at 27 North 6th St. (Kent Ave and East River).

More details, including a list of participating labels, are below.

Continue reading "Brooklyn Flea Record Fair returns for fall edition"

by BBG

At first, they were just crates full of records, numbering in the thousands. But after digging through their contents, Jeff Bubeck learned he'd stumbled upon something special: what he says is the personal record collection of late Detroit hip-hop producer J Dilla.

Bubeck, one of the owners of Royal Oak record store UHF, is selling the records in his store. They come with yellow tags that identify them as part of Dilla's personal stash.

"Is it even possible?" That was Bubeck's first reaction when he learned the 7,000-8,000 records he acquired from an abandoned storage unit in Clinton Township last month may have belonged to Dilla, the celebrated producer and founding member of Slum Village who died in 2006 at age 32 due to complications from lupus.

When first digging through the crates, amid the mountains of 94-cent Earth, Wind & Fire LPs, Bubeck noticed a box of cassette tapes, labeled in black marker as "Jaydee Beats." There were also lyric booklets, along with magazines and pieces of junk mail addressed to James Yancey, as well as to his parents, Beverly and Maureen Yancey. -[Detroit News]

I wonder if the Bobby Caldwell, Ahmad Jamal, James Brown and Stan Getz records that formed the basis of early classics like Slum Village's Fantastic Vol 2 LP, The Pharcyde's "Runnin'", Common's "The Light" and De La Soul's "Stakes is High" are in those piles. Dilla, you are still missed.

P.S. before any more of those records are sold, someone get in there and document that collection, maybe for an online museum? (Questlove are you reading this?)

by Andrew Marinaccio

This Saturday (4/21) marks the 5th annual Record Store Day, and with it comes another chance to procure your favorite band's most exclusive (or oddest) musical releases yet. There will also once again be lots of in-shop events.

No matter where you are located (in the U.S., UK, Germany or Belgium) (like Chicago maybe?), you should be able to find a still-open record store near you that will be selling the good schwag and possibly throwing a party too. As we've been, we'll continue to highlight some of the NYC stores, along with what you might find in them.

Aside from selling fresh rarities, NYC's Other Music is celebrating with a live lineup of DJs featuring Four Tet, Black Dice, The Men (who appear on a Sacred Bones RSD comp), Ex Cops, and Wild Nothing. Other Music will exclusively sell Ex Cops's debut 7", "I Am the Lion, You Are the Lamb," which is relasing on their Other music label. Other Music is set to open to the public at 11 a.m. Saturday morning (which gives you time to hit other record stores who open even earlier, first).

Kim's Video & Music looks to attract the early birds with an 8 a.m.opening and live and/or DJ sets by MUSH1, X-ray Eyeballs, Prince Rama, and more. In addition to the gig there will be discount offers, "over 150" record store day exclusives, pizza and beer. Maybe you'll find a copy of the, a day late for 4/20, Lee "Scratch" Perry Blackboard Jungle Dub Limited Edition Box...

The West Village's Generation Records has a show of their own planned, with The Paul Collins Beat, Supertouch, Night Birds, and Joyce Manor performing, as well as DJ sets by Tom Scharpling, Three Chord Monte, Zachary Lipez, and Mikey Post. They will also be selling a variant of Supertouch's Lost My Way EP, which will feature shop-exclusive cover art. Generation Records is pegged on opening at 10 a.m. this Saturday.

Williamsburg shop Sound Fix will host Mates of State for a gig and meet-and-greet on Saturday night. The band's 2009 covers album, Crushes, will be released for the first time on vinyl as a Record Store Day exclusive. Sound Fix opens at 10:30 a.m.

Amid touring, Portugal. The Man, who have a RSD 7" of their own, are playing an in-store set this Saturday at Fords, New Jersey's Vintage Vinyl. The shop's also opening early at 8 a.m., and their stock's boasting reiusses of Graceland and Raw Power, as well as Iggy and the Stooges' LP picture disc of their ATP 2010 performance of the seminal album.

Long Island's Looney Tunes Records is featuring a trio of free acts by Grace Read, The Lumineers, and JuiceheaD and Osaka Popstar, who are bringing their collaborative 7" "Waiting Room" exclusively to the shop. The show will start at 1 that afternoon, but shoppers can begin at 9 a.m. if they're "VIP Members" (to inquire what that means, check here). Doors will open to the general public at 10 a.m.

Local giant J&R Music World will house acts starting at noon, including Everest, Yann Tiersen, Mike Doughty, and guitarist Doyle Dykes. The insitution will also demonstrate some tech to attendees, showcasing the features of the new audio software suite Roland R-MIX. Miles Davis' (who has a special Record Store Day compilation, "Forever Miles," planned for release) nephew, Vince Wilburn, Jr., will also be making an appearance.

Permanent Records in Brooklyn will host in-stores by Memoryhouse and Mattison.

Cake Shop says "the CAPESHOK RECORD MART back for one day only!" and are hosting a performance by the Hairs at 3pm.

Check Record Store Day's site or call your local record store to find more happenings.

Of course, there will be precious records found at a variety of independent shops across the country, including the more exotic collaborations that have been hyped as blog post oddities. Fiest and Mastodon's (or 'Fiestodon') will be releasing their split 7" featuring both acts covering songs from each other's 2011 studio releases, Metals and The Hunter, respectively. Listeners can look forward to hearing Feist's rendition of "Black Tongue" and Mastodon's turn on "A Commotion".

Mastodon also-- perhaps inevitably-- succumbed to the bidding of current off-kilter audio project warlocks The Flaming Lips for another split 7", where they'll cover the Lip's "A Spoonful Weighs A Ton." While the Lip's contribution to the baby pink record is their original track recording, fear not, for the band has a more outlandish and sprawling album ready for the big day. The Flaming Lips and Heady Fwends, the mistifying mega-collaboration they've been working on with Bon Iver, Prefuse 73, Yoko Ono, Chris Martin, Nick Cave, Ke$ha, and more, features new tracks with the aforementioned guests including their previous work with Neon Indian and Lightning Bolt. And, as if the music wasn't enough, Wayne Coyne has been amassing the blood of his fellow collaborators to somehow infuse into the record. At the very least, Alan Palomo, Justin Vernon, The Flaming Lips, and Kesha's blood could be in your copy.

St. Vincent plans on releasing a red 7" sided with two new tracks, "KROKODIL" and "GROT." Reportedly more guitar-driven and aggressive departures from her previous material, her debut of "KROKODIL" at Coachella attests to that, possesing a relentless savagery often only hinted at in her nervous yet controlled guitarwork. It also attempts to channel whatever demons she found covering Big Black for 'Our Band Can be Your Life.' You can download her Coachella performance of "KROKODIL" here.

Speaking of bands playing Coachella, Refused are putting out 1998's The Shape of Punk to Come as a limited edition colored LP on Record Store Day. Pair it with a yellow vinyl Snapcase 12".

Speaking of things to come, Record Store Day is also used to tease what's on the way. Garbage (who are paying a special Record Store Day visit to Austin) are releasing their first new physical single in almost ten years with "Blood For Poppies" in anticipation of their reunion album this spring. Public Image Ltd. came out of the woodwork to present an EP featuring their latest release of new material in 20 years, including single "One Drop." And Faith No More frontman Mike Patton is reissuing his side-project Tomahawk's entire studio output in a boxset designed with space for the band's upcoming summer LP.

Other RSD 2012 releases previously mentioned on BV include Nick Waterhouse/Allah-Lahs, Mark Sultan, Pussy Galore, JEFF the Brotherhood, Sigur Ros, Xiu Xiu/Dirty Beaches, Nobunny and Variety Lights. Others we haven't mentioned yet include the White Stripes, the Black Keys, Regina Spektor, Tortoise, The Hives, Wilco, Animal Collective, Beach House, Bonnie Prince Billy, Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, Captain Beefheart, Destroyer, Jimmy Fallon, Laura Marling, Leonard Cohen, Luna, M Ward, M83, Mclusky, Minus the Bear, Misfits (red, blue and clear vinyl), Ozzy, Phish, Ryan Adams, T. Rex, Tegan & Sara, The Clash, and many more. For a full list of RSD 2012 releases, with more info on each, check HERE.

For our Chicago readers, you can check out what your local record shops are up to this Saturday, including a BV Chicago-presented event at Saki, here.

Which releases are you most excited for this Record Store Day? Check out what NPR decided to highlight, like the previously mentioned Shabazz Palaces release, HERE. Watch Cris Brown give his annual Record Store Day show and tell, and other videos below...

Continue reading "your guide to Record Store Day 2012"

NYC record store Other Music just announced their full Record Store Day 2012 schedule, which includes Ex Cops and more. Check it out below...

Continue reading "Other Music on Record Store Day 2012"

THIS:

Rough Trade Retail Group (RTRG) proudly announces the forthcoming opening of Rough Trade NYC, Williamsburg, New York, USA.

Due to open in Autumn this year, Rough Trade NYC will offer a large saturnalia for music lovers of all ages (even larger than multi-award winning Rough Trade East, London, UK).

In addition to being a place to discover, browse, debate and purchase the finest recorded music, Rough Trade NYC will partner with The Bowery Presents to feature a live performance area for in-store gigs, as well as operating at night as an intimate live music venue. The Bowery Presents has a strong history of operating first class concert venues including the Music Hall of Williamsburg located in the same neighborhood as Rough Trade NYC.

Rough Trade NYC will pay particular attention to its transatlantic dynamic by linking-up with Rough Trade's London stores, encouraging customers (and artists) in each country to interact across the ocean.

"At long last, we can finally confirm the next bold step in our evolution" says Rough Trade's co-owner, Stephen Godfroy. "We're extremely excited at the prospect of handing over the 'blank canvas', that is a Rough Trade store, to the music lovers of New York, allowing them make it their own culture agora, just as the people of London have so successfully achieved, with downturn-defying results."

"The Bowery Presents has always maintained a commitment to developing artists at the inception of their career, with Rough Trade NYC we have that opportunity in an exciting neighborhood and we are excited about the retail store and venue combination concept" says John Moore, partner, The Bowery Presents.

Rough Trade NYC also heralds the forthcoming arrival of a US version of the new, soon to launch, roughtrade.com online store, which will offer MP3 downloads alongside CD and vinyl, complete with subscription services.

Further exciting details will be announced in the months to come.

Stay tuned.

this image will soon only exist in pictures (and Seinfeld)...

The NY Times reports:

Bleecker Bob's will close its store at 118 West Third Street at the end of April, according to a manager, Chris Wiedener.

"It's kind of disappointing," said Giancarlo Caccamo, 19, a customer at Bleecker Bob's on Thursday evening, upon learning the news. The vinyl records that pack the wooden bins and milk crates in the cluttered, narrow space are an increasingly endangered species, said Mr. Caccamo, who was in search of a record by Mott the Hoople.

The store's closing seemed to sound a death knell for vinyl itself. "I just love the warm fuzz that you get," he said. "There's nothing like that sound."

Javier Medina, 43, who began shopping at Bleecker Bob's in the 1970s and has worked there as a salesman for the last decade, was more concerned about the loss of a piece of history. "This place should be a landmark," he said while chatting with Gary Rookard, 53, who sells glass pipes on a table outside. "Everybody in the world knows it."

BUT NOTE, despite what you may have heard, the NY Times posted an update to their story that reads "While a manager at Bleecker Bob's said it would become a Starbucks, the company says it will not open a store there."

Watch the Beastie Boys video "Open Letter to NY" (Bob's shoutout included), below...

Continue reading "Bleecker Bob's closing (but not becoming a Starbucks)"

by BBG

Pop 1280 mine the dark chasms of punk and no-wave on their new LP The Horror, due on Sacred Bones on January 24th. The band previously released the song "Bodies In The Dunes" from that album, and we are now proud to premiere another track today called "New Electronix". Stream both below.

Pop 1280 have THREE NYC shows scheduled for the next couple of months. Most imminently, the band will play Sunday at Music Hall of Williamsburg (1/22) with Pissed Jeans & Protect-U. Tickets are still available. The band will ALSO play a record release show that week at the WIERD party at Home Sweet Home on January 25th with DJs Caleb Braaten (of Sacred Bones) + Glenn Maryansky (of Cult of Youth), more details are available at the Facebook invite. Last but not least, look for Pop 1280 at Saint Vitus on March 3rd with Velvet Condom and Bootblacks. Tickets are on sale.

Speaking of Cult of Youth, vocalist/guitarist Sean Ragon will re-open his record store Heaven Street on Friday (1/20). The opening of the new location (184 Noll St, near Flushing Ave, off the Morgan L) will be accompanied by free beer, and DJ sets from Glenn Maryansky, Sybil Disobedience, Chris Prorock, Ning Nong and Gasface. The grand re-opening kicks off at 4PM and more details are available at the Facebook invite.

All streams and some video is below.

Continue reading "Pop. 1280 prepare 'The Horror' (song premiere) & a trio of NYC shows (one with Pissed Jeans); Heaven Street re-opening"

Kemado/Mexican Summer opened Co-op 87 in October 2009 to to sell their own records and others from local labels like Captured Tracks, Rvng, Minimal Wave, and Group Tightener. The store has now expanded. In their words...

While the shop was a great experience, it was time to expand the opportunity to create a space that not only carried our labels and friends, but also to be a major source of used collector pieces, rarities, concert bootlegs at great prices.

We give you, the new, irreverent, mighty record head-filled haunt: CO-OP 87-redone and waiting to be dug into with lasting hang power.

With the help of- Mike Sniper, Keith Abrahamsson, and Mike Catalano (credits including running the local record labels Mexican Summer and Captured Tracks, as well as formerly operating shops like Academy Records in Brooklyn) the relaunch of CO-OP 87 has been a grand curation. Using taste and experience they've warped the space into a true record buying destination. Starting with donations from major album collectors and estate sales all over the country, Co-Op 87 is a sweet addition to an ever growing neighborhood, filled with an oasis of handpicked vinyl ranging from all genres and time.

Yay for a record store opening instead of closing. Co-op 87, at 87 Guernsey in Brooklyn, NY, is open Monday-Saturday 11AM-7PM and Sunday 12PM-7PM.

"After announcing the closing of their New York and Los Angeles locations, Fat Beats is excited to present a send-off worthy of their hip-hop legacy. A week-long series of in-store performances and music industry panels at both stores will allow the music community to not only learn about the history of Fat Beats and what the future of the music industry holds, but to also celebrate the legacy of one of the strongest music brands in the company of their favorite artists. These week-long in-stores are sure to go down in hip-hop and New York history. Everyone is welcome to come and all events are free.

Today marks the official start of the week-long in-stores for the New York location. This location will host artist performances every day this week from 4-9pm until it closes its doors for the final time on Saturday, September 4th, 2010. Additionally, both locations will be selling limited edition commemorative t-shirts, as well as discounted music and merchandise"

The schedule for the New York location is as follows:

Continue reading "free in-stores all week @ Fat Beats (leading up to closing)"

by BBG

After 16 years, Fat Beats has announced the closing of the legendary label's two remaining retail locations in New York and Los Angeles. Fat Beats will celebrate the legacies of the stores, which are scheduled to close in early September (New York: September 4th, Los Angeles: September 18th) by throwing a series of blow-out sales and tribute parties open to the public during their last weeks. Fans can check www.FatBeats.com for updates.

Fat Beats' longest running and most famed location is at 406 Avenue of the Americas in Manhattan. Since the 1994 opening of Fat Beats' flagship retail location, hip-hop fans have traveled far and wide to visit the iconic store. With locations soon following in Los Angeles (7600 Melrose Ave.), Atlanta, Amsterdam, and Tokyo, the record stores were a place to experience hip-hop culture and its legacy, which became a global phenomenon. "The closing of Fat Beats is just like one of my friends passing away. They promoted vinyl at its highest degree for the culture of good music and that makes it more difficult to say goodbye," says DJ Premier.

I should have asked my job to pull out pre-tax dollars for Fat Beats back in the day; I used to EMPTY my pockets there on a weekly basis. The Fat Beats label and distro will live on, but the retail store is sadly no more. More on those "tribute parties" soon, but until then, long live Fat Beats!

Continue reading "Fat Beats closing NYC & LA stores"

Starting December 17th, Insound, the online indie super-store, known for its impeccable selection of vinyl and well designed music merch and gifts, will open a unique holiday pop-up gallery at 303 Grand St. in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The gallery will be selling the best designed music gifts from Insound's inventory, including silk-screened, limited edition posters, t-shirts, deluxe LP box sets, art books about music, turntables and unusual audio gear and music gifts.

In a neighborhood filled with great small record stores, Insound will not be selling standard LPs or CDs at the pop up gallery. Instead, the company's staff has curated the space with the intention of showcasing products that express the very best product design and quality applied to a love of music.

Additionally, every night from 7-10pm, in conjunction with The Fader, the gallery will host special live music events featuring surprise guest DJs and complimentary cocktails.

DJing the first night (tonight, 12/17) will be Brooklyn's own Small Black. The full schedule and a flyer are below...

Continue reading "Insound Design Store in Williamsburg (Dec 17th-21st)"

Beirut @ Sound Fix (more by Kelly Bruce)

It's been a memorable five years on Bedford Avenue, hasn't it? Raise your hand if you were there on our opening night when the Mountain Goats performed. Now we're getting ready to pack our things and move, and frankly, we'd rather you buy everything than haul it one block away, so we're going to say goodbye to our Bedford store this weekend with a special 10% sale on all CDs and LPs that are not already sale-priced. The sale starts Saturday. We're also going to be selling a ton of CDs at wholesale prices, so be sure to snatch them up too.

After Sunday, we close for two weeks and re-open at our new space at 44 Berry Street, on the corner of N. 11th. Thanks to all our wonderful customers for your loyal support over the years and we look forward to continuing to serve you at our new store.

---

DOWNLOAD: Sound Fix Podcast #1 - April 10, 2009 (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Sound Fix Podcast #2 - May 13, 2009 (MP3)

Five years ago, Sound Fix opened its doors with the aim of creating a new kind of record store, one that combined the finest in independent retail with food and drink and live music. The opening-night act in its adjoining bar were the Mountain Goats. Over the years, Sound Fix has hosted some of the biggest names in independent music, from Will Oldham to Beirut to Jens Lekman to the Sea and Cake and countless other acts. During that time, while record shops all over the nation big and small have closed their doors, Sound Fix has flourished, proving that the right kind of record store could still thrive in today's environment.

After five wonderful years on Bedford Ave., Sound Fix is packing up and moving to a new location - but not very far. In fact, only one block away, to the corner of Berry and N. 11th St. The new location, a beautifully renovated 90-year-old factory at 44 Berry Street, seeks to build on the store's success by offering more than ever - more titles in more formats, from CDs to vinyl to 7-inches to books to DVDs.

Together, with Beacon's Closet and Brooklyn Brewery and Brooklyn Bowl, this stretch of N. 11th promises to be one of Williamburg's more popular blocks. The store intends to continue its in-store tradition, but the days of selling booze and coffee and bagels are over. With several neighbors at 44 Berry offering those services, Sound Fix can focus on selling music.

The date for the reopening has not been established yet, but we are seeking to open sometime in September. Another press release will go out when the opening date has been determined.

Record & Tape Center (Tishon)

It's nearly the day the music died in Park Slope.

The Record and Tape Center, a dusty, cramped record store that has occupied the same spot on Fifth Avenue, near Ninth Street, for the past 38 years, will be shuttered by May 31, the result of an eviction notice that store owner Tony Mignone said came out of the blue.

"The letter just arrived at the beginning of the month," said Mignone, who opened his store on Fifth Avenue and Sixth Street in 1965, and moved to his present location in 1971. "I've never even been late on my rent!"

According to the letter, the landlords, a family that owns several grocery stores in the neighborhood, including the Deli and Smoke Shop next door, do not want to renew the lease and will take Mignone to court if he does not clear out.
Brooklyn Bridge Realty

"If he's still there [on May 31], we'll go to court," said John Wilson, the family's lawyer. [The Brooklyn Paper] (via)

This is the saddest record store closing news I've heard in a while, even if admittedly every time I stop in the Record and Tape Center I think, "how is this place still in business?" I'm always so happy it is though..

I would have probably last stopped in if I had made it to the Park Slope 5th Avenue Street Fair (and Southpaw record fair) that happened on Sunday (but I didn't).

The Virgin Megastore in Union Square will basically be closing the same day.

WNYC's Siddhartha Mitter went NYC record shopping on the recently-passed Record Store Day. Video below...

Continue reading "Park Slope's Record & Tape Center evicted, closing!"

With CD sales sliding, "I tried my hardest to come up with a new model, and we were making a lot of headway with it before the holidays," said Virgin Entertainment Group North America CEO Simon Wright.

Virgin outlasted HMV and W.H. Smith, with the former pulling out in 2004 and the latter selling out to Camelot Music in 1998. But Virgin couldn't withstand the combined blows of big-box loss leaders, chain-store exclusive releases and digital cannibalization.

"We have made a great contribution to music retailing, but it's time to move on," Wright said. [Billboard]

PREVIOUSLY: Virgin Megstore Union Square (and San Francisco), RIP

by Andrew Frisicano

Record Store Day - a nationwide event created to support independently owned record stores - will take place on Saturday, April 18, 2009. A list of participating NYC stores is available online at the Record Store Day venue list.

On RSD, Generation Records (210 Thompson Street, NY, NY) will host an acoustic in-store by punk band The Bouncing Souls, free for customers who pick up a copy of the band's 20th Anniversary Volume 1 7-inch the day of the show.

Other events, such as in-stores at Williamsburg's Sound Fix, which announced its intent to celebrate the event with live music despite ending shows after losing its liquor license in February, are still being announced.

Many record labels are supporting the event with limited-edition records. Matador, for example, will be pressing 2500 copies each of Jay Reatard/Sonic Youth and Sonic Youth/Beck split 7-inches, plus a Pavement Live In Germany LP. Thrill Jockey is sending out 900 copies of Records Toreism, an LP that includes tracks from Mountains, Tortoise, White Hills, Trans Am featuring Tim Soete, and Baltimore's Double Dagger (who cover "Stagger Lee") and will be packaged with two zines (feat contributions from Ian MacKaye and more).

Record Store Day, which coincides with the 2009 Coachella Festival, will also be running a record shop at the fest. The press release, copied below, notes that the Coachella on-site store, "previously operated by Virgin, is noted for its high profile foot traffic and good vibe." Both events come in the same month that the Times Square Virgin Megastore will close - the NYC shop is notable for having the nation's highest sales volume. Its sister location in Union Square will be gone soon after.

Full list of Record Store Day exclusives, in the form of a press release, below...

Continue reading "Record Store Day 2009: lots of bands releasing exclusive vinyl, a Bouncing Souls in-store & more..."

"Marissa Nadler played the last live concert in Sound Fix Lounge on Saturday -- or did she?

Owner James Bradley vowed to keep putting on shows, despite losing his liquor license last month.

"It is my fervent hope and desire to continue the tradition of live music in Williamsburg," said Bradley, who plans to have an event on Record Store Day on April 18, and to host weekly performances.

Sound Fix Lounge, on North 11th Street, just west of Bedford Avenue, had its license expire at the end of February following noise complaints under the former owner.

But Bradley hasn't given up on shows entirely, though he admitted that coaxing patrons to live music would be difficult without alcohol.

"The two seem to go hand-in-hand," he said.
[Brooklyn Paper]

The article goes on to say that Sound Fix has no plans on closing the record store, though Bradley "added that his lease is up in a year".

Marissa Nadler also played in a church on Friday.

Video from Marissa's show at Sound Fix, below...

Continue reading "Sound Fix Records hopes to still have live performnances"

Etherea is was an independent retail record store operating since 1995. We are located at 66 Avenue A, between 4th and 5th Streets.

Etherea as we know it is now closed. Etherea employee Brion still plans on reopening the store (with a new name), but at the moment he and his partner in the new venture are stuck in negotiations with the landlord. Etherea posted this official statement on February 27th:

Many of you have been bewildered by the blogging that has been going on about the closing of Etherea (specifically the Brooklyn Vegan post about Etherea being "saved"). Well, here's the real story. My lease here on Avenue A is ending and I intend to move on from 13.5 years of the music retail biz to pursue a new career. That is still happening, and Etherea is now officially closed, but one of my employees, namely DJ Brion, decided he wanted to buy out my store when I told him I was closing and start his own record shop in same location with a new partner. They have been hard at work trying to hammer out a new lease with the landlord. They plan to re-brand the store, and will have a different slant on music tailored to their tastes and aesthetics. I have been supportive of their efforts, and I hope to report good news very soon...

I spoke to Brion today, and his version of the story is very similar. Though the new record store is no longer as definitive as he made it seem before, he is still very optimistic. Former owner Rich Kim is all for Brion's new venture, and, as stated above, it is now up to the landlord. If they can get a new lease, they will open the new store immediately. Brion said he will "carry on the tradition of ETHEREA", while moving forward "with a personal new idea, featuring tons of in stores and personalized service." He also said, "This is going to happen with the continued positive assistance of multiple parties. The new store will be a split partnership between myself and Jose Luis Pardo of Los Amigos Invisibles."

I sincerely hope that works out for them.

In related news, the Virgin Megastore in Union Square will be gone in May.

And Los Amigos Invisibles are playing Bowery Ballroom on March 6th. Tickets are still on sale. One of their videos below...

Continue reading "Etherea is closed, but Brion still hoping for new record store"

Circuit City / Virgin (pic via Racked)

"And then there were three.

The Virgin Megastore music chain will close its Union Square location in New York City at the end of May and its Market Street store in San Francisco at the end of April, sources say. The company previously announced that its Times Square store would close in April.

In August 2007, the Virgin Entertainment Group North America was acquired by two real estate companies -- the Related Cos. and Vornado. Since then, the chain has been reduced from 11 units -- with the industry awaiting word of the fate of the three remaining stores in Denver, Los Angeles, and Orlando"
[MSNBC/Billboard/Reuters] (thx rob & liz)

Circuit City, right next door, is going out of business too.

Like many NYC record stores before it, Etherea was unfortunately set to close for good at the end of February. According to their website, they still are. In a February 19th message entitled "LAST CHANCE!!", they write:

This will be the final weekend of Etherea, so please stop in, say hello and take advantage of our closing sale. Everything will be on sale at 30% off. This includes new releases, new and used cds and vinyl, accessories, and magazines. There is a fixture list for those interested in purchasing cabinets, listening stations, lighting and more. During the last week of February, we will be closed to pack and clear out the space, so now is the time to do your last-minute shopping!

Well, according to an email I received on Saturday from Etherea customer Patrick G, he "went there today to say bye (and take advantage of the 30% off). the owner guy (who's name I never knew) said he's 'going to save it' and they're not closing...good news." Definitely good news! And it is further corroborated by a thread on Rhythimism.com where Etherea's (manager?) Brion is participating. Relevant passages confirming the store's March 1st REOPENING, below...

Continue reading "Etherea Records saved, not closing after all"

the new Kim's on 1st Ave (via Vanishing New York)

Etherea on Avenue A (via Stupefaction)

"Pretty soon, Other Music is going to be the only record store left in Manhattan. Blog Stupefaction reports that Etherea Records will shut down this February after 13 years in the East Village. The shop, on Avenue A between 4th and 5th Streets, plans to honor all gift certificates and store credits, and until the doors close, everything is 30% off.

This news, of course, comes as Mondo Kim's empties on St. Marks and both the Times Square and Union Square Virgin Megastores limp out their final days. (Remember when chains like Virgin were the main threat to little independent record shops? The 90s were such an innocent time.) For more context, check out this New York Times map from last April illustrating Manhattan's surviving record stores, as pointed out by a helpful Stupefaction reader." [Racked]

I don't think there is official word yet on Virgin Megastore Union Square actually closing, but some say it is inevitable.

In related news, Sound Fix's record store isn't closing, but its attached venue is.