In its 11th year, Record Store day has become a full-on daylong celebration of independent retail. There are lots of exclusive releases available, but in the original spirit of the retail holiday (to celebrate local, independent record stores) CL has compiled a list of local vinyl you should pick up while you're trying to score some RSD exclusives. We've also chosen to highlight bands, bites, beers and giveaways you can get at various Bay area shops on April 21.
SAT. APRIL 21
Look below to get details on some of the big concerts and happenings scheduled to go down at various shops on Saturday and then look even further down to see details on smaller happenings.
Daddy Kool Records, St. Petersburg (8 a.m.) Early birds are getting hooked up at 666 Central Ave. thanks to free continental breakfast (while supplies last). We're loving the custom DK x RSD logo and shirt (feat. Han Solo and Chewbacca as RSD Ambassadors Run The Jewels) and the fact that Daddy Kool has teamed up with its neighbor Fubar to throw an afternoon concert that will go late night.
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Bands (kicking off around 5 p.m. at Fubar, two doors down): King Complex, Lassyu, Changer, Ugly Couple, Bubble Boys, Yogurt Smoothness, Fast Talkers, The Desert Fathers and Infinite Skillz MCing on the sidewalk starting at 4 p.m.
Beer+Bites: Drink at Fubar, plus free Black Crow doughnuts and Brew D Licious coffee while supplies last.
Bonus: Grab bags, giveaways and one of the friendliest staffs in the Bay area.
More info: Facebook (Fubar, Daddy Kool Records)
Mojo Books & Music, Tampa (8 a.m.) Tons of giveaways (see below), even more bands and more than 400 RSD titles. Mojo goes harder than most stores on RSD, and we're grateful. Tim Anderson's Pocket Sand promotions arm has curated an eclectic bill with lots of good, out-of-the box sounds with more bands possibly headed for the bill as RSD approaches.
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Bands (kicking off at 5 p.m.): DieAlps!, The Easy Button, Laundromat, Justin Depth, Story Mode, Computer Date, Hello Joyce, Large Father, more.
Beer+Bites: Free PBR starting at 5 p.m., vegan bake sale to help homeless animals.
Bonus: Free Mojo shirt + coffee bar drink of choice for the first 10 people in line. Free RSD goodie bag with purchase (while supplies last)
More info: facebook.com
Planet Retro Records, St. Petersburg (8 a.m.) It's never too early to start thinking about beer, and the offering at Planet Retro (a Crate Digger Ale brewed by Tim Ogden's Deviant Libation) is the cream of the RSD crop. Ogden is the brain behind so many of our music–influenced beers, and his own band, Path of Increased Indifference, is playing a set, too. A Girls Rock Camp Fundraiser is going down (and an alum of the camp, 76 Cut Short, is one of about a dozen bands kicking music off at 11 a.m.).
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Bands (kicking off at 11 a.m.): Lazer Mouth, Kevin K. Band, Squadron, Changer, Silver Alert, Switchblade Villain, Graveyard Groupies, Navin Ave., Broken Things, Negative Split, Path of Increased Indifference, Community Couch, Snacking, 76 Cut Short, Spar
Beer+Bites: Crate Digger Ale by Deviant Libation
Bonus: Goodies, a Girls Rock Camp fundraiser.
More info: facebook.com
Kingfish Records, Clearwater (8 a.m.) Kingfish's old digs at the Oldsmar Flea Market will act as an outlet for its bargain LPs, but this new location at 26024-B U.S. 19 N., had a soft opening three weeks ago and will act as the flagship. Owner Patrick Nolen spent two months remodeling and will have bands playing a new outdoor patio stage. He says that Kingfish as its largest selection of RSD offerings to date.
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Bands (kicking off at 11 a.m.): Meltdown Cadillac, more.
Bites: Food truck starting at 6 a.m.
Bonus: Tote bags, posters, CDs and more to the first 25 customers and until the shop runs out. Drawings for autographed records, t-shirts, ukuleles (donated by Kala), framed prints and more along with store-wide specials.
More info: facebook.com
Dunedin Records & Audio, Dunedin (8 a.m.) Thie Dunedin shop's audio equipment selection trumps its record collection, but DR&A's ordered more RSD exclusive offerings than ever before for first RSD in its new location (430 Patricia Ave.). Lots of giveaways and an "untouchable $200 starter special" is more than enough to pique our interest.
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Bands: None announced.
Bites: Dunedin Brewery's wings are less than two miles away, right?
Bonus: The audio equipment and the chance to win your own DR&A $200 starter pack.
More info: facebook.com
Banana's Music, St. Petersburg (9 a.m.) The retail-friendlier location of the world's largest record store welcomes a couple Tampa Bay Listening Room Festival acts (Chasing Lovely, Big Little Lions) play along with a couple of CL favorites, (FayRoy, Ries Brothers).
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Bands (kicking off at 11 a.m.): Ries Brothers, Chasing Lovely, John McEuen, Big Little Lions, Danielle Mohr, The Vultures, FayRoy, DJ Kalani
Beer+Bites: Vanchetta Food Truck
Bonus: Giveaways, custom Bananas x RSD t-shirts.
More info: facebook.com
Microgroove (9 a.m.) This Seminole Heights record haven and all-ages venue always goes hard on the music lineup, and this RSD is no exception thanks to a bill loaded with local faves, a new-ish band (SPORK) and a pair of out-of-towners (Expert Timing, Orlando; Spirit and the Cosmic Heart; Lakeland). A stacked food & drink offering is the icing on the cake.
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Bands (kicking off at 12:30 p.m.): SPORK, DieAlps!, Expert Timing, Alexander & the Venus, Spirit and the Cosmic Heart, Will Quinlan, VACANCY
Beer+Bites: Free PBR when bands start, 10-percent off at Independent with Microgroove receipt. Commune + Co. coffee, Jug & Bottle kombucha. Pizza slices from Cappy's, Uncle Mince's World Famous Seitan for the vegans.
Bonus: Humor from shop owner Keith Ulrey
More info: facebook.com
Sound Exchange, Pinellas Park and Tampa (9 a.m.) Sound Exchange's new Pinellas Park location (8625 66th St. N.) and Tampa store (14246 N. Nebraska Ave.) will have RSD merch along with prize drawings, giveaways, tote bags and more. Remember, Sound Exchange's Brandon store is now closed and the old Pinellas Park location (7688 49th St. N.) is liquidating inventory with BOGO deals and nothing priced over $4.
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Bands: None announced.
Beer+Bites: Nah.
Bonus: Some of the best prices on RSD exclusives, giveaways and a chance to see the new Pinellas Park location.
More info: facebook.com
Steelworker Records, Tampa (10 a.m.) You gotta fuckin' love Riverside Heights' Steelworker Records for (1) opening up two hours after other stores and (2) not buying into the RSD exclusive hoopla. Instead, owner Kenny Crum is pulling out more than 500 gems to add to an already adventurous and ripe collection of rare and used pieces of vinyl that leans hard on heavier rock and hard-to-find international options while also stocking familiar favorites, too.
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Bands: None announced yet.
Beer+Bites: Go eat something at the Citgo next door.
Bonus: Getting your mind blown open by taking Kenny Crum's advice on some heavy music your parents might not have had mixed in with their Led Zeppelin, Fleetwood Mac and CSNY records.
More info: steelworkerrecords.com
Hello Darlin' Records, St. Petersburg (12 p.m.-4 p.m.) J.T. Brown actually starts the music at 12 p.m. at Black Crow Coffee where new, roving record pop-up shop Hello Darlin' Records (look for the yellow VW bus) will post up starting at 4 p.m. Josh Comings will have pins and comics, there, too. The VW is at Green Bench Brewing from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. and then at the Emerald Bay from 9 p.m. to who knows.
Bands: They don't fit in the van, but Kersey Williams did write a jingle
Beer+Bites: Don't drink and drive.
Bonus: It's a VW camper, why you gotta be greedy?
More information: Instagram (@hellodarlinrecords)
Also Happening
- St. Pete Records is on the second floor of downtown St. Pete's Furnish Me Vintage, and doors open at 9 a.m. Expect discounts on vinyl, DJs, free beer and pizza, Pac-Man and Galaga competitions, plus a giveaway featuring a Stanton turntable and Cewwin-Vega Speakers. More info: facebook.com
- Disc Exchange owner Nick Horace is one of the nicest guys in the area, and his long-running St. Pete shop will open at 10 a.m. and offer discounts as well as some BOGO deals. More info: thediscexchange.com
- Clearwater Record Shop is opening at 10 a.m. and will carry a limited number of RSD titles while giving customers 20-perfect off merchandise. More info: facebook.com
- ARTpool Records opens at 10 a.m.. It has a hearty collection of new and used vinyl, but won't be carrying RSD exclusives. More info: artpoolrules.com/vinyl-records
This article appears in Apr 12-19, 2018.