There is nothing more beautiful than the smell of an independent record store.
I cannot accurately describe this unique scent -- typically a mixture of cardboard, paper and vinyl, maximized by a host of other factors that can range from the heat of the blazing sun streaming though the windows to the more eclectic observation of "is that bad coffee or just a full ashtray behind the counter?"
Either way, the independent record store has always captivated me as a place where imagination takes hold and dreams become a reality in glorious 12-inch vinyl. It is hard to have this multi-sensory experience in the megastores that all look the same with no sense of character in their sterile world.
On the eve of the 4th International Record Store Day on April 16, our city's music epicenter,
Vertigo Music, has bucked the current trend of record store extinction.
While big box stores are drastically reducing the size of their music inventories as digital downloads seize their market share they once commanded, our downtown record store is in the middle of a revival.
"I was a bit skeptical four years ago when we were asked to participate in the first international event," says Vertigo Music's Herm Baker. "But now years later after experiencing all we have here in Michigan, we are not only still here but we are profitable, too."
Vertigo Music discovered a few years ago that people are craving authenticity not only in how they live, but also in how they acquire the music they want to hear.
The digital revolution has left many feeling cold and I must admit having grown up with stacks of LPs, I do miss those days when the hours fly by as I lay on the floor staring at the album art or reading the lyrics as the 33 rpm plugged along with an occasional crackle or pop. Looking back, it is hard to imagine passing time looking at a tiny CD by an artist like Elton John and his artfully complex "Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy" LP. (It is still a personal favorite of mine even after all these years.)
What has captured the imagination of Herm now? Vinyl. Records are what got him in the music business in the first place. And so, he has been catering to a new generation opting for warm audio produced from vinyl instead of compact discs -- or at least in addition to other audio formats. (It is worth noting that Herm's previous stores were called Vinyl Solution.)
Each year that Herm has been involved with Record Store Day, he has watched his store grow not only in sales, but also as an asset to the community.
For this year's Record Store Day, besides the usual limited run vinyl and local bands performing by the hour, it is the first time a major record label has sent a touring act to his store to celebrate the holiday. The wildly popular act My Chemical Romance will be in the store signing autographs around 4:30 p.m..
This act, which caters to a younger audience, will introduce a whole new generation to the beauty and charm of a locally owned record store.
In addition, Herm will be debuting a new line of stereo receivers and turntables to match the growing demand for vinyl by his customers.
If you do buy a turntable, there will be plenty of good stuff to play since Herm has been stockpiling vinyl for over three months in anticipation of the biggest day of sales on Saturday. He will also have 10,000 freshly pressed albums in the bins ready to spin on your Hi-Fi along with the great used records you will likely find on April 16.
Record Store Day is so much more than a place where commerce happens. It is a place where we discover great music and on those rare occasions when you look up as your flip through the 12-inch vinyl, you might even discover love beyond the bin.
"I have this one customer who actually met his girlfriend while at Record Store Day," says Herm. "That is a testament to this awesome experience of this day. The couple is still together!"
Remember, you have to love your local record store more than just once a year.
"Going to a record store only once a year is like telling your mother that you love her, but only on Mother's Day," says comedian Brian Posehn. "If you do that, you are an asshole. Like how is your mom going to know you love her all those other days."
Love your local record store this Saturday and all yearlong. I promise it will be love well spent.
Ain't music bliss?
The Future Needs All of Us (to represent all year long.)
Tommy Allen, Lifestyle Editor
Email:
[email protected]Click here to continue to this week's G-Sync events. Photo provided by Troy Reimink in exchange for gratuitous promotion of his band,
Ghost Heart.
Vinyl of their latest release on Friction Records available on Record Store Day.
Press Releases for upcoming events in the West Michigan area should be sent to
[email protected]. Please include high res jpg images that are at least 500 pixels wide.