RECORD STORE DAY(S)

So tomorrow is Record Store Day. And I will be 121.5 miles away from Piccadilly Records, Vinyl Exchange, Beatin' Rhythm etc. And probably at least 50 miles from the nearest independent record store. Here's what Piccadilly Records are laying on tomorrow.

Here at Piccadilly Records we have a fun filled day too, throughtout the day we'll have the cream of local labels and club nights DJing instore, the line-up is as follows:
10.00-11.00 - FINDERS KEEPERS (DOM THOMAS)
11.00-12.00 - THAT AMAZING THING (FRANCIS WOOFF)
12.00-12.30 - CLINT BOON
12.30-13.30 - AKOUSTIK ANARKHY
13.30-14.30 - THE UNABOMBERS
14.30-15.30 - UP THE RACKET
15.30-16.30 - EL DIABLO’S (NEIL SCOTT)
16.30-17.30 - BALEARIC MIKE
And as if that wasn't enough excitement for one day, the lovely folk from the Sweet Tooth Cupcakery will be selling rock'n'roll cup cakes, we'll be giving away free bottles of Glacéau Vitaminwater and there's a fortune cookie 'lucky dip' with loads of prizes to be won.

So to celebrate Record Store Day some random memories from me of music I have discovered in record shops plus a recommendation for those of you like me not in physical proximity to a record shop.

First up: Selectadisc in Berwick Street, Soho (now sadly defunct). I 'happened' to be in there one day in 1993 when the music they were playing over the PA stopped me dead. It turned out to be a 10 minute track that STARTED with a countdown to an ending with a flurry of flute, guitar and strangeness. And then got stranger. I stood and listened for 20 minutes to the whole of the first side of Mercury Rev's 'Boces' and then bought it. Never regretted this for an instance. And that first song 'Meth of a Rockette's Kick' still makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

A few years ago I was in Vinyl Exchange in Manchester when the same thing happened. Something was playing that stopped me in my tracks. A few minutes later I was the proud owner of 'Milkman' by Deerhoof. And earlier this year I walked into Piccadilly Records with the intention of listening to and probably buying 'The Airing of Grievances' by Titus Andronicus - and what was playing as I walked in? Well it was an omen not be ignored.

Thinking about these three songs/bands, the music is all loud and unhinged. Maybe that's what stands out. But I wouldn't have come across them without being in record stores. And let's not forget all the times that record stores have stocked/listed/recommended music and I've come across it in other ways. In these times of recession and music industry paralysis, let's celebrate and support record shops every day and not just tomorrow.

And if you can't make it to your nearest shop, how about taking up this offer and supporting the online shop for Drift Records?

Between Saturday 18th April and Monday 18th May DRIFT RECORDS will offer '3-for-£10' on our entire back catalogue. Albums by: The R.G.Morrison, Thirty Pounds of Bone, Birdengine, Matt Eaton, Tandy Hard, Thomas White, Le Reno Amps and the critically acclaimed 'Drift Collective' sampler will be available at just £5 each or 3-for-£10. As if that weren’t enough, for the special price of £25 you can purchase the entire back catalogue, plus an exclusive Drift Record Shop 'bag for life' and badge set.

My thoughts are on the Matt Eaton are here. It's easily worth £10 of your money but with this deal you could buy it six times for that prices. An offer you can't refuse?

METH OF A ROCKETTE'S KICK
Mercury Rev
Boces [BUY]

MILK MAN
Deerhoof
Milkman [BUY]

MY TIME OUTSIDE THE WOMB
Titus Andronicus
The Airing of Grievances [BUY]

AS LONG AS THE ROAD
Matt Eaton
Finish Your Chips [BUY]