In its fifth installment, Record Store Day once again sees a host of local releases and performances
For the Record
by D. Patrick Rodgers @dpatrickrodgers
That's it. This year's Record Store Day celebration is the fifth ever. That means you no longer have any excuse not to know what Record Store Day is, and explaining it to you is therefore no longer my obligation. If you've made it four years without getting hip to this internationally recognized gala of vinyl and independently owned record shops, then you probably haven't set foot in a local record store in at least that long. Shame on you. I'll waste no further ink lecturing you. Let's instead dive into this year's haps.
We'll look first to Jack White and his crew of sonic chocolatiers over at Third Man Records. Proving once again that he is to latter-day vinyl enthusiasts what Willy Wonka was to sticky-fingered candy-grubbers, White not only scheduled the release of his solo debut Blunderbuss for the week of Record Store Day (see story here), but also announced a slew of limited-edition RSD 2012 releases. Among them is Jerry Lee Lewis Live at Third Man Records — recorded at Third Man's RSD 2011 festivities — on vinyl and CD, The White Stripes' "Hand Springs" b/w "Red Death at 6:14" black-wisp red vinyl 7-inch, Karen Elson's "Milk and Honey" b/w "Winter's Going" 7-inch, and White's own "Sixteen Saltines" b/w playable etching (developed by George Ingram at Nashville Record Productions) 12-inch vinyl, also available on liquid-filled vinyl. Yes, liquid-filled. The shop will not offer any non-Third Man RSD releases, but honestly, if you want to get your hands on any of the aforementioned, you should probably already be standing in line near Third Man's Seventh Ave. storefront. As far as hosting live performances, TMR honcho Ben Swank tells the Scene they'll be abstaining this year, saying, "We're just gonna keep it about the records this year and let Grimey's put on a wicked show."
Wicked indeed, as Nashville's flagship vinyl peddlers at Grimey's have booked local talent including comedian Chris Crofton, punk flag-bearers PUJOL and JEFF the Brotherhood, alt-country troubadour Langhorne Slim, indie-country chanteuse Caitlin Rose, poppy indie rockers Lovedrug and 11-piece blue-eyed soulsters Kansas Bible Company, plus psych-pop Alabamans The Grenadines. Downstairs in The Basement, three documentaries will screen throughout the day: Don't Follow Me (I'm Lost), about local second-generation crooner Bobby Bare Jr.; Andrew Bird: Fever Year, which follows the noted brainy warbler; and Brick and Mortar and Love, which chronicles the story of Louisville's recently dearly departed ear X-tacy record store and features footage shot at last year's RSD festivities at Grimey's.
East Nashville's The Groove will also host a bevy of performances, from Chris Crofton making yet another RSD appearance to electro-popsters Uncle Skeleton, the experimental indie rock of Meadownoise, dance-pop warriors Fly Golden Eagle, blues rockers The Electric Hearts and Denney and the Jets, the ever-psychedelic Ranch Ghost and garage rockers Tiger Beat. While all the bands will perform outdoors, there will be indoor DJ sets from Angie Dorin, Noah Uman and Amerigo Gazaway.
In addition to Grimey's, The Groove and Third Man, Ernest Tubb Records and both of The Great Escape's locations (Charlotte Ave. and Madison) will be among RSD's participating shops. While the list of compelling RSD releases and re-releases — from Bowie to Bruce, Ozzy to Odd Future — is far too lengthy to include here, several local artists are unleashing singles, LPs and more on the 21st. See some of those (not including the Third Man releases listed above) in the adjacent box, and see all of the official releases, participating venues and more at recordstoreday.com.
Email music@nashvillescene.com.
Local Record Store Day Releases
Brendan Benson, "What Kind of World" b/w "Go Decco" 7-inch
The Black Keys, El Camino LP and 7-inch exclusive RSD re-release
Coupler, America in the Coming Age of Electronics LP
Chris Crofton, Pearls Before Swine LP
The Civil Wars, "Billie Jean (Live)" b/w "Sour Times (Live)" 7-inch
The Civil Wars, Live at Amoeba CD
Justin Townes Earle, "Nothing's Gonna Change the Way You Feel About Me Now" b/w "Sneaky Feelings" 7-inch
JEFF the Brotherhood, Upstairs at United Vol. 3 LP
PUJOL, "Reverse Vampire" 7-inch
Caitlin Rose, "Piledriver Waltz" b/w "Love Is a Laserquest" 7-inch
Ralph Stanley, "Single Girl" b/w "Little Birdie" 78
Cortney Tidwell, "Sutures" b/w "Chemical Mind" 7-inch
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