Something that seemed unlikely 25 years ago has come to pass: If you want to go somewhere today and pick out an LP or even a CD from a rack, you can choose between a big-box store like Walmart or Target — or else an independent record shop that wasn’t supposed to survive in the Information Age. Mom-and-pop record shops are exceedingly important for music communities, and Nashville is lucky to have several. Not only does Grimey’s continue to offer fans an astonishing array of contemporary releases and vintage vinyl covering every conceivable popular music category — not to mention the bookstore downstairs — it provides customers something else you won’t find in a corporate place. Grimey’s routinely hosts live shows by outstanding performers anxious to make sure their new work gets the attention it deserves (see: Swamp Dogg’s visit in July, along with visits from Iron and Wine, Eric Slick and many others), as well as listening parties to highlight vital upcoming albums that might otherwise get lost or glossed over in a sea of data. It’s an exercise in community-building for true music lovers, the value of which can’t be overstated.
Best In-Store Shows
Grimey’s New and Preloved Music
Swamp Dogg at Grimey's, 7/19/2024
