Scourge or savior, Record Store Day is coming on Saturday, April 16, and there’s nothing you can do to change that. For those of you who aren’t music nerds, Record Store Day (or RSD) was conceived in 2007 as a day of celebration for vinyl enthusiasts and the more pragmatic people who love them, in which all facets of record store life are placed on a pedestal for the sake of saving a couple bucks on a Big Star re-release (think High Fidelity with a cheering section comprised of only Jack Blacks). Depending on who you ask, RSD is either an incredible show of support for a part of the music industry previously failing in the mainstream arena, or it’s a chance for major labels to force their new school drudge through the pipeline, effectively cutting out much of the vinyl pressing production calendar for smaller, less moneyed labels. Either way, deals!!
Since we at The Stranger are a diverse people, capable of feeling multiple feels at once, we have compiled the whole deluge of RSD special releases, in-store performances, vinyl discounts, and store events for you here, as well as on our Record Store Day calendar. For more about Record Store Day, see Dave Segal’s list of worthy RSD releases.
Record Store Day at Everyday Music
In honor of Record Store Day 2016, Everyday Music is throwing an all-day music fest with local and international artists. The stacked line-up includes DJ Dr Troy, Benoit Pioulard, Uh Oh Eskimo, Gregg Belisle-Chi, Imarhan, Raica, Diminished Men, DJ Veins, Midday Veil, and Sir Froderick with Dil Withers and Specs.
Record Store Day at Jive Time
Journey to Fremont for Jive Time’s biggest sale of the year. In celebration of Record Store Day, all used records and CDs will be 25% off, and all new vinyl will be 10% off. You’ll also get a limited-edition, hand-screened poster with any purchase (that has a picture of a cat on it, so it’s pretty solid). Spend $100 or more and get a free t-shirt (while supplies last), and then put on that t-shirt and wear it around town so everyone knows your party line.
Record Store Day at KEXP
KEXP is hosting an Easy Street Records Pop-Up Shop at their new home all day April 16th as a part of the Record Store Day festivities. Expect exclusive RSD releases, new and old titles from Easy Street, and two new releases from KEXP itself.
Record Store Day at Silver Platters
Events at Silver Platters on Record Store Day include an in-store performance from Parachute and a record signing and meet and greet with Otep, in promotion of their new album Generation Doom. There will be discounts on new and used vinyl available, as well as Record Store Day special releases on the shelves.
Record Store Day at Spin Cycle
Spin Cycle is going big this year and opening at 5am on Record Store Day. If you’re an average person who eats food, grab breakfast at Lost Lake beforehand and show your receipt for 16% off all used vinyl, or go afterwards and get 16% off your meal with your Spin Cycle receipt. They’ll also be giving away a special fanzine, wherein some of Seattle’s writers, musicians, and most hardcore crate-diggers discuss what is the very last record they would ever sell.
Record Store Showdown
Watch music buffs go head to head at EMP Pop Con’s Record Store Showdown. Hosted by KEXP’s Greg Vandy and featuring teams from Everyday Music, Sonic Boom, Spin Cycle, and Easy Street, this showdown pits clerk against clerk in a game show-style battle royale of who-knows-what in music trivia nerdery.
Acapulco Lips Play Record Store Day
Acapulco Lips are releasing their full-length debut album on new Seattle label Killroom Records (co-owned by KEXP’s Troy Nelson & Ben Jenkins), and will be doing an in-store performance at Easy Street for Record Store Day. Enjoy the free and all ages event, and then go buy a bunch of limited releases from Easy Street.
Record Store Day: Greg Vandy Q&A and Signing
Get your schmooze on with KEXP’s “The Roadhouse” host, Greg Vandy at his Record Store Day Q&A and book signing. His latest work focuses on Woody Guthrie’s prolific songwriting career, and the confluence of American folk artistry and the hard times of the twentieth century in the United States.
Invisible Hand Plays Record Store Day
Support your local record store on RSD 2016 by attending a live in-store performance by local psych pop killers Invisible Hand at Beats and Bohos.
Motopony, Tellers, Crystal Desert Play Record Store Day
Scuttlebutt and EMI are throwing a slightly inland Record Store Day party with indie rock party-starters Motopony, Tellers, and Crystal Desert.
