Saturday’s third annual Record Store Day, a global celebration of the endangered species known as independent record stores, is shaping up to be the biggest yet, with hundreds of special limited-edition releases and in-store appearances around the country by some of the biggest names in music, from Jerry Lee Lewis to Foo Fighters.
Here, Northside’s Shake It Records (often recognized as one of the best record stores in the Midwest) is again going all out with RSD activities. Besides stocking most of the special recordings being offered exclusively on RSD (making it a daylong wet dream for serious record collectors), Shake It has put together a lineup of appearances for Saturday that gives some love to our local music-makers.
Local music fans will also find a cool treat to take home amongst the RSD goodies at Shake It. Last year, the store/record label released a special Seedy Seeds 7-inch single for Record Store Day. Saturday, a new CD by local faves (and the Shake It label’s most successful band) Wussy will be made available. The release is a live, acoustic re-creation of Wussy’s debut LP Funeral Dress dubbed Funeral Dress II. Recorded live last fall at popular Cincy studio Ultrasuede, only 500 hand-stamped and -numbered copies of the release will be printed.
Wussy is also a part of Shake It’s live Record Store Day entertainment, performing a set at 7 p.m.
Another one of Cincinnati’s national-attention-earning bands, Foxy Shazam, is slated to perform an acoustic set at 9 p.m. The Warner Bros./Sire recording artists are in a rare touring lull, having been on the road seemingly non-stop since the release of its self-titled major-label debut last year. But the break won’t last long — the progressive, eclectic group gets back on the road starting May 20 for a two-week tour opening for Panic at the Disco. After that, Foxy jumps aboard the Van’s Warped Tour train for a string of dates.
Modern Hip Hop legend Talib Kweli will also stop by Shake It Saturday. Though officially not a “local artist,” Kweli is sort of an honorary Cincinnatian thanks to a strong local fan base, live appearances and highly praised recording projects with acclaimed local DJ ace, Hi-Tek. Kewli will do either “a short set or Q&A” session, then sign copies of his latest, Gutter Rainbows.
Bring a canned good to Shake It on Record Store for a 10 percent discount on your purchase. The food will be donated to Churches Active in Northside (CAIN).
Though Shake It is offering the most extracurricular RSD activities, other stores in the area are also participating. You’ll find RSD exclusive releases at Everybody’s Records in Pleasant Ridge, used-music specialists Mole’s in Corryville and Galaxy CDs in Hamilton. Galaxy is hosting students from Hamilton arts school Options Academy who will showcase artwork (1-3 p.m.) and provide some music (3 p.m.).
Which products each store will have in stock Saturday varies, so if you have your eye on, say, the reissue of Bad Brains’ early “Pay to Cum” single on 7-inch vinyl, it’s a good idea to call ahead.
Visit recordstoreday.com for details on the participating shops and a list of all of the special releases being offered.
CONTACT MIKE BREEN: [email protected].
