Record Store Day 4/21/12

[zzzone.net]

I decided to "celebrate" Record Store Day by going to the legendary Waterloo Records in Austin.  I felt energetic and decided to get to the store about a half-hour early.  Much to my surprise and consternation, the line wrapped around the entire city block nearly to the door of the store.   I was just as surprised to walk into the store about 10 minutes after opening to nearly standing room only as people slid up and down each aisle to look at all the vinyl releases that came out today including David Bowie, Bruce Springsteen, Abba, Captain Beefheart, etc.

http://www.recordstoreday.com/SpecialReleases

It was madness.  I grabbed about 10 records including a Japanese reissue of Eno's "Another Green World" and attempted to checkout.  The line wrapped around the interior wall of the building to the other corner of the store opposite from the cash register.

After I waited approximately 20 mins and the line had moved about 1 foot, I calculated that I would be in line for about 2-3 hours before I could even see the cash register.

The mission was then aborted.  I unbagged my booty and walked out into the cool, sunny weather.

I then drove over to a smaller record store near my home but I couldn't find a parking spot!

Not a very successful RSD for me, but it DOES indicate the power of vinyl in Austin.

Jim

[hdibrell]

Austin has been my favorite city for music shopping (vinyl and CD ) since back in the mid '70's. I try to go to Waterloo every time I go there.

[cromag]

I get to the Princeton Record Exchange a few times a year -- only ~45 minutes away, but the traffic is almost always bad -- but there was no way in the world I was going anywhere near there today.  Aside from the normal RSD crowds from years past, they scheduled a free concert with They Might Be Giants.  The anticipated crowd was big enough that they arranged to use a courtyard near the Princeton library.

I think Record Store Day should be reserved for those who don't usually get out to a store the rest of the year.  And I'm happy to let them have their day!

[Numina]

Cool thread I missed it earlier. RSD seems pretty big here as well. I went last year and the line was about a half-block long. I don't know how Waterloo handled things but at Twist & Shout (Denver's equivalent to Amoeba, Waterloo, etc.) they filed everyone in like an assembly line with all the records on the walls in easy-to-grab ways and then to the checkout. Only took about 10-15 minutes. Granted I didn't pick up much. Anyway, I'd never been to an RSD up to that point. Was fun.