We asked. You commented, emailed, and tweeted, and we’ve tallied up the votes; now it’s time to congratulate the winners! We’re featuring your TOP FIVE record stores this week, one per day, as we impatiently await Record Store Day, Saturday, April 16th, 2011.
We celebrate the stores that make Record Store Day possible and the vinyl enthusiasts—namely you, dear readers—who love them. It’s been great reading your opinions! Count down to Record Store Day with us as we pay tribute to the record stores that make our lives richer every day.
I have unfortunately never had the opportunity to visit ILM (will someone please explain to me where the “W” went?), having only partied at OBX and Charlotte, but as I read all of the fantastic readers’ comments for Gravity Records and Google Map it to the beach, I have a sudden all-consuming impulse to hop in my car and head south to Wilmington, NC.
Here are some of the excellent things that they said:
Donovan: GRAVITY RECORDS in Wilmington, NC, is the shit. We may be a small community, but Gravity thinks big, as their online presence can attest. The staff is completely unpretentious and totally willing to find you anything your heart and ears desire. . . and Gravity’s prices and personality simply can’t be beat. Daily specials like “Matt’s working his 17th double in a row, so buy a new LP, get one used free” are outstanding. Their in-store performances have featured outstanding up-and-coming artists, like Julian Lynch and Woodsman, as well as juggernauts like the Love Language. They are, without question, the go-to guys in town, and are almost single-handedly keeping our town tuned in and turned on.
Devin: I second the vote for Gravity Records. I message them on Twitter whenever I want to see what they have in stock, and Matt responds within minutes. Awesome dudes!
Patrick: I’ve shopped in record stores from Tucson to London, but my fave record store is Gravity Records in Wilmington, NC. They’ve got it all: killer selection (both new and used), blazing fast special orders, the latest releases both mainstream and obscure, and a staff that knows everything about everything music-related, and it’s right here in town! Let Matt & Eric drop some Gravity on your ass. Accept no substitutes.
Ted: Gravity Records in Wilmington, NC. The selection and prices are great, but that’s not really the reason why. Everyone there is great. They will remember you, call you when something they know you’ll like comes in, and special order anything they can find if you want it. About three or four years ago I was going through a Cure phase and had all but one of their albums on CD. They had a copy of the one I was missing in the used CDs. After they saw me ask my friend if he’d get it for me if I paid him back later, they just let me have it. . . At this time I was going into the store once a week and bought something every time. When I wanted that CD, I was pretty much broke. Gravity Records not just knows everyone in the community but cares about them as well. They are one of the biggest supporters of other local businesses and local music in Southeastern North Carolina. Also, Matt Keen likes this.
These highly-prized stickers are a testament to Gravity owner Matt Keen’s infamous Facebook-liking habit. He assures me that shortly after Record Store Day 2011, there will be a picture of Win Butler from Arcade Fire with a “Matt Keen likes this” sticker.
This is the story of how his store, which its fans affectionately call G.Rex, came to be:
Gravity Records was opened in 2004 by former manager of Manifest Disc & Tapes, Matt Keen. Seeing the need to keep a true independent record store in Wilmington, NC after the closing of Manifest Discs & Tapes in January ’04, Matt opened Gravity Records on August 4th, 2004. Focused on promoting not only ourselves but other local businesses, we have championed buying local and supporting the local economy in eastern NC. We are currently the only new and used CD/LP independent record store in Wilmington and possibly Eastern NC.
Other fantastically fun facts about Gravity Records:
They like to say, “iTunes isn’t local, your independent record store is!”
Tracy Morgan once referred to them as the “downest white boys I’ve ever met.”
Rick Froberg (Obits, Drive Like Jehu, Hot Snakes) told them, “You are doing a cool thing, and we’re stoked to be a part of it in whatever small way we can.”
Former employees have gone on to do big things in the music world, including Jheri Evans (GetOffTheCoast.com and contributor to Altered Zones) and Mike Bigel (label manager at Gigantic Music).
The Love Language’s Stu McLamb recorded parts of their self-titled debut in Gravity Records, and Gravity played a major role in getting them signed to their first record deal. Gravity was also the first store carrying the original recordings that became their debut album.
Gravity offers turntable repair.
Recent/upcoming in-stores include: 9th Wonder, Obits, Levek, Gobble Gobble, The Love Language, Gross Ghost, Julian Lynch, Persona La Ave, and The Rosebuds.
GRAVITY’S INSANE DAILY SPECIALS:
Mon: Buy 1 new CD get 1 used CD free
Tues: Buy 2 get 1 free used LPs
Wed: 20% off used LPs
Thurs: 20 % off used CDs
Fri: Buy 2 get 1 free used DVDs
Sat: Buy 2 get 1 free used CDs
Sun: Buy 1 new LP get 1 used LP free
Record Store Day Events:
- a drawing for a pair of Hopscotch Fest all show wristbands
- multiple copies of the first 5 Crash Symbols cassette releases to give away, courtesy of Dwight and Jheri at the label
- FREE BEER courtesy of the local folks at Good Vibes Brewing
- FREE bottle freakers from local business BottleFreaker.com
- a few other surprises TBA!
RSVP on Facebook.
Will you be shopping at Gravity Records on Record Store Day? We think you should! Here’s all the info you’ll need:
Gravity Records
125 S. Kerr Avenue #1
Wilmington, NC 28403
Monday – Saturday 10AM-8PM
Sunday 12PM-5PM
910-392-2414
facebook.com/gravityrecords
@gravityrecords
We hope that owner Matt Keen likes this, too. 🙂
