Ta’ Xbiex, MT | New Record Store/Hangout Concept Has Opened Its Doors In The Heart Of Ta’ Xbiex: Big Ron’s Records is a new record store and hangout concept that’s opened its doors in the heart of Ta’ Xbiex and its serving all music lovers some well-needed “beats for the soul.” “Big Ron’s Records is a space that was born out of a desire to create an atmosphere fostering inspiration and community. Visit Big Ron’s and embrace music discovery spanning genres and decades,” the website reads. The store is the brainchild of two local DJs – Mathieu Fabre, otherwise known as Mato, and Bengy Borg. The main musical concept of the store is to have artists play music that they wouldn’t be able to when playing their usual gigs. Friday’s have now become somewhat of a staple at Big Ron’s with different people coming together weekly to enjoy the store’s “fantastic cocktails, amazing fresh juices, matoasties, records and good vibrations.”
Dayton, OH | Downtown Dayton specialty shop Skeleton Dust Records celebrates five years: A five-year anniversary is a milestone for any small business. For Skeleton Dust Records in downtown Dayton, it’s a major accomplishment considering the arrival of the coronavirus pandemic two-and-a-half years into operation. To mark the momentous occasion, owner Luke Tandy is throwing a party at his specialty music shop on Saturday, Oct. 15. Tandy, a native of southeastern Indiana, recently answered some questions about Skeleton Dust’s Five-Year Anniversary Party. “…There is still uncertainty and struggles, ups and downs, but I’ve gotten the store closer to where I ultimately want it to be. It’s been a little slow, particularly now. Retail is slow in the summer with pretty much everybody, but it also seems like people are worried about the recession which is impacting things right now. But the holidays are coming so hopefully it will pick up again.”
Greenville, NC | The Cat’s Out of the Bag: Alley Cat Records Opens: What’s new pussycat? Whoa … an unassuming storefront in the heart of Greenville is charged with the spirit of the open-shirted, gold-necklaced musician. His four-disc set rubs shoulders with the red-headed stranger and Conway Twitty, hovering over Placido Domingo and John Denver like the godfather of chest hair. My, my, my, Tom Jones might have had to wait a few years for an answer to the question in his 1965 hit, but entrepreneur David Brown and local spazzevangelist and eclectic music curator Jeff Blinder are happy to provide one that’s just purrfect: “Alley Cat Records.” The record store opens today at 205 E. Fifth St., next door to Blackbeard’s Coffee. It’s the long-awaited culmination of a vision by David Brown, owner of David’s Used Books and Records at 107 E. Arlington, Jeff Blinder, the communications and events coordinator, and co-manager Dallas Dawes. A private “preview party” last Saturday gave faithful fans a taste of what is to come.
Toronto, CA | Legendary Toronto record store treated to new full-length documentary: For 25 years, a small record store took residence on Yonge Street to serve Toronto’s DJ and hip-hop scene. In 2016, the shop took over a new location on Spadina, surviving through a changing cityscape. On October 22nd, you can watch a special documentary made in this small record store’s honour, browsed by the likes of Nas, Raekwon and many more closer to home. Play De Record, owned by Eugene Tam, will be in the limelight on October 22nd from 6:00 p.m to 8:00 p.m, as Drop The Needle premieres in the city at the Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema. This documentary will showcase this modest record store that flourished and survived into the modern music era, where vinyl, physical record players and the like seem almost obsolete. Watch the story of how a small business owner became a cornerstone for Toronto’s DJ and music scene, with commentary from industry heavyweights like Kardinal Offishall and Maestro Fresh Wes.
Sedalia, CA | Vinyl, music, and cocktails: Would it work in Sedalia or Warrensburg? If you know anything about me you know I love vinyl. So I think the concept of, for lack of a better term, a record bar would be a neat place to go hang out. Ya know, a cozy intimate bar with a great sound system, and a beautiful turn table, where you drop in to enjoy a cocktail, listen to a record, and maybe enjoy a conversation with a friend. They’re doing it in the Bay area specifically. James, my fine purveyor of vinyl from Jammin Nuggets Music here in Sedalia, sent me the link to a news story from the CBS Bay Area website that talks about an Oakland couple who had been working for Pandora and YouTube and quit their jobs to open just that kind of place. They tell CBS Bay Area that they opened the bar to get that connection and community that was missing in their lives while working in the tech industry. It’s also about giving in to the experience of the album.
Pendleton, OR | Vinyl vibes — Pendleton Record Swap spins up at convention center: Vendors from across the Pacific Northwest came Friday, Oct. 14, to Pendleton to sell records, swap stories and listen to music at the first Pendleton Record Swap & Audio Expo. The event at the Pendleton Convention Center runs through Oct. 16 with all manner of classic and contemporary vinyl for sale and a few prized collectibles on offer for silent auction. Mathew Pfromm of Portland was representing his record store, AstronautSaint Records, and explained his love of the musical medium. “I feel the same way most record store owners get into selling vinyl is that I’ve been listening to and collecting vinyl most of my adult life,” he said. “Probably about 22 years that I’ve been collecting and listening to vinyl. It seems like the most heartfelt, tactile, and authentic medium to listen to music, especially with everything digitally streaming now.” Pfromm had a mixture of contemporary and classic vinyl options.
Albuquerque, NM | New West Side book shop aims to draw ‘next generation’ of bibliophiles: When Deborah Condit was a student at West Mesa High School, the Hastings bookstore on the West Side of Albuquerque was the place to be. “That was like, the coolest place, and only the cool kids worked there,” Condit said. Now, she’s opening her own West Side bookstore – a lifelong dream for Condit. Books on the Bosque opens its door on Saturday at 6261 Riverside Plaza NW off Coors and Montaño. “I’ve always loved books and I love bookstores,” Condit said. “When I go out of town, I find an independent bookstore to go to – or two, or three – to hang out at, you know, or to find or talk to other bookstore owners.” Condit has never owned a brick-and-mortar store before; she’s been working in government consulting since 2001. But she was looking for a new type of community engagement with Books on the Bosque. “I really wanted to do something that didn’t need legislative approval to you know, to be a part of the community and have you know, affect community change,” Condit said.
