Regina, CA | Friends, customers reflect on legacy of beloved Regina X-Ray Records owner Dave Kuzenko: It’s been a hard week for Regina’s music scene as it mourns the loss of longtime local record store owner Dave Kuzenko. Kuzenko was well-known in the Queen City as owner of X-Ray Records downtown. He was also a long-running columnist at CBC Saskatchewan and co-founded the community radio station 91.3 FM CJTR. His daughters Ivy and Anastasia Kuzenko confirmed his death in an Instagram post Friday. “We are so heartbroken to share the news of Dave’s sudden and unexpected passing in hospital,” the post reads. “His family was by his side, and he went gently and with humour as was his nature. This community and the friendships you shared meant the world to him, and we know how much he meant to the music community in Regina. Our dad will be deeply missed and loved forever.” Kuzenko opened Records on Wheels in the Scarth Street Mall in 1987. By 2004, he moved to 11th Avenue and opened X-Ray Records.
Rochester, NY | Records on the rise in Rochester. This is why we love vinyl again. You see signs of it in Rochester and similar cities, with new acolytes and prodigal consumers returning to the fold — the lasting re-birth of vinyl has happened. If you are young and love Taylor Swift, this might feel new. It’s actually a re-boot of a long-standing American hobby of form and function appreciation that lasted a century before almost dying in the early 2000s. One of many vocal fans of the vinyl rebirth is Sigmund Bloom. His mantra: “Get a record player. Start a record collection. Because it’s the ritual. It is marrying music back to ritual. And whenever you take your record out and you handle it very gently, because it’s a precious thing. … it’s a moment in your life when you slow down and you make yourself ready to receive something.” …Love of vinyl has more crossover than ever. Rochester’s recent Record Store Day showed that.
Chattanooga, TN | The Decline of Music Stores: As a longtime music lover, Jay Purdy still gives his money to music stores. Even as everything music has quickly turned into one big online subscription, Jay still prefers the physical copy of the music. If he is making dinner, the Crosley is going to bump some Justin Timberlake. In the car, he still pops in a CD and jams out to TakingBackSunday. Jay believes that the value of music has been diminished by streaming platforms. “There used to be a certain feel on Tuesday’s when new music would come out, everyone anticipated Tuesdays because that’s when new music was released,” Purdy said. “It’s just another day when music comes out on a streaming platform”. In a technology-forward world, will music streaming be the demise of music stores or will vinyls and CDs become vintage and a possible trend for the future?
Indio, CA | Geodes and Musical Gems: Indio’s New Rocks & Records Store Combines Vinyl and Fossils—With an Emphasis on Community. As the city of Indio continues to pour money and effort into revitalizing downtown, new businesses and events are popping up that celebrate arts, culture and community—and one of the latest additions is Rocks & Records. Rocks & Records sells … well, rocks and records. Music fans hoping to add to their vinyl collection, or perhaps start one, can browse the shelves filled with used and new selections, while mineral enthusiasts can view beautiful fossils, crystals, jewelry—and even edible chocolate rocks! While the pairing seems odd, fans of both records and rocks have been in the store since it opened in early February, often after grabbing coffee from Encore Coffee/Little Street Music Hall, or before heading to shop vintage clothing and oddities at Urban Donkey, or after grabbing a bite at Indio Taphouse or Gabino’s Creperie.
MA | Strawberries Records & Tapes was the perfect pick for sweet music: Streaming a song or two can be done quickly and easily. But for some hardcore music fans, nothing beats spending time at a record store combing through bins filled with albums. Reading jacket covers and lyrics, admiring artwork, learning the names of the musicians and producers were all part of an album’s important representation. Vinyl lately has been making somewhat of a comeback, both for used albums and new releases. However, there was nothing like the experience of a record store during its heyday, which included scoring tickets for concerts, artist appearances, and in-store concerts. One business that met the needs of Massachusetts music lovers was Strawberries Records & Tapes (later Strawberries Music & Video), founded in 1972. …At its peak in the 1980s, Strawberries was one of the top ten music store chains in the country, and the leader in the New England market.
Somerville, MA | More Than Music: Bow Market’s Vinyl Index Serves Up Records And Drinks: At a record store in Bow Market, not only can customers browse and buy a variety of vinyl, but they can also enjoy cocktails and other drinks made by the bar next door. Vinyl Index is one of the over 30 small businesses at Bow Market in Somerville, and the store said that their unusual combination of music and alcohol makes for an enjoyable experience for customers. “It’s been a pretty good way to get people to hang out, listen to vinyl, get a drink, [and] just loosen up a little bit,” said Chris Rogers, who works there. In between the store’s bins of vinyl is a 10-foot bar area with stools and communal bench seating where customers can order drinks. The bar next door, Nook, makes the drinks and delivers them to Vinyl Index. Chris shared the ingredients of a drink called Garage Party, which has rum, Campari, pineapple, tang, and lime served over crushed ice. The two stores are able to collaborate in this way because of the particular liquor license situation at Bow Market.
Reykjavík, IS | Welcome to Hermigervill’s Record Corner: The many pitfalls of the streaming era for Icelandic music buffs. Towards the end of December, 2023, I found myself at 12 Tónar on a Thursday — a reliably good night to be there. A tenet of the Reykjavík music scene, the record shop/café/bar consistently hosts vinyl DJ nights, where one can expect obscure and exciting tracks being spun. On that particular night, recognisable musician Sveinbjörn Thorarensen (a.k.a. Hermigervill), was behind the turntables. As he began his set, he announced to the room that he received a test vinyl of his latest record that very day which he wanted to share with us. His record, Switched-On Iceland, comprises covers of classic Icelandic songs using 70s techniques and monophonic synth, featuring a consort of additional instrumentation such as drums, guitars, violins and flutes, performed by Sveinbjörn. The sleeve pays homage to the 1968 record Hljómar II, by the iconic band.
These 5 Vertical Turntables Will Have You Spinning Vinyl at a Whole New Angle: Investing in a vertical record player can allow you to display limited-edition & colorful LPs. Nostalgia is in, and one of the biggest pieces of evidence is the rise in record players and vinyl sales over the past few years. While streaming tunes through Spotify, Amazon Music Unlimited and Apple Music may be most music lovers‘ go-to, vinyl sales comprised of almost half of all album sales in 2022. Traditional turntables lay flat, but vertical turntables are here to flip your view on how you listen to your favorite vinyl. Not only can the design be more compact, but some styles can even be mounted to your wall, making it an elevated piece of decor that collectors can admire. Whether you’re new to turntables or a longtime fan looking for something different, investing in a vertical turntable can allow you to easily check out limited-edition and colorful records with just a glance—you won’t have to stand up and walk over to your record player just to see how much music is left on its side.
Washington, DC | Vinyl records, vintage clothing may continue at Union Station Market: A pop-up holiday market at Union Station featuring local vendors has remained well past its originally planned run and will likely renew its deal again this summer. Union Station Market vendors set up their shops in Union Station’s historic Main Hall every Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., currently scheduled through June 8. The market is run by DCBB Productions owner David Ross, who owns arts and cultural venue Eckington Hall in D.C.’s NoMa neighborhood. Union Station Market is the first-ever artisan market at Union Station. Vendors sell everything from baked goods to jewelry. Among the most popular vendors are those selling old vinyl records, vintage clothing and photos and prints. Vendors pay a $100 weekly fee to set up. Ross’ goal is to grow the market to as many as 15 or 20 vendors per week. Potential vendors can fill out an application online. It is a unique location for vendors.
