Solvang, CA | New vinyl and vintage store opens in Solvang: A destination for vinyl enthusiasts and vintage collectors recently came on the scene. A new haven for music lovers has sprung up in Solvang, blending nostalgia with a touch of modernity in the heart of Jensen’s Copenhagen Square. Off the Record Vinyl & Vintage celebrated its grand opening on May 18. The event featured live music from the San Luis Obispo-based band Doobious Company, described on the store’s Instagram as sounding as “if Sublime and Amy Winehouse had a kid that was babysat by Incubus.” Attendees enjoyed specialty drinks crafted by a local mixologist, snacks from local and regional busines…Owned by Michael Casey, Off the Record Vinyl & Vintage aims to “save some of the past for the future” by offering a variety of vintage goods, vinyl records, and vintage and contemporary audio equipment. The store has a unique collection of old radio cassette tape decks, record players, and a large collection of records. …The store also serves as an educational experience for younger generations.
Cape Girardeau, MO | How two music lovers opened their Missouri community’s first record store and lounge: Spectrum Record Lounge is becoming a community cornerstone, as one popular Southeast Missouri border city’s first and only record store — combining the owners’ love of music and meeting for a drink in one retro spot. “It’s a nice symbiotic relationship between the record store and the bar,” said Travis Tyson, co-founder of Spectrum Record Lounge. “I think they definitely help each other out. It’s just a cool vibe in here, and people like hanging out.” In recent years, Travis Tyson and Parker Bond, owners of Spectrum Record Lounge, have introduced live music, karaoke and seasonal cocktails, turning the location into more than just a place to find rare vinyl but also a fun third space to spend time in. “It’s a brand new business,” Bond said. “We’re letting our customer base steer things to suit them better. It’s this machine that’s constantly changing, but it’s also constantly getting better and better.”
Pittsburgh, PA | Pittsburgh vinyl shop now sells $1.5M of albums a year: A Pittsburgh record store which was on the brink of closure in 2000 is now booming once again thanks to a resurgence in vinyl. The Attic Record Store, which first opened in 1980, has survived recessions, streaming and even acts of God to survive as one of a handful of independent record stores in the area. The beloved store now turns over around $1.5 million a year in album sales, as young and old flock to its shelves on a daily basis. Most surprisingly of all, while many record stores have embraced online ordering, owner Fred Bohn Jr. has bucked the trend with a more analogue approach. ‘We don’t sell anything online,’ he told the Wall Street Journal. ‘If you sell all your best stuff on the internet, it’s not as fun for people to come to the store.’
Seaport, MA | Listening Lounges Are Hot: Check Out A Chic New Vinyl Bar In Seaport: Everything that’s old is cool again. Case in point, listening lounges are back. These are swanky spots serving creative cocktails and funky fun food while a DJ plays vinyl records. Here we go Boston, a chic new vinyl bar in Seaport has opened! Headroom Hi-Fi Cocktail Lounge can be found at Trillium Brewing’s Fort Point location. The website describes this chi chi spot at “a vibrant space where the familiar and the unfamiliar meet to create an experience you’ll crave in an environment you’ll want to return to again and again.” …Headroom features a DJ booth with (you guessed it) 2 turntables, a Mcintosh tube amp and “carefully curated set lists from our deep library of vinyl” as described on their website. Yes, this vibey place is music forward, but there is also a fab menu of shareable food. Scallop Crudo, oysters and deviled eggs are a few of the munchies on the menu.
IN | A sonic renaissance: The resurgence of vinyl and physical media in the modern age: In the past thirty years, there has been a resurgence in the popularity of vinyl. In a dimly lit room, the setting sun’s rays breach your solitude as you handle your prized vinyl. The turntable stands ready, and a rack of records decorates the wall. With utmost care, you remove an exquisite jacket to reveal a fragile David Bowie record. As dusk falls, you place the record on the platter, anticipating Bowie’s enchanting voice. The moment the groove starts, the evening is marinated in nostalgia, showcasing the indelible power of the 12-inch long play (LP). …There is a strong connection between our emotions and memories, and music serves as a powerful conduit for triggering specific feelings through its sound. Whether it’s the melody, lyrics, or rhythm, music has the potential to evoke nostalgia and deeply personal experiences.
Sequim, WA | Sequim Record Show bringing the jams: Clearly a lover of music, Gary Butler—who founded the Sequim Record show in 2023—lists among his favorites Tom Petty, Nathaniel Rateliff, and arena rock from the 1970s. He and the other music lovers prepped to staff the event are eager to open their collections up to the public at large this week. The Sequim Record Show is dropping the needle for the second time from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday, June 8, at the Guy Cole Event Center, 144 N. Blake Ave. …Last year’s inaugural show saw a steady stream of customers from opening to close. Many of the vendors reported personal best days. Among the first year’s customers was Sequim DJ Colin Schmidt — or DJ Raw Kale Salad. Schmidt plays vinyl exclusively during his wedding and party sets. “People are excited and interested to see me working with vinyl,” Schmidt said. While DJ-ing from a computer is still the norm, his approach gives another level of credibility and an authentic sound to many of the genres he plays.
Best cassette players 2024: Rekindle your love for analogue tapes with a too-cool-for-school cassette player: The humble cassette tape, once the world’s default portable music format, is back in fashion. Here are the best cassette players you can buy right now. Cassette players are staging a comeback. The original portable audio format is capturing the imagination of music fans once again, as sales creep back from the boot sale of oblivion. The compact cassette was a Hi-Fi fixture for decades, both as a pre-recorded alternative to vinyl and later CD, and as a home recording format, where it was used for everything from mixtapes, to bootlegging live shows. It also famously ushered in a revolution in personal listening, when Sony introduced the Walkman in the 1980s. Eventually though, technology made the format redundant. Digital audio took over, first with alternatives like Mini Disc and Digital Audio Tape (DAT), and then MP3 and streaming. Yet against all odds, it’s now back and selling again.
The 8 Best Vinyl Accessories, Picked By an Expert: Peter Hahn, the co-owner of the Turntable Lab, the New York-based, go-to music shop for professional DJs, musicians and audiophiles, selects his favorite vinyl accessories. Whether you’re a beginner, having just bought an entry-level turntable and a solid pair of bookshelf speakers, or you’re an audiophile-slash-music-professional who already has a badass vinyl setup and an extensive collection of records, you can always add accessories to your system — turntable weight, preamp, record cleaner and sleeves — and take it to the next level. For those interested in doing just that, we’ve requested the help of Peter Hahn, co-owner of the Turntable Lab, the New York-based go-to music shop for professional DJs, musicians and audiophiles. Hahn has curated his “best vinyl accessories” below and explained why they’re necessary for your soon-to-be-elevated system.
