Ashland, OR | ‘It’s all about the people’: Ashland’s newest record store works to create a welcoming vibe: Longtime record store owner Robbie Petterson only signed a two-year lease for his newest store, Shattered Music, in downtown Ashland. He says he’s not in it for the long haul or to make money — he’s in it to sell music and talk about music. Shattered Music, already a quarter of the way through its lease, is well-stocked with an eclectic variety of records (and CDs and cassettes) and seeing great business, according to Petterson. “I didn’t want to be here longer,” Petterson said. “I just wanted to have a great time here and enjoy the community, bring something good.” Working side-by-side with Beau Dillard, the two aim to create a welcoming environment in their store at 64 N. Pioneer St., between Three Penny Mercantile on the corner of Main Street and Taqueria Picaro at mid-block. “First impressions are huge,” Dillard said.
Grand Rapids, MI | Rock Royalty Roots: Metallica bassist’s nephew opens Grand Rapids record store: Vinyl records are making a comeback. According to the Recording Industry of America, more than 43 million LPs were sold last year. The newest record store in Grand Rapids is hoping to capitalize on the trend. “I opened a couple of Saturdays ago. I’ve always loved records for a long time,” said store owner Ben Newsted. Boomtown Records just opened, and the record store has more than 2500 LPs. Newsted said, “Everybody seems to think I have a pretty good selection.” Despite the technology being from another time, people are still drawn to the format. “People still just like the physical touch of the record. It’s nice and big. The album art is cool, sounds warmer than digital,” said Newsted. Located on Plainfield Avenue, customers are glad to have a record store in the Creston Neighborhood.
Detroit, MI | Record store Somewhere In Detroit now open to public without appointment: Starting from this weekend, the shop will be open every Saturday from 3 PM through 7 PM. Techno lovers can now visit Somewhere In Detroit without an appointment for the first time. Submerge Distribution announced the news on Instagram yesterday, August 13th, confirming that the store will be open every Saturday from 3 PM through 7 PM, beginning this weekend, August 17th. Located at 3000 East Grand Boulevard, Somewhere In Detroit is dedicated to the rich legacy of electronic music in the Motor City. The shop, a concept initially developed by Mike and Bridgette Banks, features labels such as Underground Resistance, Limited Network and Yaxteq. Revisit Roland’s Somewhere In Detroit mini-documentary, and browse Instagram for more information.
Seattle, WA | Chinatown Records: A Music and Memory Project Comes to Seattle: DJ Rochelle “YiuYiu 瑶瑶” Kwan collects much more than vinyl, connecting and preserving Asian American stories through music. A hub for community and truly one of its kind, Chinatown Records is a music and memory project started by cultural organizer, oral historian, and DJ Rochelle “YiuYiu 瑶瑶” Kwan. From Chinatown block parties to listening sessions to collecting family histories, the project has steadily grown and taken on greater cultural significance since its origin in New York City and is going on its first tour — Seattle being its fifth stop. Though some might cast Kwan as just a DJ spinning vinyl of Chinese music, Chinatown Records is more than just a music gig. It’s a tale of preservation, connection, and a way for everyone to unearth the storytellers within themselves. “I’d like to think of Chinatown Records as having quite a few different origin stories,” Kwan says.
Washington, DC | Cassette tapes are making a comeback with Gen Z. Do they know the pencil trick? For a generation that’s grown up with streaming music, the act of holding a physical recording is something a lot of young music fans have never experienced. My teenage son asked for a turntable, to play what young people these days now call “vinyls.” His almost-new turntable and the one LP he’s bought sits on his dresser. Meanwhile, he’s constantly listening to music on his phone through AirPods. His slightly older sister is content to listen to Spotify. So, news that more and more members of Gen Z are purchasing cassette tapes by current hitmakers, including Taylor Swift, Charli XCX and Ariana Grande, is enough to both intrigue and cause my parental finger to start wagging. For a (former) kid, who got his driver’s license when he was young enough to install an 8-track player, and who remembers the joy of creating cassette mixtapes for car trips, I felt obliged to inform my daughter of the potential drawbacks.
How to Buy a Vintage Stereo That Looks as Good as It Sounds: A 1970s hi-fi system can improve the sound of your music and the look of your home. As the saying goes, “They don’t make ’em like they used to.” There has lately been a resurgence in love for the hi-fi. Sales of vinyl records have increased steadily every year since 2006, many American cities now host listening bars, and old-school audio gear is more in demand than it’s been in decades. “I’ve been doing this for 10 years and I’ve probably seen, just for the normal vintage receiver and speakers, the price has probably gone up three to four times,” says Steve Messinger, owner of Fly Hifi, a shop in the Sacramento, California, area that specializes in buying, selling, and servicing vintage audio equipment. A few different factors, I think, have contributed to this. One is a newly reactionary desire for physical equipment, stuff you can push and pull and bop and twist, in a world where everything else is controlled by smearing a finger on a glass screen.
Nashville, TN | ‘888’ Brings Japanese Cuisine and Vinyl Vibes to Nashville: …Catering to sound and vinyl connoisseurs, foodies, and design enthusiasts, 888’s introduction to Nashville represents a reprieve from the crowds. It offers an intimate, communal dining experience akin to listening to a mixtape being made in real time. Nestled at the corner of 8th Avenue South, at 800 Clark Place, with a private entrance (look for the red light), 888 invites guests to an immersive experience that challenges both culinary and creative conventions. The concept takes inspiration from the traditional Jazz kissas of Japan, where consumers would convene for food and exceptional musical listening experiences. With a seating capacity of 100 — including two sushi bars, a private dining room, and central cocktail island—the venue delivers an atmosphere that is both exciting and distinctive.
Coraline – 15th Anniversary Edition: Mondo Music, in partnership with Laika, are proud to present the 15th anniversary soundtrack to the 2009 stop-motion animated masterpiece Coraline. For this special anniversary edition, we were excited to collaborate with Laika on a new hand-assembled, custom packaging design, featuring gatefold artwork by Dylan Aldaine and cover art courtesy of Laika themselves. Best of all, the gatefold opens to reveal a pop-up replica of the Pink Palace Apartments engineered by Mondo’s Jordan Christianson. Pre-orders for the Cornetto Vinyl and Black Button Picture Disc variants begin Wednesday, August 14 at NOON CT … only at MondoShop.com. And keep an eye out for additional variants coming soon from Laika and some of our favorite retail partners.
