The day of reckoning for record collectors is upon us once again: The 10th anniversary of Record Store Day (RSD) touches down at independent music shops all across the globe on Saturday, April 22.
It doesn't matter if you're casually dipping your toe into vinyl culture (which, at one point last year surpassed digital album downloads for the first time ever) or are riddled with a diehard obsession (guilty as charged), RSD has your number.
The worldwide phenomenon that started out in 2007 as a small celebration among just a few ma-and-pa shops now encompasses nearly every continent (sans Antarctica, but they're working on that) with limited releases, special reissues, hard-to-find singles and one-time-only RSD exclusives.
This year, big name participants include the Beatles, David Bowie, the Cure, Prince, Spoon, the Black Angels, Coheed and Cambria, the Kinks, the Flaming Lips, Against Me!, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, and many, many others. If you'd like to peruse all of 2017's offerings, the lengthy list of releases can be found right here.
Of course, not every participating record shop will be carrying everything. Quantities are spread out the world over and often shops don't know what they'll be receiving until the shipments show up at their door. However, if you plan on calling various stores on Saturday morning and asking if they're carrying specific titles, you've most likely already lost out on your chance to pick 'em up.
Hot-ticket items are usually snatched by savvy scalpers first 'cause let's be honest -- resale prices on RSD exclusives fetch a hefty profit for those lucky enough to snag them. Capitalism, amirite? So if you're looking for something that's sure to be an in-demand title, your best bet is to enlist a couple buddies to line up at different shops and cross your fingers.
Vinyl won't be the only thing featured at San Diego brick-and-mortar stores though -- several will be in on the RSD action in a big way with big in-store events.
In Your Neighborhood
NBC7 goes in your neighborhood
Carlsbad's Spin Records plays host to Trouble in the Wind (swoon), Soft Lions, the Strawberry Moons, Heather Nation and Shane Hall; M-Theory Records has Wild Wild Wets, Ditches and White Mystery scheduled to play; North Park's Folk Arts Rare Records features sets by Nothingful and Joey Harris & the Mentals; OB's Cow Records gets its store clerk Alfred Howard in on the action with his bands Birdy Bardot, and the Midnight Pine; and Lou's Records has Joseph and Monarch on hand for their festivities up in Encinitas.
That's a lot to soak in, so come Saturday, take your pick and get jiggy with it. (And if you find a copy of Big Star's "Complete Third, Vol. 3: Final Masters," hook this guy up!)
2017 Record Store Day: San Diego's Participating Shops
Cow Records: In-store performances by Birdy Bardot and the Midnight Pine. Hours: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. 5040 Newport Ave., Ocean Beach.
FeeLit Records: DJs performing throughout the day. Skratcher San Diego hosts a portable turntable 'Open Scratch' session from 2 p.m.-7 p.m. Hours: 10 a.m.-7 p.m. 909 E St., East Village.
Folk Arts Rare Records: DJ sets starting at 1 p.m., Nothingful at 3 p.m., Joey Harris & the Mentals at 4 p.m. Brazilian fish stew (moqueca) provided by Bonfim. Hours: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. 3072 El Cajon Blvd., North Park. Note: Here's a list of all the titles they'll definitely have.
Lou's Records: Joseph performing at noon, Monarch play at 3 p.m. Hours: 10 a.m.-9 p.m. 434 N. Coast Highway 101, Encinitas.
M-Theory Records: Sets by Wild Wild Wets, Ditches, and White Mystery start at 2:30 p.m. Free beverages, dollar LP/CD sale, DJs, tacos by Los Slydogz. Hours: 10 a.m.-8 p.m. 915 W. Washington St., Mission Hills.
The Old Well: Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. 2102 3rd St., Julian.
Record City: Hours: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. 3757 Sixth Ave., Hillcrest.
Red Brontosaurus Records: Hours: noon-7 p.m. 3044 North Park Way, North Park.
Spin Records: Sets starting at noon by Trouble in the Wind, Soft Lions, the Strawberry Moons, Heather Nation, and Shane Hall. Free food, all ages welcome. Hours: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. 370 Grand Ave., Carlsbad.
Note: The local RSD event info listed above was collected online and if you're a record store and want your RSD event/info included here, please email me.
Dustin Lothspeich books The Merrow, plays in Diamond Lakes, and runs the music equipment-worshipping blog Gear and Loathing in San Diego. Follow his updates on Twitter or contact him directly.
