photo by Jonathon Augustine
words by Andrew Norman | Recycled Sounds video by Jonathon Augustine
"This is awkward," I say, standing at the counter about to purchase Ideal Cleaners' Tag, Your Ick at Lefty's Records in Lincoln. Dan Jenkins, the band's frontman has just walked into the little shop on South Street, and he makes a joke about his 7-inch being the best buy in the entire store. He's being facetious, but it's clear he's happy to see his music actually being purchased.
Paying money for music doesn't happen nearly enough these days. But there's no doubt the vinyl resurgence we've all heard so much about is critical to making it happen again. This year's Record Store Day, on Saturday, April 21, got me out to three Lincoln record stores to do my part. Celebrated at more than 700 independently owned record stores across the world, it's an excuse to get offline and in front of of actual humans who care passionately about an antiquated art form that refuses to die. It's an art that's evolving intelligently through limited-edition releases, creative packaging and digital downloads.
I saw big crowds at Lefty's, Backtrack Records (where the line was reportedly around the block before it opened) and Recycled Sounds. And I took home some great scores. We asked our readers to send us photos of their Record Store Day finds, which you can find below. Jonathon Augustine of the bands Masses, Bus Gas and Kill County also put together this video at Recycled Sounds. Lastly, at the very bottom, you'll find a live performance of Bol'd Crow at Lefty's Records.
Jacob McCaffery: S.F. Sorrow by The Pretty Things; Real Estate by Real Estate; cassette by Noah Sterba & the Cocktails; Ready for the House by Jandek; and Alien Lanes by Guided by Voices.
Sean McCarthy: Horses by Patti Smith; This is Buddy Guy by Buddy Guy; Destroyer's Rubies by Destroyer; No Depression by Uncle Tupelo; and The Flaming Lips and Heady Fwends by The Flaming Lips and others, all purchased at Drastic Plastic.
Andrew Norman: Generals 7-inch by The Mynabirds and Hotter than July by Stevie Wonder at BACKTRACK RECORDS; and Tag, You're Ick by Ideal Cleaners and Born in the USA by Bruce Springsteen at Lefty's Records.
Jon Pitts: Calm Kids by Conchance at Antiquarium Records in Omaha.
Todd Rischling of Dude Won't Die: Wrecking Ball by Bruce Springsteen at Backtrack Records.
Bol'd Crow live at Lefty's Records
Andrew Norman is Hear Nebraska's editor-in-chief, and Jonathon Augustine is a Hear Nebraska contributor. Augustine plays in Masses, Bus Gas and Kill County. Reach Andrew at andrewn@hearnebraska.org.