Do you like music? Do you like supporting local, independent small businesses that function as IRL hubs for appreciation of the arts? Then we know what you’ll be doing this Saturday when Record Store Day takes over the city’s music shops—and Bushwick based celebrants don’t even need to leave the neighborhood to check out a plethora of places with a wide range of specialties! So do the day right. Be strategic. Put the kind of care into your agenda as you do categorizing your collection. Visit your favorite spots around town (make sure you swing by LES mainstay Deadly Dragon one last time), then explore the offerings in your own back yard, listed here in no particular order. Happy vinyl hunting!
1. Vinyl Fantasy, record and comic book store at 94 Knickerbocker Ave, Bushwick, every Monday to Friday 2-7 PM, Saturday 2-7 PM. and Sunday 12-5 PM.
Stocked with rare records, tapes, comics and graphics, Vinyl Fantasy is rad all year long. As a thanks to the humans who support that, they’re putting out some RSD releases tonight exclusively to their regulars, but swing through Saturday to snag remaining RSD swag!
2. Rebel Rouser music and book store at 867 Broadway, Brooklyn, every Monday to Sunday noon to 8 PM.
Rebel Rouser is a Narnia of rarities. Buried in the crust punk dream that is Bushwick’s Flea Market Alley, they’ve got LPs, 45s, vintage books, horror mags, rare comics, cult and horror VHSs, and vintage clothes. They kill it every day. RSD is no exception. Get $1 records two for one, or a free tote or shirt when you spend $30 or $40 dollars respectively. There are also some secret giveaways happening on Record Store Day (intrigue)!
Chill with the Rebel crew when they take a break from the alley for their free DJ night at the SoHo Grand on August 28. Rebel Rouser Club House features guest DJ Lenny Kaye and goes from 10 PM. to 2 AM.
3. Deep Cuts Record Store record store at 57-03 Catalpa Ave, New York, every Thursday, Saturday and Sunday noon to 8 PM. and Fridays 1 to 8 PM.
Time to get acrobatic, people. Deep Cuts has tote bags for $10 (normally $15) that you can fill with as many records as you can from the $1 bin (All those Trader Joe’s runs have prepared us for this). Even better, if you already have a Deep Cuts tote, you can still fill it with $1 records for free. Dreams really do come true.
Also, get stoked for monthly, backyard BBQs at Deep Cuts this summer!
4. Human Head Records New and used vinyl record store at 168 Johnson Ave, Brooklyn, Monday to Sunday noon to 8 PM.
The dudes at Human Head Records are not messing around this year. The entire store, vinyl and equipment, is 20% off. They also have a casual 6000+ records outside for 25 cents and will be dropping never before seen, one-day only inventory on Saturday.
Plan to hang. They’ll be DJing in front and grilling out back.
5. Superior Elevation Records music store at 100 White St, # B, Brooklyn, Monday to Sunday noon to 7 PM.
It’s Superior Elevation’s first birthday this weekend. So that’s like, double the dopeness. They’ve got sales, cassettes, limited edition shirt, magazines, drinks and giveaways. Oh, and a killer in-store DJ event. Because duh. Commencing lineup : Danny Krivit, Jacques Renault, Jex Opolis, Felipe Mendez, and Tom Noble. Check out the flyer.
6. Tropicalia in Furs Pop Up Shop at Double 6 Studio, 66 Green St., Greenpoint. April 16 and 17, 1 to 10 PM.
After closing in 2013, this East Village relic has been bouncing between the coasts with their pop up shop collection of Brazilian vinyl. This Saturday, they’re back at it again in Greenpoint with a free event that sounds seriously kaleidoscopic. Float among the orange walls at Double 6 Studio perusing the video art and gogo dancing. DJs Jonathan Toubin and Josh Styles will be spinning a “maximum rock ‘n’ soul” show. Live blues music will also be a thing, with sets from Daddy Long Legs and Gregory Stovetop. We’re not saying drink some kava tea before you go. But we’re also not, NOT saying it.
As tight as RSD is, supporting local shops outside of isolated events and ‘holidays’ such as these is what really rules. Here’s some more record stores in the hood that aren’t doing anything in particular this Saturday but are still super sick.
7. Northern Lights Records used record shop at 21 Lawton Street, Brooklyn, Monday to Sunday noon to 8 PM.
8. Heaven Street vinyl record store at 184 Noll Street Office 1, Brooklyn, Monday to Sunday noon to 8 PM.
9. Norman’s Sound and Vision music and record shop at 555 Metropolitan Ave, Brooklyn, 9 AM.-10 PM. this Saturday. Normally Monday to Wednesday 9 AM to 8 PM. Thursday to Friday 9 AM. to 9 PM. and Saturday to Sunday noon to 5 PM.
10. The Crate/Wrecords by Monkey Brooklyn based jewelry and design firm that bridges the worlds of fashion, art, and music at 304 Boerum St, Brooklyn, Tuesday to Sunday noon to 8 PM.
Go get that black gold, Bushwick!
