For a certain strata of music geek—the collector of physical media—Record Store Day is the best of times and the worst of times.
At first, there’s the tingly sense of anticipation: Twice a year, the RSD overlords manage to assemble an onslaught of (mostly) vinyl exclusives that inevitably contain at least one (or two or three) irresistible limited editions. This causes a month-long inner struggle as RSD approaches, beginning with Do I really want it? and ending with Yes, I do really want it! (For me, it was the last three Miles Davis box sets that impeccably reproduced his 10-inch EPs for Prestige.)
But then comes the realization that other collectors want that stuff, too. Which means you’ll actually have to compete for the items you desire—and hope that the record stores will have them in stock. This has caused no little grumbling among record collectors—who are, by nature, already among the most whiny of sub-nerds. RSD is too commercial! they cry out in online forums. How dare they!
To which I say: Duh. Record Store Day exists to hustle people into independent brick-and-mortar stores to buy stuff they can’t get elsewhere. Limited editions are supposed to be limited—so when you get one, you feel lucky. This creates excitement and reminds people of a time when new music releases were actually meaningful retail experiences rather than impersonal downloads. Some RSD editions may be better than others, but it is essentially a commercial institution that gets people thinking about local record stores. While price gouging or online flipping are legitimate problems, that’s the dark stuff of human nature you can’t control in a free-market economy (though RSD now asks owners to sign a Record Store Day Pledge to refrain from such douchey acts).
Luckily, in Knoxville, RSD is also a day-long celebration at an array of excellent record stores that other cities must surely envy. Here’s the rundown of festivities for Record Store Day on Saturday, April 16.
Live Music:
Disc Exchange
2615 Chapman Hwy., 865-573-5710
Open: 9 a.m.
Bands: EmiSunshine • La Basura Del Diablo • Appalachian Surf Team • Mountain Like Wax • Roomsounds • the Automatic Stops
Food and Drink: Alliance Brewery Brewing Co. • Smoky Mountain Snow • Oishii Knox Food Truck
Tip: There will be drawings at 8:30 a.m. for Forecastle Festival—and early entry into the store—to support the Humane Society of the Tennessee Valley.
Lost and Found Records
3710 N. Broadway, 865-687-5556
Open: 10 a.m.
Bands: Honkonen (noon) • Headface and the Congenitals (1 p.m.) • Roach Eaters (2 p.m.) • the Shazam (3 p.m.) • Bark (4 p.m.) • Wreckless Eric (5 p.m.) • the Cancelled (6 p.m.)
Food and Drink: Yes!
Tip: Nashville band the Shazam is pressing a limited-edition vinyl “Best of …” exclusively for Record Store Day at Lost and Found.
And Sales Galore:
Basement Records
5009 Chapman Highway, 865-573-2182
Open: 8 a.m.
Tip: WNFZ 94.3 FM (94Z) will be doing a live remote.
McKay’s
230 Papermill Place Way, 865-588-0331
Open: 9 a.m.
Tip: McKay’s usually gets a lot of RSD stock, including multiple copies.
Raven Records and Rarities
1200 N Central St., 865-525-9016
Open: 10 a.m.
Tip: Raven will give away a free V-roys CD with any purchase.
Also: Raven is partnering with the revamped Knoxville Uncorked to unveil its new vinyl outpost, complete with turntables. On RSD, DJs Earl Grae (Soultron) and Nikki Nair (Teknox) will be spinning wax. Live remote from WNFZ, 4:30-6:30 p.m.
Wild Honey Records
1206 Kenesaw Ave., 865-588-8823
Open: 8 a.m.
Tip: Wild Honey’s owners are pulling “rare vintage import pressings” out of storage just for RSD.
Editor Coury Turczyn guided Knoxville's alt weekly, Metro Pulse, through two eras, first as managing editor (and later executive editor) from 1992 to 2000, then as editor-in-chief from 2007 to 2014. He's also worked as a Web editor at CNET, the erstwhile G4 cable network, and HGTV.
Share this Post