Happy Record Store Day

By now, the resurgence of vinyl has been widely reported, with people buying them again in historic numbers. But the story still needs to be told that local record stores play an important role in their local communities. Record Store Day was born out of a debt of appreciation that bands and record labels felt was owed to the small indie stores that had supported them for so long, in a time when the death of physical music was all anyone ever heard.
Today, lots of indie record stores, like Monster Music & Movies in West Ashley, dot the landscape. Twelve million records were reported sold in 2015 and lots of sales go unreported.
According to Monster Music manager Galen Hudson, it’s not about the dollar. It’s about the community, the connectivity, and ensuring the longevity of the industry. Record stores support and nurture local bands, with local clubs and local radio chipping in to yield a symbiosis that you don’t see in most industries. People learn about new music from their local record store. Make new friends. Even meet their future spouses in record stores. Most of all, record stores provide an atmosphere so lacking in other retail outlets. It’s the perfect link between art and commerce.
On Saturday the 16th, Monster Music will be opening early and conducting a day-long celebration with food, prizes, live music, a storewide sale, and a charity drive with Charleston Animal Society. More than 350 limited, exclusive vinyl records have been created for this day and will be available only at participating independent record stores.
Bands helping to celebrate the day with live performances will be High Divers, Honeysmoke, She Returns From War, Sex Wax, Matt Megrue & the Daisy Chains, Hale Bopp Astronauts, Forty Mile Detour and Mr. Rosewater. Live music begins at 12 p.m., doors open at 8 a.m.
Food offerings will be delicious and diverse, with Platia (Greek), Pacha Mama (Columbian), and Fauzia’s Kitchen (Turkish) food trucks on site all day.
Charleston Animal Society will be on site with pets available for adoption, and Monster will be accepting donations of food and needed supplies, with donors being registered to win Monster gift cards. Jason’s Jump Castles will return with jumping fun for all ages.
“We encourage everyone to come out and see what it’s all about. It’s a community-wide party and you’re invited,” says Hudson.
Record Store Day will start at 8 a.m. on Saturday, April 16 at Monster Music & Movies, located at 946 Orleans Road. For more information, call 571-4657 or visit www.monstermusicsc.com.