Celebrate Independent Record Store Day In Dubuque, This Saturday
Independent Record Store Day is upon us. A time to shuffle through boxes and flats of hidden glories. Vinyl's, deep cuts, classics, and the latest cuts from all the huge artist, mingle together in a sea cardboard and plastic.
And Dubuque just so happens to have one of the coolest stores around in Moondog Music. If there was ever an album I was looking for, Moondog always came through.
Did you know the first independent record store day took place in 2008.
In fact according to recordstoreday.com, the great rockers of Metallica spent hours at Rasputin Music in San Francisco meeting their fans. Since then, hundreds of artists (both internationally famous and local) gather at record stores around the world for performances, signings, meet and greets, and, at its core, to buy and share music.
In 2009, Jesse "Boots Electric" Hughes (Eagles of Death Metal) declared himself the "Record Store Day Ambassador" as a way of shouting out how important the stores were to artists and since then Joshua Homme (Eagles of Death Metal, Them Crooked Vultures, Queens of the Stone Age), Ozzy Osbourne, Iggy Pop, Jack White, Chuck D, Dave Grohl, Metallica, St. Vincent, Run The Jewels, Pearl Jam, Brandi Carlile, Fred Armisen and Taylor Swift have worn the annual ceremonial sash.
But I digress, record store day is also, and especially, for the die-hard fan. It's for the guy that's on his fifth album of Master, In Utero, or even... Significant Other (you know it's true guys). And I've always found them all, when I was looking at Moondog Music. And hey, they just so happen to be having a sale, and you may want hit this one up...
And while you're there, remember it's more than just records and music; it's also equal parts apparel, posters, water pipes, skateboards, and incense. And yet it is so much more. The record store is a place to explore new musical styles and pay homage to the greats of the past. Not to mention, supporting local businesses that keep music booming in local communities is pretty cool. And honestly, vinyl sounds just a little bit warmer, if you ask me...