Music News & Notes

Are record shops worth saving?

by Donald Bell

Last Saturday, independent music retailers organized a national Record Store Day, complete with in-store freebies and exclusive releases from dozens of bands who want to see these business survive. As someone who spent two of the best years of my youth working at an independent record store, I have a nostalgic attachment to these mom-and-pop shops.

I don't know if I was motivated more by sentimentality or pity, but I felt an obligation to honor the spirit of the day and visit my local music store. The shop was ripped right out of "High Fidelity," and contained all the requisite elements for an indy music store: aloof, yet knowledgeable staff; equal ratios of vinyl and CDs; postered walls; a selection of local music; and a lazy pet cat. But nostalgia aside, I couldn't shake the reality that stores like this can't last much longer.

It's a shame, because some aspects of shopping in a record store haven't (or can't) translate into the world of online music. I'm not delusional enough to think that everyone should go back to buying CDs or LPs, but at the same time, my gut tells me that music consumers (and our culture in general) may realize all too late that there's something worth preserving about today's endangered music shops.

Read the rest of the article here: Save Record Shops




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KORPIKLAANI: New Album



KORPIKLAANI will release a new single, "Vodka", in late May via Nuclear Blast Records. Personally, I would buy the release just for the album cover art, amazing stuff. It will be made available in the following formats:

* "Vodka" (Single) - Finland only (May 27)
CDS (Finland)
01. Vodka
02. Juodaan Viinaa

* "Vodka" (Single) (May 29)
Digital Single
01. Vodka
02. Juodaan Viinaa

"Vodka" (Single) (May 29)
* 7" Picture Vinyl
Side A:
01. Vodka
Side B
01. Juodaan Viinaa

KORPIKLAANI will soon headline the Paganfest in the U.S. alongside PRIMORDIAL, MOONSORROW, BLACKGUARD and SWASHBUCKLE. The group will also perform at the Barby Club in Tel Aviv, Israel on October 16.

KORPIKLAANI's last CD, "Korven Kuningas", came out on March 21, 2008. The CD entered the album chart in the band's home country at position No. 16.

"Korven Kuningas" was released as a limited first edition with bonus tracks and on white colored vinyl. There is also a strictly limited digipak version (limited and numbered to 500 copies) which includes a drinking horn on a wall holder.

SOURCE: blabbermouth.net

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Aerosmith Classics Go Live?

Joe Perry related to VH1 Classic Radio that Aerosmith is talking about performing one of their classic albums in its entirety when the go on tour in June.

“I think Toys In The Attic would be fun. We do a lot of songs off the first four records anyway. We’ve jammed on Uncle Salty on stage a few times. I don’t know. The later records with more songs on them, they would take up too much time in the set. We need to leave some room for some of the other standards."

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Dylan, Mellencamp and Nelson Tour

Rolling Stone has reported that there had been several clues that Bob Dylan, John Mellencamp and Willie Nelson may be hitting the road to play minor league baseball parks this summer. The official announcement of the tour, which will run from July 2 through August 14, was made today with dates scheduled in parks around the U.S.

According to Dylan's website, this is only the second time in the past 24 years that these three have shared the stage. Tickets will be general admission, priced at a reasonable $67.50, with children 14 and under getting in for free with each adult ticket holder.

Some of the dates:

07/02/09 - Sauget, IL - GCS Ballpark
07/04/09 - South Bend, IN - Stanley Coveleski Stadium
07/08/09 - Louisville, KY - Louisville Slugger Field
07/10/09 - Dayton, OH - Fifth Third Field
07/11/09 - Eastlake, OH - Classic Park
07/13/09 - Washington, PA - CONSOL Energy Park
07/14/09 - Allentown, PA - Coca-Cola Park
07/15/09 - New Britain, CT - New Britain Stadium
07/19/09 - Syracuse, NY - Alliance Bank Stadium
07/21/09 - Pawtucket, RI - McCoy Stadium
07/23/09 - Lakewood, NJ - FirstEnergy Park
07/24/09 - Aberdeen, MD - Ripken Stadium
07/25/09 - Norfolk, VA - Harbor Park
07/28/09 - Durham, NC - Durham Bulls Athletic Park
07/29/09 - Knoxville, TN - Smokies Park
08/04/09 - Round Rock, TX - Dell Diamond
08/05/09 - Corpus Christi, TX - Whataburger Field
08/07/09 - Grand Prairie, TX - Quiktrip Park
08/11/09 - Glendale, AZ - Camelback Ranch
08/12/09 - Las Vegas, NV - Cashman Field Amphitheatre
08/14/09 - Fresno, CA - Chukchansi Park