Hi I’m The Guy In The Mall Who Hands Out Chicken Feet And I’m All Out Of Chicken Feet

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If you’ve been reading the news lately, you might have seen where we are now best buds with the new pinball spot downtown, Vault 66. Working together we hope to keep this place open more hours during the week and perhaps further expansion, more games, leagues, tournaments, all the fun stuff down the road.

Regular admission to the Vault also gets you access to the Dumb Records arcade, just a block away. Regular admission to the Vault is typically $10, $5 during certain downtown events. The Vault currently has 12 pinball machines, many of which are pretty new. We hope to add more over time along with video arcades.

It is currently located in the old Cafe Moxo dining room on Adams.

Speaking of pinball, our next pinball tournament at Dumb Records is this Friday. Warmups and registration starts at 6, tourney starts at 7. Admission is only $7 and points will be registered with IFPA and PRPA for the event.

Also tonight downtown (Wednesday) is the next Food Not Bombs Karoake fundraiser.

Here are those tasty new releases coming out Friday!
– METALLICA’s 1997 album RELOAD is being reissued. I am pretty sure this is the one that everyone says is their best album, right?
– DROPKICK MURPHYS and HAYWIRE have a split 12″ called “New England Forever” one of those bands played at our store earlier this year, you have to guess which one.
– ALICIA KEYS “Songs In A Minor” is being re-issued.
– FALLING IN REVERSE have a new studio album “The Drug In Me Is You” – we should have copies on exclusive red vinyl.
– A re-issue of the Stax Records compilation “Stax Does The Beatles” (on black and also colored vinyl)
– Rock band TURNOVER have their 6th studio album “Down On Earth” and we will have copies on exclusive green vinyl.
– K-POP group called ZEROBASEONE have a new album out called “Ascend” and there are different album covers for each member of the group! 

This week Pepperoni Picked Billy Joel:

“I new this day would eventually come. It’s time to pick the greatest hits (Volumes I & II) from one of the greatest. One of the greatest songwriters and piano players of all time – Billy Joel. The piano man himself, one of the biggest and most successful pop / rock artists of all time, you know every song on this double LP compilation is a HIT in all caps. I thought about picking his album “The Stranger” because it’s my personal favorite, but then again there’s a whole five songs off of that album on this greatest hits. We sell Billy Joel used records in our store all day long as well, but I figure it wouldn’t be a bad idea to have new copies of his greatest hits at all time! Enjoy!”

Something else fun lately. Brian was visiting the Peoria Riverfront Museum and happened to run into Jerry and Mary Ann Wilam right near the Golden Voice wall. These folks were responsible for recording a lot of great central IL albums in the 70s including the coveted Farm album, Head East, Journey, and more.

WHO ARE YOU THERES ALWAYS A BLOND GUY AT THE DESK

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Sorry I’ve been out for a week or 2 and we have not been updating this site. Well that ends now.

This Sunday we have a show downtown. One of those hardcore things

Here’s all those new vinyls dropping this Friday!

– A bunch of reissues from rapper CHANCE THE RAPPER. This includes his albums “Coloring Book”, “Star Line”, and “The Big Day” – all being pressed to colored vinyl.
– More reissues from MASAYOSHI TAKANAKA (80’s Japanese jazz fushion and city pop). We will have his albums “Natsu Zen Kai” and “Finger Dancin” on colored vinyl.
– Ska punk masterpiece from 1996, THE SUICIDE MACHINES album “Destruction By Definition” is being pressed on red vinyl.
– A new one from hippie jam band GOOSE. Called “Big Modern!” we are not sure what color of vinyl we are getting for that one.

This week Pepperoni picked that polka dot band

“You already know what this is – all weekend every record store in the world has been posting that they are stocked with records from this POLKA DOT BAND aka “Angine De Poitrine.” They are French Canadian, and I’m not even going to try to pronounce that name. This wacky duo is their own beat of math rock, utilizing loops and other pedals in their setup- what’s really impressive is how they pull that off wearing those ridiculous costumes. Just about the buzziest band we’ve seen on the internet in a minute – but do we think their music will hold up when the internet hype dies down? I think it will.”

Since we’re behind on updates, here’s some other stuff that’s been happening. First we had a great time at the Olivia Rodrigo midnight release party.

There was much love for the legendary Los Angeles punk Alice Bag who performed in our downtown store along with another great Chicago punk band Clickbait

Brian and Jeff were spotted together last week at the new pinball spot downtown, Vault 66.

Gallina’s Bathroom Is Broken So They’re Sending Everyone Here

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Time to get on those black duds and come on downtown tonight!

Also this Friday at the Mall we’re having a listening party for the new Paul McCartney album along with giveways, drawing and special color variants of the album only available during the party!

These are all the new records releasing this Friday!

– PAUL McCARTNEY “The Boys Of Dungeon Lane” ! We will have copies on black and pink vinyl in both stores, however there is a silver variant that will only be available at our mall store listening party this Friday at 6pm along with other goodies!
– DANZIG I and DANZIG II are getting re-issued once again (after they just were last month, but we just can’t get enough) – this time on white and red vinyl.
– BOARDS OF CANADA have a brand new album called “Inferno” and we will have copies on red and black vinyl.
– RSD essentials is also reissuing Smashing Pumpkins 1991 debut studio album “Gish” on a purple / silver marbled vinyl!
– American hip hop duo GNARLS BARKLEY have a new album “Atlanta” out and we will have copies on seafoam green.
– Not pictured, but folk artist KURT VILE has a new album “Philadelphia’s Been Good To Me” we will have at both stores as well.

This week Pepperoni picked Ween

“Pepper anyone? This is the 2000 album by American weirdo rock band Ween, “White Pepper.” It’s been unavailable to us on vinyl (along with most of Ween’s other albums) but was recently reissued. I’ve always thought of Ween as a band that is impossible to pin-down genre wise. I mean take a look at this album. It starts off as nice Beatles influenced 90’s sounding pop rock, but then we get to this track “Banana’s And Blow” and it’s clearly Ween doing their version of Jimmy Buffett. Then we take things into the next track “Stroker Ace” and what is this, a fast Motörhead diddy? The album is kind of a wild ride all over the place from there, but trust me it’s good.”

We had fun last Saturday at Pepperoni Pizza’s Hardbody Pinball Tournament. We had a new record number of players at 25!

Due to an absence of some great Springfield Pinball players, Jeff was actually able to get 3rd.

How Does The Ping Pong Work?

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This Saturday is our next Pinball Tournament featuring Peppeorni Pizza’s Hardbody. Come out for prizes and boost your standings with all the official pinball orgs.

Also this Friday we got a heavy show happening Downtown.

Here are all the fresh hot vinyls coming out this Friday!

This week Pepperoni picked Otis Redding

“My pick this week is Otis Redding’s classic album “The Dock of the Bay.” We’re definitely due for more picks to have in our soul section at all times, and this is essential. Dock of the Bay was actually released posthumously – Otis tragically died in a plane crash at 26 years old, and some of the tracks were recorded just days before his death. Some other notable musicians play on this as well including Booker T. Jones and Isaac Hayes.”

Pull up to the Mall for a Wild Ride to Gum Town

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There’s a big weekend coming up with Pride Fest and the Old Capital Art Fair all happening downtown. We’re also hosting a show in our downtown space in support.

Here are the hot new vinyls coming out this Friday:

– THE BEACH BOYS “The Pet Sounds Sessions” – compiling tracks from the band’s 1966 album and its recording sessions onto a double black LP release!
– YUNGBLUD with his fifth studio album “Idols II” out on clear vinyl.
– KING GIZZARD & THE LIZARD WIZARD “Italian Feast” – this is a live recording of a concert in New York last year, out on a 12″ picture disc record, and a 7″ flexi napkin for an all around good meal.
– TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN Part 1 AND Part 2 Soundtracks are coming out on vinyl! One of them is brown and another is red vinyl.
– KEVIN MORBY American songwriter / musician out with a new album “Little Wide Open” on eco-mix vinyl

This week Pepperoni picked the Dead Milkmen

“Big elephant in my front yard… can’t afford to feed him anymore!! This is Philadelphia “cowpunk” band The Dead Milkmen’s debut album from 1985 in case you did not know! It’s been in high demand ever since we opened this here record store and has not gotten a wide re-press that has been available to us pretty much until now. (Let’s hope we are able to keep plenty of copies in stock!) Those of you who know this album know how much of a punk rock classic it is. “Bitchin’ Camaro,” “Nutrition,” “Swordfish” this album has an ENDLESS amount of Dead Milkmen classics, 21 tracks total. Absolutely essential!!”

We have a new sweet boy at the Mall, his name is Oscar. He’ll take your gumballs on a Wild Ride

Oh and a sneak peek into next week, we will be hosting our 2nd Pinball Tournament!

One Hour of Tornado Siren Is Not Enough

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See here for a show coming up this Friday at the downtown record store

Here’s all the new titles coming out on vinyl this Friday
– THE DEAD MILKMEN “BIG LIZARD IN MY BACKYARD” – this one was previously scheduled for later in the month but at some point the release date was bumped to this Friday!!! We ordered a ton!!!
– WEEN has TWO reissues coming out, and we also ordered a ton!! Their 2000 album “White Pepper” and their 2003 album “Quebec” both out on colored vinyl!
– CAMERA OBSCURA’s 2001 indie pop album “Biggest Bluest Hi-Fi” is also getting the re-issue treatment! Finally!!
– A Dumb Records employee favorite THE LEMON TWIGS have a new album out! It’s called “Look For Your Mind” and I don’t know what color we are getting.
– Last but not least THE CLAYPOOL-LENNON DELERIUM have a new ablum with a really long title: “The Great Parrot And The Golden Egg Of Empathy” out on double green vinyl.

This week Pepperoni picked Hamilton

“Here at Dumb Records, we have always been the store where the girls come in and say “ooOOOH MY GoD KaiTYLN TheY HaVE A CAT!!” But after my pick this week, we can also be the store where the girls come in and say “OHHHH MY GOD AMANDA, THEY hAVE HAMILToN 10 SHOTS on VINYL!!!” That is right, Hamilton… 10 shots… as in 10 essential tracks from the Broadway Grammy-award-winning and pulitzer-prize-winning musical. Including tracks “My Shot,” “Satisfied,” and “Wait For It!” Now at both Dumb and Dumber Records!”

Pokemon Should Not Be Smoking Cigarettes IMO

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It’s another week at the record store(s) and we have plenty more things a’happening. Including this hardcore show happening Friday.

Then Saturday we’re getting a helping of free jazz from UIS, happening at the downtown Dumb Record store.

But if you’re just here for the records, then here are all the new ones coming out this Friday

– KACEY MUSGRAVES is back with her seventh studio album “The Middle Of Nowhere”
and we will have copies on “clown rodeo” colored vinyl!
– AMERICAN FOOTBALL are here with “LP4” (their fourth album) and we will have copies on that indie exclusive yellow vinyl.
– THE BLACK KEYS are back with a new album – oh, this is actually a covers album! Called “Peaches,” and we will have copies on peach colored vinyl.
– BILLIE EILISH is here with a TRIPLE live album, “Hit Me Hard And Soft: The Tour” out on blue, red, and yellow vinyl.
– A new one from Irish hip hop trio KNEECAP – called “Fenian” out on a red and black split vinyl.

This week Pepperoni picked Soundgarden

“This evening I’d like to pick one from recent Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame inductees, Soundgarden. This is their fourth album from 1994, “Superunknown.” My 90’s grunge rockers out there this one is for you. It’s got “Spoonman” on it. It’s got “Black Hole Sun” on it. It’s got “Fell On Black Days” and a few other hits. Hey question for you all, do you consider this classic rock at this point? Or do you consider this “dad rock” now even? Either way, we have now on the shelves it at Dumb and Dumber Records!”

Last week all of the American Football fans in Springfield came together to listen to the new album for the first time.

And this week we debuted the new Hardbody Pinball – Pepperoni Pizza edition! Come get ripped in the arcade!

This Man Is 2 Megadeths Deep And Says I Have a Bad Attitude

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We just had a great Record Store Day. The biggest one yet. I know we say that every year, but it is true

People lined up at both stores and were not stopped by the overnight storms and the cold that followed

We were happy to see many walk away with what they were hoping to get.

People are learning the mall store is just as packed with the goods as downtown and the lines were almost equal. Let’s do it again next year!

Anyway, we can’t take a break just yet, there’s still a lot going on this week.

Here are the new vinyls dropping this Friday:

– NOAH KAHAN with “The Great Divide” – double LP, there are actually THREE different vinyl variants that we are getting for this including rust-colored, an indie exclusive brown, and an indie exclusive “cigarette smoke” vinyl. We will be taking pre-orders for these at the advance listening party tonight!
– FOO FIGHTERS with their 12th studio album “Your Favorite Toy” we will have on red vinyl!
– Oh and you know the MICHAEL JACKSON biopic is dropping this weekend, so we will have the vinyl available!
– RINGO STARR (85 years old) has a NEW ALBUM of original material out called “The Long Road” and we will have copies on vinyl!
– The Elvis Presley “EPiC: Elvis Presley In Concert” from Elvis live in Vegas will be available as well on vinyl!

This week Pepperoni picked Disintegration

“I want to wish a very special 67th birthday to my good friend Robert Smith! This is his band The Cure’s 1989 album, Disintegration. Their eighth studio album, (and it’s a long one at an hour and twelve minutes) was the bands return to a darker / gothier side compared to their previous couple of albums. Some claim it to be their best album (Jeff tells me this was a running bit on South Park). The hits on this one include “Lullaby,” “Lovesong,” and “Pictures Of You.” Pick up a copy at Dumb and Dumber Records if you are looking to build your collection of The Cure!”

Also this Thursday at the Mall we are hosting an Advanced Listening party for the new American Football album.

Plus we just hosted an Advanced Listening party for Noah Kahan’s new album on Tuesday where over 50 people came out to listen to the new album for the first time and get a free poster.

And this Saturday we are hosting a benefit show downtown for Intricate Minds. I assume this show will be hardcore flavored.

Record Store Day Saturday April 18th!

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RSD is coming up quick, even the mailman is excited. We printed bags and shirts with our exclusive RSD 2026 design. Each store will have 50 of each for the first 100 people in line.

We just published on Facebook all the titles where we only received 1 copy and which store to find those. Titles not on the list will be available at both stores. People can start lining up at the mall starting no earlier than 5am. People can start lining up downtown whenever. Also coffee and donuts will be available downtown.

If you’re coming to the mall to line up, the line will at this entrance (pictured) next to Simon Youth Learning Academy.

Something brand new we’re offering this time is our first actual Dumb Recs Plushies! You can get your own stuffed Pepperoni and Green Elephant!

This Sunday we’re hosting Park, Spitalfield, and Danny Stevens. You’ll want to get your tickets in advance

This week Pepperoni picked Mac Demarco

“I have not yet picked an album from Canadian musician boy Mac DeMarco. This is his second album “Salad Days” from 2014. This was actually recorded in his New York apartment, on a Fostex A-8 recording machine, I guess really giving it that lofi bedroom feel. This is some indie, jangly type rock. Make you feel good. Pick up a copy at Dumb Records or Dumber Records today!”

We had fun hosting our first sanctioned pinball tournament last weekend with the Pokemon Launch Party. We had 22 contestents show up, many driving in from out of town to get those sweet IFPA and PRPA points.

Brian ended up winning it, beating out many top state pinballers. Kat Davis came in 2nd and Chris O’Brien 3rd. Not that winning is that big a’deal. Anything can happen during a tournament and even if you don’t end up winning, hanging out with other pinball nerds is a lotta fun.

We’re going to make this a monthly thing so stay tuned for the next pinball tournament announcement.

We’ve Traced The Call, It’s Coming From Inside The American Football House

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Next week is the BIG EVENT, which of course is Record Store Day on Saturday April 18th. People can line up for a chance at over 350 exclusive titles coming out only on that day.

First 100 people in (50 for each location), will have a chance to get this free exclusive shirt. Also a few of these will be for sale at the Pokemon Pinball Party this Saturday!!

Speaking of that, this Saturday is our first truly sanctioned pinball launch party and tournament, celebrating our new Pokemon pinball machine. This tournament will allow participants to bank points for the big pinball tournament orgs IFPA and PRPA. Should be a good time, warmups and registration start at 6 and tournament starts at 7. there will be at least 5 rounds of qualifying followed by the finals.

Also this show is happening this week on Thursday downtown.

Here are the hot new vinyls coming out this Friday

• LAUFEY is here with the deluxe version of her latest album “A Matter Of Time,” this is “A Matter Of Time: The Final Hour” and it’s on a yellow/green/blue colored vinyl.
• Reissues from THE CRAMPS for their 1980 and 1981 albums “Songs The Lord Taught Us” and “Psychedelic Jungle”
• Surely all the Misfits fans will be freaking out to know that the first four DANZIG albums are finally getting reissued on black vinyl! That’s Danzig, Danzig II, Danzig III, and Danzig 4!!!

This week Pepperoni picked Jimmy Buffett

“Uhhhh… coconut? It’s a beautiful day in Margaritaville, aka Dumb Records where we have as many copies of Jimmy Buffett’s greatest hits as you could possibly need! Park your boats outside (it’s free parking on the street, just two hour parking) and come on in you Parrot-heads. This has 13 tracks of Jimmy’s greatest. From “Cheeseburger In Paradise” to “Volcano” enjoy!

Meanwhile, Scott has put together a new crate of waaaay out there records at the mall for everyone to check out.