It Was A Record Store Day

Record Store Day has come and gone. We had our biggest day yet. It was the most titles we’ve ever stocked and a huge line despite the cold, and the most records we’ve sold in a single day. The earliest campers got in line around 5pm Friday night. We opened at 8am and had a line at the store until sometime after 11am. We need a bigger store.

Here’s our staff photo we took the night before as we got ready for the event. These shirts were available to the first 100 people to make it in Saturday morning.

But not only was it Record Store Day, it was also the weekend of a new Taylor Swift release! This time her album came out with 4 variants available to Indie record store. The normal white cover, and then 3 variants each with a different bonus track. That Taylor is getting pretty crafty! We have helped a lot of confused parents and grandparents with figuring which one they were supposed to get! We also received the special postcards that we handed out to first few people coming in for the variants.

We’ve been very busy processing online orders and trying to get back to normal business all week and perhaps by Friday we’ll finally be there.

Diving in to those FRIDAY RELEASE HIGHLIGHTS which just happens to be TOMORROW’s releases:
– ST. VINCENT has a brand new album “All Born Screaming” – we should have copies on plain black and also exclusive red vinyl.
– IRON & WINE have a brand new album “Light Verse” available on black and also nifty clear with blue swirl vinyl.
– THE BEST OF THE WAILERS: this was a UK RSD release I believe but available here starting tomorrow, on pink vinyl.
– PET SHOP BOYS with their 15th studio album “Nonetheless” available on grey vinyl.
– LAUFEY “Bewitched: Goddess Edition” (it’s goddess edition because the vinyl is blue and it comes with a board game) (I just learned how to pronounce this artist’s name and I’m really proud of myself)
– DEF LEPPARD with the 40th anniversary of “Pyromania” there is a single LP half-speed mastering version of this and also a double-LP version with demos and live tracks.
– GLORIA COLEMAN QUARTET “Soul Sisters” (being re-issued on black vinyl as part of the Verve by-request series).

This week Pepperoni has picked MCR’s Black Parade

“What’s up nerds. I hope everyone had a good Record Store Day this weekend. I’m back in the office today pickin’ my next pick… what’s this? A picture disc? I did not mean to order the picture disc version of this record but it is what showed up in the mail so I guess we’re gonna go with it. (How do you feel about picture discs Pepperoni fan’s, yay or nay)? Anyways, this is “The Black Parade” by My Chemical Romance and some of you out there will freak out about it because it is ALL you listened to in high school in the 2000’s or 2010’s or something. You owned it on CD then, come out to Dumb Records so you can own it on picture disc now.”

RSD 2024!

We’re real busy this week getting records unboxed for Record Store Day. As with every RSD that has come before, this is the most we’ve ever ordered and we ordered everything. We try to get lots of copies of the records people want. We have 100 free t-shirts first come-first serve. We open at 8am and can’t really tell you how early you have to be here to get in line to have a decent chance to get what you’re looking for.

Oh and we also have lots of copies of the new Taylor record coming out on Friday. Wow what a huge week for records! They might just have a comeback yet!

This week Pepperoni picked the Killers album Hot Fuss

“I’m comin’ outta my cage (yeah) an d i’ve ben doin’ jus fine, I gotta gotta get down (to dumb records) (to buy this killers record) It started out with a kiss, how could it end up like this, it was only a kiss it was only a kiss now I’m falling asleep and I’m eating a snack and she’s calling a cab and I’m taking a nap and now I’m getting some pets now she takes off her dress now my stomach is sick and now I’m cat puking on the carpet now it’s all in my head it was only a kiss.”

And because we don’t know when to quit, there is also a hardcore show happening here Saturday night.

Total Eclipse of the Fart

Sorry I missed a week. I was off on a weeklong vacation with my family riding a ferris wheel into the ocean (Galveston). Also Brian got engaged on Rex Manning Day, nerd.

We got so much going on this week! Friday night this show is happening with New Mexico hardcore Bleak, Cincinnati emo shoegazers Sign Language, South Carolina hardcore Your Spirit Dies and local hardcores Pucker Up and Volition

Then on Saturday we have a local hip-hop/R&B showcase with Almost Homeless and friends, presented by Paperboy Entertainment

Wow Big Releases and re-issues Friday!

– BEYONCE: “COWBOY CARTER” You all know what it is, Beyoncé’s “Country” “Album”, we listened to the full thing and I don’t even think it’s all that country TBH, just sounds like another Beyonce album and it’s good. Physical release is tomorrow.
– SUNNY DAY REAL ESTATE with the 30th anniversary release of their iconic emo album “Diary” on “pearl” vinyl
– NOAH KAHAN with some deluxe triple-LP version of his album “Stick People” pressed on “black ice” vinyl.
– Metal band DEATH have re-issues of just about all of their albums on fancy splatter vinyl, we just have their album “Human” featured here.
– GIRL IN RED with a new album “I’m Doing It Again, Baby”
– LINKIN PARK “Papercuts” a 20-track singles collection spanning the band’s career. We should be getting black and also the indie-exclusive version.

For some reason Pepperoni picked this album this week

“Here is my pick this week, this is the only KISS album you need in your collection.”

oh and Record Store Day is next week???

Yee Haw!

Tonight! We’re hosting a rare country/folk/indie show featuring Blue County Pistol from Madison, WI, Marble Teeth from Decatur, local folk punkers Yardwaste and folk heroes Cut Flowers, all for a total of $9

Friday Releases this week!

– TYPE O NEGATIVE, their last album “Dead Again” from 2007 gets a white and black splattery re-issue.

– BOB MARLEY & THE WAILERS “Trenchtown Rock” a collection of songs on yellow vinyl.
– CHASTITY BELT “Live Laugh Love” the fourth(?) album from this indie-rock four piece band.
SERPENTWITHFEET brand new album “Grip” which is the 3rd from this singer songwriter.
– ALL TIME LOW “MTV Unplugged” originally released in 2009 out Friday on “electric blue” vinyl.

Pepperoni’s pick this week is the not-taylors-version 1989

“I know, I know, another Taylor Swift pick. This week I am picking “1989” (not Taylor’s version). You know, before this we have had SIX Taylor Swift albums in the Pepperoni’s hall-of-fame vault, this makes number SEVEN… and you know how many albums Taylor has? FIFTEEN including the four “Taylor’s Versions” that have been released so far and also her upcoming album to be released next month! You better believe I am eventually picking them all.”

In case anyone walking into our store is still not sure if we buy records, then hopefully this new banner will get the message across

And my last little treat for you this week, a new run of Pepperoni shirts has recently landed in the store, better grab one before they’re gone!

5 Pepperoni Teeth Later

We took our elephant out last Saturday to the St patrick’s parade. Thanks to all who helped and gave out 1000 dum-dums!

This Friday we have a show featuring queer femme indie rock from Chicago PinkSqueeze, Emily the Band from Peoria and Ricki Marvel

This Week’s Friday Releases!

– the big one is this ALICE IN CHAINS “Jar Of Flies” re-issue, 140 gram LP. we should have plenty of copies.
– WHAM “Make It Big” 150 gram vinyl re-issue. (wake me up before you go go)
– WAXAHATCHEE has a brand new album out “Tigers Blood” (did you know Springfield native Brandon Carnes is a guitar tech for this group, who knew!)
– MISFITS “Collection” on glow-in-the-dark vinyl oohhhhh!
– The Cure “Paris” (live album) 30th anniversary release, expanded edition with a couple of extra tracks!
– A new solo album by Adrianne Lenker of the band Big Thief, “Bright Future”!

This week Pepperoni picked the Rocky Horror Picture Show soundtrack

“There are only 226 days until Halloween so what a perfect time to pick… THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW on vinyl as my pick of the week! Rocky Horror is more than just a record… it’s a movie too! And it’s more than a movie… it’s a play or something. And it’s even more than a play… it’s a way of life. Also, it has Meatloaf in it.”

Also this week Pepperoni had some teeth surgically removed and he’s doing just fine.

Congrats to Mitch on winning our Turbo arcade contest. It was a battle right to the end for 1st place, although we’re stoked for everyone who came out and put up a score.

You’re invited to Walk in the Parade With Us Saturday

2 hardcore shows are happening at our place this week plus we’re taking the elephant out to the St. Patrick’s day parade Saturday. We welcome all you St. Patricks Day Tourists who come in for your annual trip downtown to ask us if records are still around while you spill your drinks on them.

Thursday we have a hardcore show featuring Surfaced from Louisville, Out 4 Blood from Minneapolis, Blistered Spirit from St Louis and locals Subversion and Javelin.

Then on Saturday we have this other hardcore show featuring Gnaw from Missouri, Security Footage from Missouri, plus locals Prevention, War and Rumor, and Bruxism. Side note when I was at the downtown retailer meeting, they were asking if any of the stores were holding events. I think they were talking about sidewalk sales and wine tastings so I didn’t say anything.

On to Vinyl Release Friday!

– NOAH KAHAN with the “Cape Elizabeth EP”! This was a Record Store Day release for Black Friday this past year and in high demand. Well it’s back, baby.
– CAKE “Pressure Chief” – Cake re-issues been going down their discography and we are to their 5th album released in 2004
– KACEY MUSGRAVES with her 6th studio album “Deeper Well”
– BLACK CROWES have a new album “Happiness Bastards”
– A reissue of Sum 41’s 2019 album “Order In Decline”
– JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE has a brand new album “Everything I Thought It Was”

This week Pepperoni has picked Noah Kahan’s “Stick Season”

“This week I’ve picked an artist that sure has blown the heck up recently… Noah Kahan. With his album from last year, “Stick Season”. We had it when it came out, but around Christmas time everyone wanted it and it was out of print for a while, but now it’s back. Jeff says this guy just sounds like Mumford & Sons. His second album is also being released for Record Store Day and I can say that it’s what we ordered the most copies of.”

DEMOLITION TIME

Have you playing our latest pinball machine, Demolition Man, yet! It’s got ramps, modes, multiballs, the Cyro-Claw that grabs your ball, and unique handles for the flipper buttons that grant secret bonuses. See if you can get through all the Cryo-Claw Modes and get into Demolition Time! If Alderman Shawn Gregory is into it then it must be cool.

This week for New Release Friday, we’re anticipating the following titles coming out on vinyl:

Ariana Grande has a new album “Eternal Sunshine” out on Ruby Red vinyl – we have been told the shipment for this might be cutting it close, so it might be later in the day or even following Monday that this shows up.
Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth is 70 years old and is still making interesting music with her newest “The Collective”!
Jpegmafia with “Ghost Tape” out on aqua-blue vinyl
The Color Purple: Music From And Inspired By (There are purple and gold variants of this, we are not 100% sure which ones we ordered we will get)
Eartheater with her album “Powders” which came out last year, vinyl release is this weekend.
– “The Music Never Stopped” – a compilation of bands that inspired The Grateful Dead!
JUDAS PRIEST with their 19th studio album “Invincible Shield” out this Friday!

This week Pepperoni picks the Ozzy classic Bark at the Moon

“This week I am picking another album from OZZY OSBOURNE – his third studio album from 1983 “MEOW AT THE MOON”! I believe this was his biting-heads-off-bats on stage era. I also bit a bat in the Dumb Records basement once. Also I heard he performed this album in full in Carbondale during the last solar eclipse in 2017 but I didn’t find out about it until afterwards.”

Recently we’ve been gifted a Spotify subscription which we are now using to create playlists of the weekly new releases and other songs we like. Check that out HERE

I only listen to music ALANLOG

Let’s take a look at THIS FRIDAY’S RELEASES… March 1st!

– MANNEQUIN P@%&SSY with their 4th studio album “I Got Heaven”, we should have the clear / black smoke indie exclusive version and normal
– PISSED JEANS with their 6th studio album “Half Divorced” one of my favorite bands out on Sub Pop
– MINISTRY, Chicago Industrial project from the 80’s are back with a new album “Hopiumforthemasses”! On green / yellow splattered vinyl!
– SHEER MAG with “Playing Favorites” after being signed to Third Man Records! Another one of my favorite current groups!
– KING GIZZARD & THE LIZARD WIZARD have a “Live at Bonaroo” double LP out on red and green wax!

This week Pepperoni has picked The Wall.

This is the 2016 pressing, 180g double LP (Pepperoni turned all of them around with the hype stickers on the other side because he liked the picture better)

Something fun we do every month is note all the total plays for all the pinballs and some of the video games in the arcade. Each game gets hundreds of plays. In fact our Godzilla pinball, which came new in the box 2 years ago has over 16,000 plays!

In February, Foo Fighters pinball had the highest number of plays at 631. You can find out more about what’s happening at our arcade and stuff by joining our forum.

Also if you’ve not heard, there is a new pinball in the arcade this week which has taken the spot in the lineup previously held by Judge Dredd, more info on that to come!

It’s Turbo Time!

We recently started a new Arcade Contest, this time for TURBO (Sega, 1981). This dedicated cabinet is currently on loan from America’s Groove Records. The contest runs until March 15th. Anyone entering the contest gets their very own checkered flag. 1st place gets a custom engraved trophy (arcade entry fee still applies). We’re happy seeing plenty of contestants come through already! I guess if there is something Springfield loves, it’s a good racing game.

This Saturday we’re hosting a Video Game themed Drag Show bringing you everything from Super Mario to Fallout to Skyrim to FNAF to Sonic and probably other things too. Come in cosplay, bring your Nintendo Switch and dust off that Pokemon Go app.

Here are the new vinyl releases coming out this Friday:

– ACE FREHLEY of KISS has a brand new album. He is 72 years old and we should have a couple of different color variants.
– BTS “LOVE YOURSELF” is K-POP group’s 2018 album being issued on white vinyl with some fancy booklet and photos that make it all cost $50 (why do they always have to do this)
– VAN HALEN’s 1993 live album RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW had a first time vinyl release for Record Store Day last year, we sold out and now it’s back being re-pressed once again.
– MGMT are here with a new album “Loss of Life”
– GLITTERER are here with a new album “Rationale”
– Jack White’s other band THE RACONTEURS have a bunch of albums being reissued on 180g vinyl and we stocked up on their 2006 album “Broken Boy Soldiers”.

This week Pepperoni has picked Kids See Ghosts

“This week I picked another hip hop pick. This was a 2018 album and project called “Kids See Ghosts” that rapper Kid Cudi did with his friend.”

One more thing, we stocked new mugs in the store. We think this might be our best mug design yet. You know we’re always sayin if people are looking to get mugged downtown, then come to Dumb Records!

RSD 2024 LIST IS OUT

The list is out, comment and tell us what you want us to order! We order 1 of everything and more on the titles people want. We’ll see you on April 20th with all these exclusive titles at 8am!

Valentine’s day was this week, and Pepperoni got a visit from a barbershop quartet! There’s some video on our Facebook if you want to see what that was like.

Here are the New Vinyl Releases coming out today!
– LAURA JANE GRACE has a new solo album out on Polyvinyl Records “Hole In My Head” out on exclusive pink vinyl and you KNOW we gotta have this one stocked! If you were at the 2021 alley show you know!
– LIL PEEP “Crybaby”, originally released in 2016 and being re-pressed now on “clear white” vinyl.
– Grandaddy “Blu Wav” on exclusive color vinyl… indie rock.
– IDLES with their 5th studio album “TANGK” (is that a word?) on black and exclusive pink variants.
– MOTHER MOTHER with their 9th studio album “Grief Chapter”, indie rock from Canada.
– EARL SWEATSHIRT and The Alchemist collaborative album “Voir Dire” out on black vinyl.

This week Pepperoni picked Mort Garsen’s Plantasia

“Spring is right around the corner gang, and this week I chose a nice spring-time pick to get us in a happy mood! That is the 1975 synthy insturmental album “Plantasia” composed by Mort Garson, master of the moog. It’s supposed to be “warm earth music for plants… and the people who love them.” I love plants because I love to try and eat them. I will destroy any plant or flower that I can find. But for some reason these dwarf umbrella plants are the only plants I don’t like to eat and completely destroy so that’s why they are the only two plants left living in my record store. Enjoy!”