Your Guide To Record Store Day in Milwaukee

Forget the exclusive releases; Record Store Day is all about hanging out at these special brick-and-mortar stores. Here’s a roundup of the best places to spend this Saturday crate-digging in Milwaukee, and which ones are serving up live performances on top of special deals.

Location: 1669 N. Farwell Ave.
Hours: 7 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Live Music: WMSE DJs (7 a.m. – 3 p.m.), DJ Avets (3 p.m. – 5 p.m.) Abby Jeanne (6 p.m.) and Christopher Porterfield of Field Report (7 p.m.)
Along with providing live music all day, the East Side location of this expansive record chain is offering discounted deals in honor of Record Store Day, including 10 percent of new vinyl, CDs, DVDs and Blu Rays (excluding Record Store Day 2018 releases, of course) and 25 percent off used vinyl, CDs, DVDs and Blu Rays. Plus the store provides double reward points to its members and if customers spend more than $100, they’ll receive a free Exclusive Company t-shirt.

Location: 2635 S. Kinnickinnic Ave.
Hours: 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.
The cozy Bay View store promises to have several exclusive releases stashed away in its shelves, along with an ultra-limited split 7-inch (less than 25 copies) by Brain-Bats and Super Sonic Space Rebels on either “bubblegum-blood or spacesnot green-colored vinyl” according to owner Dan Duchaine. The shop is also teaming up with label Triple Eye Industries to put out another limited, lathe-cut 7-inch release from Guerrilla Ghost. Of course, there will be a special-made Rush Mor t-shirt for this year’s Record Store Day. DuChaine also says the shelves will be stocked with some obscure metal records in honor of the metal festival, NYDM Spring Bash, happening at Club Garibaldi’s and Cactus Club this weekend.

Location: 1627 E. Irving Pl.
Hours: 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.
The East Side shop is a no-bullshit record store, so expect a lot of rare finds and not all the pomp and circumstance regarding the much-hyped yearly releases.

Location: 3201 S Howell Ave.
Hours: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
In the last year the shop has relocated south from its East Side location to Bay View, but its early morning sales bin and diminishing prices as Record Store Day wears on remains. Between opening and noon, customers can pick up records lined outside for $1. That price drops to 50 cents between noon and 3 p.m., and then plummets to 25 cents after 3 p.m.

Location: 2341 S. Kinnickinnic Ave.
Hours: Noon – 7 p.m.
Live Music: DJ Michael Slaboch (noon), Steve Gunn solo (1 p.m.), Opiated Black DJ set (2 p.m.), Nastos (3 p.m.), Sweet La La (4 p.m.), Soda Road (5 p.m.), Red Stuff (6 p.m)
The Bay View record shop boasts a midday opening time for late risers (or a second or third stop for determined buyers). But things get kicked into high gear quickly with a solo set from folk rocker Steve Gunn and then record release performances from new local dream pop group Nastos and Milwuakee’s veteran surf rockers Red Stuff. The store promises to fill the shelves with some exclusive records and special collectible finds.

Location: 815 E. Locust St.
Hours: 4 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Close out Record Store Day with a potluck dinner at the Riverwest Public House. Bring a dish to pass, plus your new finds to play or just come and listen to those hard-to-get exclusive records that everyone’s talking about — for free. The Public House will provide some veggie chili, a DJ and a few raffle prizes.

comments