The sound of music spun on vinyl celebrated another zenith as Austin's cherished record stores commemorated Record Store Day, a global ode to the independent mainstays that still believe in the tangible touch of sound. Among the participating stores, Waterloo Records opened its doors at the crack of 8 a.m. on Saturday, flourished with over 350 exclusive releases awaiting eager collectors and music aficionados—yet this annual ritual came with a twinge of sweet farewell; it marked Waterloo's final Record Store Day at their Sixth and Lamar location before relocating a short march to the north.
Waterloo's co-owner John Kunz shared an elemental comparison with FOX 7 Austin, asserting, "There's a bunch of us that have to have music every day in our life, just like we have water and oxygen," while his counterpart, Caren Kelleher, relished the sight of musical heritage passed down through generations and underscored the significance of young girls purchasing vinyl, perhaps their first, as "very, very special." As the record store embarks on a new chapter, Kunz tantalized with hints of surprises at the new storefront, affirming the excitement simmering in the hearts of their community.
Across the map of Austin's hallowed vinyl sanctuaries, visitors found a rich tapestry of musical trinkets and experiences, from Antone's Record Shop with its assortment of records and an evening gig featuring Annie DiRusso to the intimate, numbered-entry browsing within Drinks Lounge as detailed by The Austin American-Statesman. Die-hard fans of The Sword found solace at End of an Ear with a live in-store performance post-shopping spree. Sunshine Vinyl, boasting its unique identity as a queer and trans-owned establishment, offered a myriad of vinyl records alongside local art and high-fidelity equipment, their novelty emphasized by a cassette tape vending machine.
As Austin's temples of melody celebrated, they each held their distinctive rites; Breakaway Records dealt both new and used records with a planned closure at 7 p.m. after a day of homage to the vinyl classics, while End of an Ear prepared for an after-hours sonic blast from The Sword, leveraging the purchase of the band's "Warp Riders" album as a ticket to the exclusive show, "one record gets you one wristband to the show," according to The Austin American-Statesman. It's a nostalgic rhythm that spins beyond the turntables, one where the crackle and pop of the needle finding its groove on the vinyl unites those who deem music not just mere sound, but as a vital component of their everyday rhythm—just as water, just as oxygen.
