Small Business Saturday is November 29th
We invite American Express cardholders to Shop Small with us on Small Business Saturday, November 29th. American Express card members can get up to $30 back. Visit ShopSmall.com for information on how to register and how it works.
Someone told me that yesterday’s News of Delaware County says that the film, Leaving Circadia, is playing tonight or tomorrow, forget which day, BUT IT IS NOT. It played last Friday. Also, our Up Nights Concert scheduled for Friday night, November 14th, has been cancelled. Our next evening event is First Friday, December 5th’s Open Mic Night.
Record Store Day’s Black Friday
Wish list or holiday shopping list? Where do the Record Store Day Black Friday releases belong? Hopefully, on both lists! There are exclusive releases, small run/regional releases and Black Friday firsts. Check out the list of Record Store Day Black Friday titles for 2014. We hope to have many in-stock for you! Stop in first thing on November 28th as quantities are limited. #RSDBF
Just want to give our customers advance notice that Vinyl Revival will be closed on Friday, December 19th and we’ll re-open on Saturday, December 20th but at noon not 10 a.m. We’ll stay open until 5 so everyone can finish their last minute holiday shopping.
Thanks to the Lansdowne Economic Development Corporation for featuring a story about our one year anniversary.
lullaby and…THE CEASELESS ROAR
I’ve had a love affair with Robert Plant for as long as I can remember. From the first time I heard his voice on a Led Zeppelin record, I’ve been a devoted fan, following his career post-Zep in each and every re-incarnation, whether he’s playing solo, with Jimmy Page or Alison Krauss, or with one of his talented bands, “Strange Sensation,” “Band of Joy,” or “Sensational Space Shifters.” I’ve seen him play all over Philly: The Spectrum, The Electric Factory, The Tower, The Mann, and at every Philly show since 1983. So it was such a huge thrill for me to see him play last night at a pop up concert at the Brooklyn Bowl, a very cool music venue/bar/restaurant/bowling alley in Brooklyn. With only 850 or so tickets available for sale, this show would put me up close and intimate with Plant like I’d never been before.
The doors opened at 10:30 p.m. and we took our place as close to the stage as possible (3-4 rows of people back.) While we waited for Plant, who was scheduled to come on around midnight, we were treated to an opening dj set by Philly’s own, Questlove, of The Roots. He spins there every Thursday and seemed comfortable and very approachable in the dj booth. He got the growing crowd moving with a mix of funky songs until Robert Plant and the “Sensational Space Shifters” took the stage. The band opened the show with a Howlin’ Wolf cover, “Spoonful,” and they did a killer version of Bukka White’s “Fixin’ to Die.” They played “Rainbow,” “Poor Howard,”” Turn it Up,” (one of my faves) and “Little Maggie,” all off their new album, lullaby and…THE CEASELESS ROAR. I honestly thought they’d play more songs off the new album (which I love) and I was looking forward to hearing some of the other new stuff live, but there were some “folk” songs (Plant jokingly remarked that they were old enough to be considered folk songs) that they performed instead. These songs included “Thank You,” a gorgeous rendition of “Going to California,” “Black Dog,” “Rock and Roll,” ”Nobody’s Fault but Mine,” and a kick ass version of “Whole Lotta Love/Who Do You Love” as the finale. Plant encouraged audience participation and we did not disappoint! I feel bad for the people in front of me who had to listen to my constant singing and super loud yays and whoo hoos.
The show featured about 13 songs in all, and overall, it was really a great mix of blues, African rhythms, Celtic/English traditions, and good old rock and roll. The band was true to their name, sensational, and included Billy Fuller, Dave Smith, Liam “Skin” Tyson, John Baggott, and most notably, Juldeh Camara on a single-string fiddle, and Justin Adams, who co-wrote Mighty Rearranger, and really got the crowd in a frenzy with his dizzying guitar playing.
All in all, it was well worth the ride to Brooklyn. Even though the ride home at 2:30 a.m. this morning didn’t leave me much time for sleep, I would definitely do it all over again if I could. Robert Plant can be my rainbow and bring a song for me anytime!
Vinyl Revival will be closed from Wednesday, September 10th through Friday, September 12th. We will re-open on Saturday, September 13th but at noon not at 10 a.m., our normal opening time.
I can’t believe it’s been one year since we opened!
In honor of our first year in business, we’re having a weekend celebration featuring a concert event with folk singer Betty Soo on August 22nd, screenings of the documentary film “Wages of Spin II,” on August 23rd, plus an anniversary sale with 50% off all in-store vinyl, complimentary cake, drinks and light refreshments all weekend long.
We’ve received some great press about our event this weekend. Check out this great article from That Music Magazine and this blog post from the Lansdowne Economic Development Corporation.
Queen and Adam Lambert rocked the Wells Fargo Center in Philly on July 16, 2004.
I have seen many, many bands play live over the years but there was always one band that I wished I had seen but hadn’t… until the other night. The band I’m talking about is Queen. Queen’s last American tour was in 1982 and I remember when they played the Spectrum. A friend of mine saw them and loved them. I always said I’d catch them the next time but unfortunately there wasn’t a next time.
When Queen got together with Paul Rodgers around 2006, I just couldn’t bring myself to go. It’s difficult to see a band you really like play without all of the original members, but I think it’s even more difficult when the original front man isn’t there.
When I heard Adam Lambert would be touring with Queen, I actually gave some serious thought to going. I was a big Lambert fan from his days on “American Idol” and thought he certainly had the singing chops to do Queen’s songs justice. Although, once again, it just didn’t seem right to me that they’d have another lead singer, but when I got a last minute invite from a friend who had an extra ticket, I decided to go.
I am so glad I did! Although NO ONE could ever take Freddie Mercury‘s place, Adam’s voice was amazing and he really put on one hell of a show. With costume changes, an audience sing-off, effortless interaction with the band members, and his own unique styling, I think Freddie would’ve been pleased with his performance. It sure seemed like the audience was pleased and happy to hear all of Queen’s wonderful music live again. Queen’s remaining original members were pretty terrific too! Brian May’s guitar playing was sick! I especially loved his trippy guitar solo and his tribute to Freddie. Then there was Roger Taylor who was totally rockin’ out on the drums. He gave the younger drummer playing with them a run for his money! Overall, the entire band sounded great and they looked like they were really having a fun time on stage. They gave the audience a great show over two hours long with just the right mix of hits and lesser known numbers. I would definitely see them again.
If you went to the show, what did you think and would you see them again?
We WILL be open on Friday, July 4th but only from 9 a.m. – noon. We WILL NOT stay open late for First Friday. Hope you can stop by sometime in between the holiday festivities!
Have a safe, fun Fourth of July with family and friends!
