Platterpus Records, Addison Illinois

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by Joe Wallace

So it begins–the Vinyl Road Rage updates move into record store review territory now because if I don’t start writing ’em, they will NEVER get done. There’s already a massive backlog of great indie record stores to cover and you have to start sometime so we begin with the great Platterpus Records in Addison, Illinois.

Platterpus sells online and does not have a storefront per se, but they do have a bi-monthly warehouse sale where they invite the public to come and browse literally thousands of records. You can also come out and look by appointment, which is how I enjoyed my first visit.

Platterpus is challenging for non-crate digging obsessive record shoppers going by appointment because the stock is literally boxed and waiting the warehouse sale–but the persistent digger is soon rewarded with plenty of delicious finds.

I strongly recommend searching the site’s online stock–which is not available for crate digging–before going to the warehouse. I was rewarded with a couple of wonderful finds using this approach–a Coil 12-inch I’d been long seeking and some other beauties.

Crate digging at Platterpus is a wonderful way to spend an afternoon. I have yet to experience the warehouse sale but the Platterpus folks tell me it’s organized and fun. They’re friendly, very helpful and I will definitely be going back out to Addison at some point soon for more digging.

In the world of storefronts, Platterpus Records is a bit of an anomaly, but it’s definitely working for them, and any warehouse sale that also features cocktails  and live bands (as advertised in their last flyer) cannot be a bad thing at all. I REALLY want to try the warehouse sale version of Platterpus Records . Cocktails and vinyl? Oh yes, please.

The View from Vinyl Road Rage

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Here’s a collection of images taken along the way from Vinyl Road Rage. The record shop reviews begin with our very next post, so stay tuned for a long series of ’em!

Coil Panic EP

An absolutely fabulous find at the Columbus record store Magnolia Thunderpussy, which wins some kind of prize for the most uniquely left-field company name, ever.

I love it. Not “attention record lovers” or “vinyl junkies” but, “record nerds“. A lack of tact makes the world go round…and yeah, I’ll say it. I AM A RECORD NERD. But like all nerds everywhere, we prefer something a bit more idealized like “vinyl junkie” or “collector” rather than “subhumanoid cellar dweller”. But we smile as we know it’s all in good fun.  You’re laughing WITH us, right? Say you’re laughing with us. Yeah, ok. Heh.

Spoonful Records Columbus Ohio

Seriously, every record store should have pinball. Spoonful Records in Columbus get my vote for all-time greatest record store decor concept ever with these two machines. The only thing a record shop could do that would be one better would be free pizza and beer. Daily. For breakfast. But it would have to be served next to the pinball.

Lost Weekend Records

Lost Weekend Records is another shop that demands a visit. It’s clearly a labor of love and gives me hope that vinyl is here to stay–as long as there are people who love it this much, we’re golden.

Next up–the Vinyl Road Rage record shop reviews begin! Stay tuned folks, there’s plenty of great stuff ahead.

–Joe Wallace

Vinyl Road Rage Hits Pittsburgh

Record Shops, vinyl road rage, , , ,

by Joe Wallace

Vinyl Road Rage hit Pittsburgh, PA last night (Saturday April 23) after a completely INSANE Saturday. I hit eight record stores yesterday between Cincinnati and Columbus, Ohio. Plenty of vinyl finds and some GREAT record shops to write up (they will all get an individual review starting later next week). Being a road warrior was never so much fun.

There are plenty of photos from Vinyl Road Rage on my Facebook page and I will be posting some images from the road here later on, but today’s top priority is the mighty Jerry’s Records, in Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood. I wrote up Jerry’s from the last Road Rage but a return visit was definitely in the cards as this place is simply amazing.

I was frothing at the mouth about Jerry’s to a friend of mine who quipped, “Well, they’re no Ameboa Records.” To which I said, “Yes, but Ameboa is on the west coast and much too far away.” Jerry’s is tops in my book–accessible from Chicago within a reasonable distance (for a complete lunatic behind the wheel). And since I haven’t seen Ameboa yet…

I would be completely remiss if I didn’t mention two simply outstanding record shops in Columbus, Ohio. Lost Weekend and Spoonful.

Lost Weekend is an actual HOUSE on High Street crammed full of excellent new and used vinyl, expertly categorized and fussed over. There are record stores that sell vinyl, and then there are people who run shops who LOVE vinyl and Lost Weekend is clearly run by someone who LOVES vinyl and doesn’t simply SELL it. There is a difference and I’ve experienced plenty of the OTHER example on this trip–places like Lost Weekend give me the energy to continue a crazy trek like this.

Then there’s Spoonful, which is a bit of Rough Trade in reverse–Spoonful started off as a label and then opened the store. (I’m reading the Rough Trade Records bio Document and Eyewitness so it’s a bit on the brain as of late, heh).

Spoonful is run by another vinyl-loving collector with a clear passion for both the music he releases and the music put out by others. This shop is a treasure–it’s inviting, friendly, the two pinball machines in the back really add something to this place totally missing from other shops. Spoonful hasn’t even been open a year and deserves a LOT of support–places like this and Lost Weekend are one of the reasons to collect vinyl in the first place–music aside–there’s a warm friendly community of people out there trying to make it as indie businesses.

I will definitely return to Columbus for no other reason than to visit these two shops, plus the reggae record shop Roots, which was also amazing–more on Roots later when I can rub two brain cells together without thinking about Jerry’s Records.

Vinyl Road Rage #3: Images from the Trip So Far

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Vinyl Road Rage is Turntabling’s annual indie record store blogging road trip, where we search for the coolest record shops in the USA, rare and bizarre vinyl, and all the madness that goes with it. One of the best things about these trips–aside from the vinyl itself and the great people met along the way– are the photos. Here are some of the images collected so far. At the time of this posting, it’s Day Three and Cincinnati/Columbus are next. These pics are from Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky.

Oh, it’s one of THOSE record stores. Got no time for percussion purists, ESPECIALLY when the shop in question had “We Built This City” by Jefferson Starship playing at top volume. My stomach did a nine-G turn when I heard that walking in the door.

Louisville Kentucky’s Ear X-Tacy gets massive points for having vinyl listening stations so you can hear what your investment sounds like before dropping the cash. Guessing this applies to used titles only? I love the “no scratching” bit.

I love a shop that has EVERYTHING on sale. Yes, please. That box to the right of the sign is a Creeple Peeple box. Sweet.

The title says it all. Brilliant.