Disquaire Day 2012

(photo via The Other Side)

There's nothing quite like the old romance of a record. The physical, soft whisper of dust noise, the ritual of turning over the disc after the needle begins repeating that shh-shh sound signaling the end of Side A. Over the last several years, the third Saturday in April has become one of my favorite days of the year. This is Record Store Day - a celebration of all things vinyl, and a worldwide event for which record stores all over the globe invite musicians and DJs into their stores for free concerts and sell special-edition vinyls just for the occasion. I've been to several in NYC over the years, and I'm super-excited to tell you that Paris, not to be outdone, is participating in full force as well! Here are some of the events I'm most looking forward to checking out:

Friday, April 20th:
Le Nouveau Latina - 20 Rue du Temple (4e Arr.)
A screening of "Vinylmania" (trailer above) with DJ set by Philippe Cohen Solal (of trip-hop tango group Gotan Project) & filmmaker and DJ Paolo Campana (aka Dr No) - 5€

Saturday, April 21st:
Rough Trade's pop-up store at Agnès B - 6 rue du Jour (1er Arr.)
FREE shows from 11am-8pm including:
Dark surf rock by Kill For Total Peace
Sweetly feminine tomboy Sea Of Bees
The well-built indie pop of Crocodiles

Gilbert Joseph - 34 boulevard Saint Michel (6e Arr.)
FREE shows from 7:30pm:
Classic rock-inspired Paperback Freud
Hot blues/punk/rock Jose and the Wastemen

Silence De La Rue - 39 rue Faidherbe (11e Arr.)
5pm
FREE DJ Set by funky and fun Blackjoy

Mila - 2 rue André Messager (18e Arr.)
5:45pm
FREE acoustic set by blues rockers Parlor Snakes

Disquaire Day (as it's called in France) is important to record stores - some shops do as much business on this day as 6 Saturdays. But let's get selfish - for you, it's a great opportunity to support your local record store, discover some new music and get up close to your favorite musicians. I met the Black Keys at their DJ set in NYC a few years ago. They did not fall in love with me and insist I accompany them on tour as I'd planned. But I did get a signed copy of "Attack & Release."

Disquaire Day 2012
Friday, April 20th-Saturday, April 21st
Various locations - EARTH
DisquaireDay.fr
RecordStoreDay.com (for my American friends)