Local lovers of punk rock/noise/metal/underground music in general have always found Apop Records to be an inviting establishment, and never is its overall hospitality so evident as it is come this time of year — over a dozen bands will play its annual Record Store Day party, including seven RFT Music Awards nominees. Hardcore head honchos Shaved Women, noisy math-rockers Spelling Bee and drum and bass duo Volcanoes are just some of the day's highlights set to play in the street next to the building. Schlafly and New Belgium will provide the drinks, and the whole thing is free! This celebration of the independent record store happens every year on the third Saturday of April, providing a financial boost to the economically embattled establishments while simultaneously reminding us that physical media will forever trump the too-pervasive tinny low-fi downloads of the day.
Don't Leave Empty-Handed: Hey, while you're in there, why not buy all those records you were thinking about downloading? Your ears will thank you.