Revival Records spins down the street
Thom Fountain, photos by Tyler Tronson |
When I opened a gift of records this Christmas I was interrogated with a question, one I’m sure Billy Siegel – owner of Revival Records – gets constantly: “Wait. People still listen to records?”
The answer is a resounding yes, evidenced by the increasing success of our own downtown record purveyor. So much so that the store is moving down the street to larger quarters at 128 S. Barstow St. in early March.
The new space – which was previously occupied by When I’m 64 – will give Revival more room that can be used to expand genres and get more records out on the floor for customers to dig through as well as provide space for a stage to create an all-ages venue. Siegel said he was committed to remaining downtown and is excited to move to the new space.
Revival will be utilizing both floors of 128 S. Barstow, with expanded selection and a lounge/personal listening stations in the upstairs, which has been vacant for years. Downstairs, Revival will expand its selection of stereo equipment, used CDs and, the crown jewel of the move, its ability to host live music.
The stage in the new Revival will see the likes of local and touring bands in a capacity not possible in the current location. Don’t think of these as stripped-down, in-store sessions: The stage and sound system will turn Revival into a legitimate all-ages venue.
While the move is happening in early March, the kick-off party comes appropriately on the nationally growing Record Store Day – April 19. Siegel will feature local bands playing all day and, of course, plenty of specials on records.
So who is it who’s buying all this wax? Beyond the classic audiophiles who come in to browse the classic rock and jazz selection, Siegel said he’s noticed a younger and younger crowd browsing over the years, including high schoolers and middle schoolers who are discovering vinyl at an early age.
And that means these kids should be crate-digging for years to come at the new Revival Records. You can keep up with Revival Records and their move on Facebook and Twitter.
