By Paul Rios - Special to Sac in Stereo

I admit that I used Record Store Day as an excuse to visit Dimple Records’ vinyl specialty store. When this hallowed of crate-digger holidays comes around, normally I just make a beeline for R5 or The Beat. Both have more in the way of atmosphere than any of Sacramento’s local Dimples. Still, my curiosity about the new store made me reconsider. I figured I could pick up a couple RSD exclusives, snag some kooky, dollar-bin throwaway and call it a day.

When I arrived at the Dimples on Arden, the Record Store Day festivities were already in full swing. I just missed a live performance in the main store, but some folks from 100.5 The Zone kept the music flowing. Rather than subject myself to the greatest hits of Sugar Ray, I headed down the alley to the vinyl store. Outside, an older guy diddled on an acoustic guitar next to a hot dog stand and a prize wheel. The vinyl store space was about the size of a garage and stuffed, to my surprise, with great, cheap stuff like “Big Ben” by Jorge Ben, which I snapped up for a George Washington. I snagged a Record Store Day reissue of John Fahey’s “Yellow Princess” and fondled one of the limited edition “Dummy” reissues before deciding to buy less-than-mint copies of “Tijuana Mood” and “Station to Station” among other things.

Along with a prerequisite table of free 7-inch singles, tote bags and stickers, vinyl store customers had a chance to spin the prize wheel and win other goodies. Myself, I managed to win a $20 record cleaning kit, which will be damn useful because I have a whole stack of those dollar-bin throwaways that could use a good scrub. And a wonderful Record Store Day was had by all.

Thanks to Paul for the submission! Submit your story here.

[Photo: dimple.com screenshot]

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Sadly, I'm spending the weekend in the vast expanses of central California (Kings County, to be exact). This means I won't be in Sacramento for any Record Store Day festivities.

Have a story about Record Store Day in the City of Trees that Sac in Stereo readers should hear? Submit it!

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Tomorrow, hundreds of independent record stores around the world will celebrate the third-annual Record Store Day. In Sacramento, four stores are listed as official participants: Dimple Records (all six locations), R5 Records, Rare Records and The Beat.

According to the event's official website, there are strict criteria for a store to participate:

A Record Store Day participating store is defined as a physical retailer whose product line consists of at least 50% music retail, whose company is not publicly traded and whose ownership is at least 70% located in the state of operation. (In other words, we’re dealing with real, live, physical, indie record stores—not online retailers or corporate behemoths).

More info after the jump.

Typical Record Store Day events include giveaways, concerts and sales. Last year, several local stores celebrated, the Sacramento Press reported.

Also, Pitchfork has a massive rundown of interesting new releases and events.

Record Store Day official website

[via IndieBlogHeaven]

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A couple weeks ago, a nationally aired podcast focused in on Sacramento's music collectors and the well-known record store The Beat. State of the Re:Union, a Florida-based podcast focusing on specific communities around the country, traveled to Sacramento as part of its "Sounds of the Re:Union" series.

"For many of us, independent record stores are the unsung cultural cornerstones of an area," Ian DeSousa, creative director for the podcast, said in a press release. "We're excited to have the opportunity to shine a light on institutions like The Beat, the kind of local epicenter that creates a gravity all its own and connects a community of music lovers."

Also, look for the nice, tidy statement from Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson on his love for The Beat.

Video after the jump.

Sounds of the Re:Union - For the Record: The Beat.

Sounds of the Re:Union

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