Hi Everyone!
This coming Saturday is Record Store Day 2023. This is the one day of the year when over 260 independent record shops all across the UK come together to celebrate their unique culture. Special vinyl releases are made exclusively for the day and many more shops and cities host artist performances and events to mark the occasion. Thousands more shops celebrate the day around the globe in what’s become one of the biggest annual events on the music calendar.
Personally I love my gigs so this time of year is bigger than Christmas for me! In the last week I have hit up King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut in Glasgow (the place Oasis were discovered) watching one of my new favourite bands, Dictator. They are a really fun indie-electro-pop band that leans on the path built by Gorillaz, Alt-J and London Grammar. They had some really cool spots throughout the gig, in the picture below you see the lead singer in the crowd performing one of their slower songs, it really was something special.
This year at SMARTY we are celebrating RSD by ‘fessing up to those embarrassing first albums and gigs you went to, along with giving recommendations of artists you think people have slept on!
So let us know this:
- Your 1st Album/Record
- Your 1st Gig
- Your Best Gig
- Recommend an artist you think people should check out, let us know why!
Plus don’t forget your local shop this Saturday, I’ll be hitting up Assai Records new store in Glasgow aiming to pick up one or two special RSD products, you can check out your closest participating store here
First Record: Instead of going for the didn’t know better, very young childhood singles of ‘Around the World’ by East 17 or ‘Baby come back’ by Pato Banton, my first consciously bought record was ‘Everything Must Go’ by Manic Street Preachers. Cover to cover such a good album.
First gig: Rhythm of the Saints tour with Paul Simon. Dad a huge fan of Simon and Garfunkel so took the whole family. Can’t remember much of it except he played ‘You can call me Al’ and then jammed for what seemed like 4 days.
Best gig: Smashing Pumpkins at Wembley Arena. One of my all time favourite bands and a bucket list item ticked off. I cried, I sang.
Recommended artist: All time favourite band EELS. Had a couple of minor hits in the mid 90’s but had a steady and growing cult following 15 albums later. Ever changing between soft folk rock and hard rock with some good humour behind some serious topic songs. Favourite album to really get to grips with them is ‘Electro shock blues’, a quirky concept album about losing loved ones. Happy times!
Nice post @George! 😎 I can't say I've ever played a physical vinal record.. before my time lol. My first music player was a Walkman.
- Your 1stAlbum/Record: Maroon 5 - Songs About Jane, they are still one of my favourite bands and their old songs are golden.
- Your 1stGig: I wouldn't say I've ever been to a gig 😅 Does Wireless festival 2018 count? Didn't enjoy many acts though. My first concert (I’m 24 lol) was only last year and I saw Coldplay at Wembley, BEST NIGHT EVER 💃
- Your Best Gig: 👆 I am seeing The Weeknd this year at Wembley too.. so TBC if he can beat Coldplay.
- Recommend an artist you think people should check out, let us know why! Majid Jordan, they are so underrated and not very popular yet but I've listened to them for years. Their music is R&B with a modern twist.
- My first single/love (if I am being super honest).
- First Gig: Bon Jovi
- Best Gig: Green Day
- Recommendation: Super commercial but Post Malone - Hollywood's Bleeding album. Especially good for anyone going through a relationship break-up.
