east valley
Volume 2 Issue 12 Mesa, AZ
October 6, 2019
Cassette Store Day presses rewind on analog BY SAMANTHA MOLINA Tribune Contributor
R
IN THE BIZ
ecord Store Day’s sibling, Cassette Store Day, will sweep 100 music stores across the country next Saturday, Oct. 12, including three Arizona indie locales. Uncle Aldo’s Attic in Northeast Mesa, Stinkweeds in Phoenix and Weird Kid Records in Casa Grande will take part in the international celebration with countries like Japan, Germany and France. Founded in the United Kingdom in 2013, Cassette Store Day aims to increase awareness of the culture and to acknowledge the importance and impact of the vintage music format. Artists like the late Jay Reatard, the Michigan ska band Mustard Plug, Dr. Dog and Prince and the Revolution keyboardist Lisa Coleman will release exclusive cassettes for the event, Uncle Aldo’s Attic is celebrating for the �irst time this year. It has a wide selection of cassettes, including those by Prince and INXS. “It just kind of made sense to join in,” says store owner Desi Scarpone. “We already sell cassettes so why not get involved with the event. Because this is our �irst year participating, I don’t know what to expect. But I am excited to see who this event will draw in.” According to Scarpone, the store tends to sell quite a few cassettes, especially heavy metal. Customers who are interested in the format tend to range in age from 16 to 40. Public Notices ............... page 2 © Copyright, 2019 East Valley Tribune
“I think part of the appeal with cassettes is being able to physically hold your purchase in your hand as opposed to simply clicking a download button,” he says. Scarpone says the store plans to celebrate by offering a 25 percent discount on cassettes. Stinkweeds will also discount cassettes for the event and offer a limited-edition T-shirt. Despite a decline in popularity after the rise of CDs, cassette sales and other analog formats are slowly making their way back into music lovers’ collections, says This official logo for Casette Store Day makes fun of the casWeird Kid Records co-owner Jef- sette’s death and reminds people it’s not over for the once beloved product. (Special to the Tribune) fery Law. “This comeback of vintage forbrate Cassette Store Day, from raf�les and mats like records and cassette tapes isn’t giveaways to mixtape competitions and just a phase or a short-lived trend,” Law cassette exchanges. says. “They’ve always been around. We “We plan on making the best of the are just seeing more people realize the event,” Law says. “We are most excited quality that modern formats like CDs and about getting people in here, hanging out streaming services isn’t all it’s cracked up with locals and supporting their favorite to be.” artists. I think that’s the goal for all the Law also says he feels that cassettes are shops celebrating Cassette Store Day.” a way for audiences to show their loyalty and appreciation. “By streaming music or downloading songs online, you aren’t giving your money to musicians,” Law says “Artists get • Uncle Aldo’s Attic, 6016 E. McKellips Road, pennies, nickels and dimes.” Mesa, 480-218-1415, unclealdosattic.com Music fans can properly support their • Stinkweeds, 12 W. Camelback Road, Phoefavorites by “making a physical purchase, nix, 602-248-9461, stinkweeds.com whether it’s a tape, T-shirt or poster.” • Weird Kid Records, 1377 E. Florence Blvd., Law co-owns Weird Kid Records with Suite 149, Casa Grande, 630-660-9166, his wife, Jessika Sandrowski. They say weirdkidrecords.com the store has a line up of activities to cele-
Cassette Store Day participants
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