Austin – 7th Level Music

Wrecka Stow: Encore Records – Austin, TX

Located at 809 East 6th Street in Austin, Texas, Encore Records is heaven for lovers of metal, hip hop, rock, and horror. One of the best things about this store is that you’re often greeted by this chap as soon as you enter the place.

He gets a peanut butter snack when he greets customers.

The place is full of cool vinyl and plenty of obscure CDs.

It’s a bit cavernous, which lends to the atmosphere if you a metal fan. They also have plenty of horror-themed T-shirts for sale, like this gem.

Yep, that’s a Tomb of the Blind Dead T-shirt hanging above a bunch of jazz records. How cool is that? Or this?

You can wander around in this place for an hour before you realize the time has gone. I scored a copy of Pink Floyd‘s The Piper at the Gates of Dawn there. I held off on the Tomb of the Blind Dead shirt, but there’s always next year.

Keep your mind open.

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Wrecka Stow: Waterlood Records – Austin, TX

I knew I was going to spend a lot of money as soon as I stepped into Austin, Texas’ Waterloo Records (600 North Lamar). This massive store is legendary in the area and it takes up two large storefronts.

I walked in and saw a large selection of new albums and store-exclusive DVD’s and Blu-Ray discs. I grabbed a Blu-Ray of Razorback, but ended up putting it back on the shelf because I hadn’t even explored a sixth of the store yet.

The CD selection is this place is massive, and they have seemingly every genre you can imagine.

They also sell T-shirts, odd toys, and art, and they had plenty of stuff from Record Store Day still available. Don’t worry, vinyl lovers, they sell plenty of vinyl.

The north half of the store is nothing but records. The above photo is just a tiny part of their selection. They even sell record players.

Not to be outdone is their DVD / Blu-Ray alcove. The number of cult and B-films alone was stunning. I could drop hundreds of dollars in this alcove alone.

I walked out of there with CD’s from Eric B. & Rakim, Bayonne, and Oingo Boingo, and the Rough Guide to a World of Psychedelia.

Waterloo Records is a must-visit spot if you’re a music and / or film lover and visiting Austin. Bring a fat wallet.

Keep your mind open.

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Holy Wave release European tour dates and single from upcoming album.

Texas psychedelic rockers Holy Wave have announced extensive European tour dates through the spring to promote their upcoming album Freaks of Nuture.

They’re kicking off the tour with a record release party at Barracuda in Austin, Texas February 26th and then it’s off to Europe. I’m hoping they’ll be back in the U.S. in time to play Levitation Austin at the end of April.

You can hear Holy Wave’s excellent new single, “California Took My Bobby Away,” right here on the Levitation Austin website.

Keep your mind open.