Crooked Beat just got in a huge shipment of reggae vinyl. I am told that the shipment includes over 100 LPs and about 80 CDs—a lot of King Tubby, Augustus Pablo, Scientist, Keith Hudson, Dillinger, and quite a few Prince Buster records.

“A lot of stuff that people have been asking for,” says Crooked Beat’s owner Bill Daly. “They look like they are coming right from Jamaica. They look close to the way [they did] when they first came out….It’s a lot of really good stuff. You are the fourth person already today asking. One of the guys who used to work at DJ Hut is coming down. I’m listing to Junior Murvin right now—’Police and Thieves.’”

The ridiculously named Major Lazer (Diplo’s collab with Switch) will be playing a free show at the Rock & Roll Hotel on June 20. Press folk have already started building up the legend that is Major Lazer:

“Major Lazer is a  collaboration between the two, as disciples of Jamaican born commando, Major Lazer (Who has lasers for arms!). They’ve combined forces to fight evil with their brand of hardcore dancehall grind. Although Diplo is one of the main co-conspirators here, this is NOT a Diplo solo show. There will be an MC, 77 Klash (Pronounced Two Sevens Clash), and zombie dancers.”

I expect a spectacle. Above video is not to be played loud in your cubicle.

Today we passed on the news that Orpheus Records has officially closed for real. We just got off the phone with Owner Rick Carlisle. Apparently, Carlisle decided to close up shop on Saturday afternoon.

“I’m closed,” Carlisle says. “Saturday was my last day. I didn’t actually decide until two o’clock in the afternoon on Saturday. I originally intended to close the previous Saturday….As the day progressed, it just felt right to do it. I alluded to it on the website and a fair number of people were able to read between the lines and were able to come in and wish me well. It just felt right to close.”

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Orpheus Records has officially closed for real. The store had been going out of business for over a year. The store had been on life support due to some serious limbo with whatever tenant was set to fill its Clarendon space. We applauded the store’s going-out-of-business sale. And chronicled its various going-out-of-business bargains and sad pronouncements. The store’s shutdown follows DJ Hut’s closing.

Owner Rick Carlisle had been a fixture among music lovers for three decades. His store was a boon to blues freaks, old-timey nerds, and general rock and jazz fans. If you really wanted that Dylan box set, he’d have it. If you wanted a new copy of the Beatles’ Revolver (British edition), he’d have it. Carlisle’s expertise and general mellowness will be missed. Not to mention his store’s vinyl racks which covered everything from Monk and Ayler to Devo and Dischord.

Carlisle’s voicemail pointed out that he is still in the store packing and that he’s looking for someone to buy the rest of his inventory. He posted this message on his website:

“Oh!, by the way, did I mention…Saturday May 23 was our last day?…Oh No?.. I meant to…Anyway, we are now entertaining ALL wholesale offers…give a call or come by. Thank you to all those who came in Saturday to wish us well and those who bought more stuff. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you……..!…Wholesale inquiries: 703-294-6774 …………….Albums listed on this site are available for sale IN STORE ONLY. Most Bins & Fixtures are Sold, only a couple left, so, if you’re interested..now’s the time. Anybody need a hardly used cash register? We also have a receiver & speakers for sale.. FYI: While I appreciate the interest I am Unable to respond to email at this time. I will respond after we close, although I don’t know how helpful that will be. Thank you…………………..”

I got some great news in my in-box last night, former Apes members Amanda Kleinman, Jeff Schmid, and Erick Jackson have dusted themselves off, and re-grouped as Midnight Kids with a slinky new vocalist and Gypsy Eyes boss Kalani Tifford on bass. Amanda K. and Co. have ditched the Apes’ bombastic Fraggle rock for more soulful agit prop, dance beats (think Blondie meets the Yeah Yeah Yeahs), swirly keybs, adult grooves, and ’80s top 40 guitar tones. It’s fun and dark. We can’t wait to see them at Comet’s space. You can listen to Midnight Kids; they’ve posted a few songs online.

*photo of Amanda in her Ape days.

Must have:

Sublime Frequencies strikes again. This record should be huge in your world. Red Onion should get this in tomorrow.

Bruce Springsteen fans have a lot invested in the Jersey man. They may have had a lot more invested in last night’s show at the Verizon Center. Tickets sold out in minutes. Then a company sold tickets they didn’t quite have. Anyone who had a ticket was lucky. This was no mere Dad Rock.

And Springsteen doesn’t have mere fans. Every other dad wore a faded Boss shirt from an old tour. I’ve never seen mom jeans rock so hard during the trips to the back catalog. At this point, Springsteen doesn’t even have to sing “Born to Run,” the audience—even a D.C. audience—did more than a fine job screaming about Jersey desperation, springing from cages out on Highway 9. At least that’s what I saw/heard from my nosebleed seat. At this point, the obsessives are the ones willing to wait in lines for tickets, and refresh furiously at the Ticketmaster website. Last night, Springsteen seemed to acknowledge the Backstreet freaks in his midst. On this tour, he’s started taking requests. Last night, the Verizon center went epileptic when he picked “Blinded By the Light” despite the song’s hilarious backstory.

Read More “Springsteen Freaks Declare D.C. Crowd ‘Embarrassing’” »

Red Onion just updated its new arrivals list. The stacks now include the new Ganglians self-titled LP. Shop  owner Josh Harkavy endorses the album, writing:

“Sacramento’s Ganglians want an island somewhere where they can soak in the sun and prowl the canopy by night. It’s not often that they do get out, but they can get down for that. Recording sometimes as one, sometimes as four it’s a real game to figure out where the entity comes from and where it’s going. First and foremost it’s about uncertain pleasures.”

Don’t feel like decoding another Woodsist LP? There’s more. Other new arrivals include the new Field LP, new Ducktails LP, and the new Real Estate 7-inch, as well as the new Dischord remasters.

Used vinyl list after the jump.

Read More “New Arrivals @ Red Onion” »