Record Store Day 2022 is finally upon us, and Seasick Records is prepared to guide Birminghamians to their new favorite album. Limited edition releases, uniquely colored vinyl, and a whole lot of entertaining moments will be offered to those who enter the Magic City’s favorite record shop this Saturday beginning at 8am. The event is a first-come, first-served spectacular that will also feature a special release that raises money for Cahaba Riverkeeper. Birmingham residents looking to be aware of the day’s itinerary and policies can check out more information here.
“We’re a retail store, but we have always tried to be more engaged in the community than just ‘a place that sells stuff’,” Seasick owner and uplifter of all things Birmingham Dan Drinkard shares, “Whether that’s doing events that bring people in, or fundraisers, or whatever we can do to engage people and get them into our store that isn’t just buying stuff.”
Record Store Day elevates this feeling of customer engagement to the max, and offers a bit of a financial lift for record shops around the nation. “I would be lying if I didn’t point out the financial aspect of Record Store Day. It’s definitely a big boost for us, sales-wise. We’re able to do some things that we wouldn’t normally be able to do financially,” Dan explains, “It’s a day of the year that brings a lot of people out. We have a lot of very loyal regular weekly customers, but Record Store Day always brings out anybody and everybody. It’s kind of a spectacle. It’s a fun event. Even if you’re not super into records it’ll be something fun to do.”
While the thrill of searching for a limited release would be exciting enough for most people, Seasick once again found a new way to impress their shoppers with a truly unique release. 2022’s creation is a cassette titled “Cahambiance” from nature lover and friend of the store, Earthen Herman, that will be presented exclusively to Seasick customers, along with a kombucha collaboration with Seasick’s neighbors at Harvest Roots. The record features field recordings of the Cahaba River along with synths, piano, and other musical sounds. The kombucha flavor is based on the famous Cahaba Lily Flowers in Alabama. Seasick will also have related merch for sale. The three partners on this fun project are “trying to do something that’s very Alabama-centric, and give some money to the people trying to keep our water source clean.”
Another great Cahaba-loving business, Cahaba Brewery, will also be present at Seasick this Saturday with a beer tasting of the acclaimed “Seasick Record Session IPA” beginning at noon. Filter Coffee will be greeting the earliest of customers with free coffee as well, ensuring that both fun and beverages are available all day long. Perhaps most exciting to a record collector like this writer who loves catchy covers and discovering new songs is the all-day $1 sidewalk record sale, which means plenty of yet-to-be-discovered new favorites are just a buck away.
Seasick is bringing plenty of unique adventures to celebrate this music lover’s holiday, but Record Store Day adds a whole new plateau of excitement with dozens of gigantic releases guaranteed to generate long lines of hopeful fans waiting in the early morning hours. One RSD album that Dan is personally excited about is “Super Skunk”, the latest release from the jazz, soul, funk back catalog compilation series “Jazz Dispensary”. Other major releases include multiple David Bowie EPs, a live recording of the Grateful Dead’s London concert from their legendary ‘72 tour, one of the earliest live recordings of The Replacements, and a reissue of Handsome Boy Modeling School’s “So… How’s Your Girl?”.
“It’s a good day to support music and support local record stores, and while you’re at it you may as well hit up all our neighboring businesses around here,” Dan encourages Birmingham audiences. Seasick feels blessed that the niche market they are in has its own holiday to uplift their business, and wishes his pet supply, yoga, tattoo, and haircut supplying neighbors had similar calendar dates to look forward to-but the city of Birmingham can rise up to fill the financial holes that the holiday-makers of day’s past failed to acknowledge.
Seasick is ready for Saturday’s hectic schedule, and ready to bring joy to the Magic City. They feel blessed to have their business in Birmingham, and for a loyal group of supporters who’ve stuck with them for years. “It still has small-town vibes but there’s cool big city stuff happening within the confines of a small town,” Drinkard shares of the city he’s called home for 9 years now, “It’s like the best of both worlds. You can get around easily and you have cool stuff to do.”
A lot of that cool stuff comes straight from Seasick Records, and we couldn’t be more thankful! Y’all get out and support some local businesses this weekend, and keep Birmingham cool.
