WATERLOO RECORDS

With 694 performance venues listed in the local paper, Austin, Texas, gives its residents good reason to dub their city the “Live Music Capital of the World.” But you don’t have to get your hand stamped every night to hear great tunes. You can just head to Waterloo Records, a treasure trove of new CDs and vinyl classics.

Waterloo opened in 1982 less than a mile south of its current location on North Lamar Street. Look for its trademark sign, a blue-and-red neon replica of London’s underground Waterloo station. Inside the 6,400-square-foot space, the selections range from local country and western singers to hip hop masters arranged alphabetically, not by genre. You can listen to any album before you buy, and if you can’t find what you’re looking for, the music-savvy staff—many of them also local performers—will order it for you.

But to really take part in the local scene, visit Waterloo during one of the live performances scheduled throughout the month. As the kegs of Shiner Bock flow, artists take to the stage to perform. You might see Sheryl Crow, Willie Nelson, and Los Lonely Boys, and you might also see history in the making. After all, Nirvana played here shortly after they released their groundbreaking album Nevermind.

----

For other recommended record stores, check out this list of shops selected by Paste Magazine.

But you’d better head out soon. As this article from the New York Times details, independent record shops are going out of business all over the country. Find a store near you before it’s too late with help from the Independent Record Store Directory.

Want to know when your favorite bands hit the road? Bookmark the Live Music Blog. Updated daily, the site contains tour dates and news about major festivals nationwide.

Read Complete Article