Philadelphia Record Exchange Celebrates its 30th Anniversary

Purling Hiss will perform at the Philly Record Exchange 30th anniversary party

By A.D. AMOROSI

It is often said that the record business is in a steady decline and that no one sells physical copies of their releases anymore because music is now online (and frequently stolen, at that). The now 30-year-old Philadelphia Record Exchange belies that lament by continuing to sell vinyl, CDs and cassettes – used and new – to the masses AND staying independent. To celebrate, Philly Record Exchange will host a 30th Anniversary Block Party with acts such as Ben Vaughn, Strapping Fieldhands, Dixy Blood, Purling Hiss, Aye-Aye, Chris Forsyth & The Solar Motel Band, Watery Love, Rosali, Monkey 101, and Wasted America on location at 1524 Frankford Avenue on Saturday, September 19, beginning at 1 PM.

The free, all-day block party will feature food trucks and beverages, alcoholic and non-alcoholic. Concessions are an afterthought, though, as this event is all about the Philadelphia Record Exchange and all that store has done for the punk rock community, local and national. Longtime owner Jacy Webster – a member of Strapping Fieldhands – opened the Exchange in 1985 at 5th and South with founding partner Greg Harris (initially selling their personal record collections to fill the store), and stayed at that heralded address for 27 years before relocating to Frankford Avenue.

Harris – a one-time road manager for Philadelphia-born Ben Vaughn (best known for composing music for TV programs That 70s Show and 3rd Rock from the Sun) – is now the President and CEO of Cleveland's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum; prior to that he served as VP at the National Baseball Hall of Fame.  As for Webster – also a one-time member of the legendary King of Siam – he stayed in Philly and sold records while his store hosted sidewalk shows with big name indie acts such as Pavement, Greg Ginn, Yo La Tengo, Sebadoh, Half Japanese and Jon Spencer. Longtime patrons of the Philadelphia Record Exchange will be stoked to see Webster and Harris reunite to celebrate the30th anniversary.

For more info call 215.429.4389 or visit Philadelphia Record Exchange's Facebook page for the event.

Purling Hiss photo ©Scott Troyan; poster courtesy Philadelphia Record Exchange

Posted on Friday, September 18, 2015