Record Store Day: Hippies Are Dead Roundup

What's that? You're just as stoked as we are that tomorrow's Record Store Day!?!? Glad to hear it! As you may know, this lovely blog has spun itself off into a record label, and as such, we're heavily involved in tomorrow's festivities.

To start things off the latest from The Heavenly States, Oui Camera Oui, will be available in advance of it's release date. The record will be available exclusively in its vinyl format on Saturday, with digital and CD dropping on the regular release date this coming Tuesday. The record features a guest appearance from Eugene Mirman, as well as guest vocals from Spoon's Britt Daniel on "Berlin Wall".

Next up is a record store day exclusive, created with our distributor, Burnside Distribution. They've pulled together an awesome compilation of Burnside artists, and we're happy to say HAD Records is well represented. Not only does the compilation feature the only physical release from Grand Lake's latest Leaves Ellipse with "Christmas, California", but it also features an exclusive outtake from the Oui Camera Oui sessions with Ted singing the vocals on "Berlin Wall". The compilation is available for free at West Coast retailers, when purchased with a Burnside release.

Finally, what would Record Store day be without some awesome performances? HAD Records' bands are representing, with both playing dates in California. Grand Lake will be playing an in-store at Boo Boo Records in San Luis Obispo, while The Heavenly States will be playing an evening show at Red Devil Lounge in San Francisco. Tickets to The States' gig can be purchased here. Alternatively, coupons will be handed out with Oui Camera Oui purchases at Amoeba Records: the first 100 coupon holders at the gig get in for free!

So there you have it: Record Store Day is serious business, and we here at Hippies Are Dead are more than happy to deliver! Happy shopping!

Announcing Hippies Are Dead Records

Dear Friends,

For the past three years Hippies Are Dead has provided surfers of the world wide interwebs with daily insight into some of the best music, both live and recorded, that the world has to offer. Through a strong focus on photo journalism, the blog has tracked the musical events all over the US, with offices based in New York and San Francisco. Now the time has come for Hippies Are Dead to enter a new era of creativity and music creation.

Today we are pleased to announce the formation of Hippies Are Dead Records. The new label, formed by the editorial staff of Hippies Are Dead, will be host to musicians who embody the musical ideals that have come to define Hippies Are Dead. We will aim to release records that we truly love, and in doing so we hope to gain your faith in the albums we put forth. Sometimes we will challenge you, sometimes we'll make things easy for you. But, rest assured, we will always put forth music of the utmost quality and more importantly, music that holds true meaning for us.

Undoubtedly, in these tumultuous economic times. it's questionable to be starting a record label . As we always have, we have faith in rock and roll, and we know you do too. We're confident that this venture, no matter how financially risky, will succeed in its true goal: to bring amazing music, created by amazing people, to the masses. It promises to be a very interesting and exciting ride, and we hope you'll join us.

Patrick Proctor
Hippies Are Dead Records