By Camila Hall
Bananas Records in St. Petersburg celebrated National Record Store Day April 18, not only to celebrate the importance of the indie record store, but as one example of how the community highlights the whole music scene.
The store sold special vinyl and CD releases made specifically for the occasion, as customers lined up outside the store to get their picks. They also hosted local bands, as well as local coffee and food vendors, further supporting the community.
The all-day event was one of many that were hosted by record stores around the country, all with the purpose of celebrating the unique culture of a record store and the role they play in their communities. Dylan Dames, a Bananas Records staff member and local musician, emphasized the store’s strides to be a hub for the St. Pete community.
“Three people that play in local bands work for the store, including myself. So we feel super connected to the scene,” Dames said. “We have a local section too where people can shop for local artists that release things on physical, but we also host bands here all the time.”
The holiday was first created in 2008, and since then, record stores across the nation have all participated in the celebration. It received lots of recognition by music artists as well, with the band Metallica present at many record stores in the holiday’s first year of establishment. Since then, many other famous artists have expressed their support for the holiday.
Bananas Records’ event for RSD is a highly anticipated one, with the business having the title for the world’s largest collection of vinyl. Founded in 1977 by Michelle and Doug Allen, the store has transitioned from being a bookstore to now selling over three million pieces of vinyl, CDs, DVDs, audio equipment, and more.
“We listen to music nine hours a day every single day. So, you have to keep discovering new stuff to keep it fresh,” Erin Boettcher, Bananas Records staff member, said. “You find out how many subgenres there are and, if your music taste is already diverse, it’s just such a big pool to jump into of just sheer variety.”
The business has made their support for the resurgence of the vinyl known, as the total sales revenue for vinyl records went from 13.1 million in 2016 to 49.6 million in 2023, a growth of nearly 300%. Since then, the vinyl record has maintained its popularity, with new artists releasing albums on vinyl for even newer generations to experience and enjoy.
“I think people love nostalgia and aesthetically pleasing things, and I think record collecting kind of started as a trend and now it’s just a very nostalgic, retro thing to do, especially for the kids,” Boettcher said. “It’s a tangible piece of music that you can have and hold.”
The world is in an age where digital streaming as a way of listening to music dominates, with more than 80% of total US revenue credited to paid subscriptions and other forms of streaming.
Despite this, those in the St. Petersburg community highlight the importance of purchasing vinyl for individual artists.
“It’s still an uphill battle for a lot of artists that post stuff on streaming. I think physical is a way for people to feel connected to their product and feel like, ‘I have a little bit of autonomy over my music as an artist and I can package it and put like…little tokens for listeners to enjoy,’” Dames said.
They also acknowledge the completely different listening experience that comes with vinyl, and how that’s been lost with the shift to digital streaming platforms which are designed to move listeners from artist to artist.
“I also think streaming is kind of a disconnected mode for listening. There’s a sort of romance of having an album. You buy it once, now it’s yours forever. And it’s more of a social thing to do,” Boettcher said. “You can play it by yourself, but also there’s a level of ‘I’m taking the time to take care of this thing, and it’s mine and I can share it with people.’”
For locals, the store isn’t just a building with the largest collection of vinyl: it’s a space that captures the essence of the St. Petersburg community and its love for artistic expression. This can be credited to the effort the store puts into uplifting the community, whether it be through giving them opportunity, selling their music, or through the reminders that are all around the place.
“I’ve met a crazy amount of people who are in the music community (here). You see them pretty regularly. Also, we have the posters and stuff that local artists put on the walls,” Boettcher said.
June Karin Bunch, a local singer and songwriter, testified to the importance of vinyl and its resurgence, from the start of her music journey to the public’s support towards other local musicians.
“I remember buying all of my series and tickets to shows at Daddy Kool Records and loved browsing their local artist section to see who to look out for in the neighborhood,” Bunch said.
Born and raised in St. Pete, she experienced her first band, open mic and songwriter prompt here.
“I feel like St. Pete’s emphasis on local art and culture translates into real support when friends and neighbors come out to see shows and support new releases,” Bunch said. “There’s nothing that feels cooler than seeing someone on the street wearing your album release T-shirt; it feels surreal to see one of your band stickers at a favorite café stuck to a water bottle.”
Bunch says that these moments, in the heart of the city, make the world feel smaller and adds a conversation to the larger music culture that exists here.
“There are so many open mics in St Pete, I’m talking so many more than many places I have lived. There are so many small businesses that support local art when they put on events, and there are so many DIY artists collaborating and encouraging one another,” Bunch said.
It’s what many people are craving in times like these.
“I feel like that’s part of the reason why we moved to, and love St. Pete. The local festivals and the celebration of arts,” Ally Ragan, a St. Petersburg local who attended the event on April 18, said. “I think things like this, like national record store day—we came here, there’s coffee outside and a little bakery set up—it just builds a sense of community.”
