On my most recent trip to New Orleans every day seem packed with activities that got in the way what’s really important, hitting some record stores. So I picked a day and went out on my own and just hit a few places that I’ve never been before. 

 First stop was “The Mushroom” at 1037 Broadway. I t was full of pretty cool vinyl (new and used) and tons of singles. They had a huge selection of headgear and lots of T-shirts. I scored a light up / sound activated Deadmaus T shirt for a friend. 

 As for what else I purchased I found a pretty clean version of “Not Yet” on Drag City Records 2011 from Israeli based Monotonix. Anyone who saw them play around Buffalo a few years back definitely knows how crazy these guys are. Sadly it appears that they disbanded, but their guitar player, Yonatan Gat has recorded on his own and toured a bit as well. Definitely going to be on my radar.

  I also picked up a new copy of Ministry’s Psalm 69 LP reissued on Rhino Records. Because the only way I’m going to get an OG copy is by paying over 50 bucks so the re-issue will have to do. 

Another record that popped up that was definitely worth grabbing was the live Head Cat record “Rock N Roll Riot on the Sunset Strip,” for those of you who don’t know The Head Cat was a three-piece band the featured Lemmy from Motorhead on vocals and guitar along with Slim Jim Phantom from the Stray Cats and Danny B. Harvey playing rock and roll standards by the likes of Little Richard and Chuck Berry.

After stopping at PJ’s at 5432 Magazine Street for some much needed caffeine and sugar (in the form of a giant sized cinnamon roll) I was back on the street. 

A short stroll later I stopped at “The White Roach” at 5704 Magazine. A funky store with a little but of everything a nice collection of vinyl and a few boxes of singles and some cool clothing. Did a little digging, but didn’t find anything that I had to have, but it’s always a cool place to look. 

  A little walk down the street took me to another great record store at 5206 Magazine Street, “Sisters in Christ.” If you’re into underground music this is the place for you there was so much cool stuff I can’t begin to even tell you. I was impressed with the fact that things didn’t seem super overpriced they had Misfits re-issues for 15.99 that most places would have for 20+ dollars. There was a nice selection of used albums most around 10.00. Flipping through things I came across a Talking Heads 1975 record which had all the demos they had recorded before their first album was released. So I grabbed that up.

  At this point I had clocked in over two miles walking and it was time for some “self care” Walking in the door to one of my favorite NOLA watering holes, “Bon Temps Roule” is a bit of respite from the some of the more gentrified parts of the Garden District. A true beautiful dive bar that is a different place during the day than what I saw when I have been there at 1AM. Forgoing my usual Guinness for some reason I went with 3 short Jack and Cokes and a nice chat with a few locals. Always a friendly stop and the Bloody Mary’s are the best. 

At this point I decided to head home with smile on my face and a only a few less dollars. Damn I love this City.  

Sadly I had to skip two of my favorites  “Euclid Records” at 3301 Chartres St, New Orleans, LA 70117 and “Domino Sound Record Shack” at 2557 Bayou Road, but next time for sure.