Buncombe Bins:

THE Ten BEST Spots to STOp and Shop

FOR FINE VINYL in Asheville

Hit up these local listening oases to snag some slick additions to your stack o' black.

I lead a rather musical life, as you might imagine.

Apart from making a career out of exploring the many unique places and ways – venues and avenues – in which we experience music, I in myself also just happen to inherently be very … well … musical.  Something is always singing to me, whether it be a song playing over the stereo, or the way the grommets on a flag percussively bounce along the poles they are bound to, or how the creaking of hammock swaying lazily in the last gasps of summer is sounds like it is begging the warmth not to go (after this summer, it would be the only thing doing so, whew!).  I’m the kind of person who always has a song playing in his head like a jukebox, or am making up some weird ad lib tune about not being able to find my flip-flops, singing it to its fever pitch when I realize how late I am and step on something sharp or stub my toe.  To me, the world is full of music, in every sense of the word, if you are willing to stop and listen for a sec.

It should also come to no surprise that over the years music has been a necessary factor to consider when deciding where I wanted to live – anywhere I was going to make my home had to be intrinsically harmonious to my inner thirst for sound.  New York, San Francisco, New Orleans (especially New Orleans, duh) … all three had sound and music ground deep into their histories, and Asheville is no different.  The ultimate test for seeing if my new home is going to be a good fit?  How their record stores match up.  New York obviously passed the test, as did New Orleans, on a smaller but more eclectic scale.  The Bay Area has Amoeba (two locations actually) which is almost impossible to beat out in any contest comparing it to another record store, but this isn’t about seeing who or where is the best; it’s about finding the best these places have to offer.

I’ve found the record stores in Asheville to be great resources and wonderful places to flip and rummage in peace … but there are just the three actual stores, and my desire for variety had me branching out to look in other standby spots, like big box stores and thrift stores, but the big box stores have such limited quantities (and are so overpriced), and the thrift stores only really seem to carry the same four types of albums: Christmas box sets from the 40s, religious choir music, some combination of Johnny Mathis and/or Paul Anka,  and for some bizarre reason, the soundtrack to the film Doctor Zhivago (seriously EVERY thrift store around here has at least one copy, what is that about?!).    

So, I had to do some digging and exploring, and found myself looking in some rather unexpected places… but I was ultimately rewarded.  So here are my picks for the best spots to pick up some plastic in town.  Happy hunting!

Harvest Records

Set among the tattoo parlors, microbreweries and trendy eateries of West Asheville is this treasure shop that is Asheville’s largest and most traditional record shop. Two sprawling open rooms are home to hundreds of new releases of all genres (probably the only place in town with a proper electronic section), plus CDs, cassettes, books and equipment.  Not to mention a killer selection of used records that flows through daily, making their first stop at the grand “Used New Arrivals” section at the store’s central back wall before being sorted into their properly categorized homes.  Also featuring a pretty extensive collection of movie and television soundtracks printed on vinyl, and – my personal favorite – the Used ‘90s to Today’ Section, where you will find all sorts of indie gems from the past few decades, plus some other random surprises.  An added bonus is that you can also purchase tickets to several of Asheville’s local venues at the front register without worrying about paying those pesky service fees.

415 Haywood Rd, Ste B.  Asheville, NC 28801 | Open M-Sat 11AM­-8PM, Sun 12PM-7PM | (828) 258-2999 | www.harvest-records.com

Static Age Records

This neighborhood haunt and home to local vinyl label Family Night Records specializes in stocking titles by artists generally found in the lesser-known end of the spectrum. The store’s interiors are modest at first glance – the inventory takes up only a single room – but the selection far exceeds what meets the eye, including vast amounts of punk and metal LPs and a plethora of used records of a wide variety of genres.  In the center of it all is the cashier’s desk, which also serves as a beer bar featuring many local brews in bottles and cans, just in case you get thirsty during your perusal, or if you just want to pop in and shoot the shit with their very knowledgeable and friendly staff.  The space also serves as a recording studio and performance venue on certain nights (their full schedules are posted monthly on their Facebook page), making it the ultimate underground music utopia for the typical DIY-enthusiast, citizen and visitor alike.

110 N Lexington Ave, Asheville NC 28801 | Open Daily 12PM-6PM | (828) 254-3232 | www.staticagerecords.biz

Voltage Records

Located just down the block from Static Age, this downtown spot is a must-see for those who are more inclined towards records from decades past (i.e., the first golden age of vinyl). Their specialty is old used LPs and 45s, plus a decent-sized section featuring new releases and specialty reissues.  Check out their vintage T-shirt section in the back (I’ve purchased some bitchin’ band shirts there) and if you’re in town for Record Store Day, this place is a great spot to celebrate (even if you’re there shortly thereafter, they often have stock of RSD’s special releases leftover!).

90 N Lexington Ave, Asheville NC 28801 | Open M-Sat 11AM-6PM, Sun 12PM-6PM | (828) 255-9333 | https://www.facebook.com/voltageavl/

Moog Music Factory

Those familiar with electronic music know the name Robert Moog and the man who embodied the genius behind those three syllables. Those who are unfamiliar with Moog – which is pronounced with an OHG sound, like ‘Vogue;’ not with an OOG sound like in ‘Google’ or ‘Doogie’ – should know that his oddly-pronounced name has been synonymous with ‘synthesizer’ for the better part of a century, as he is credited for basically inventing and developing the instrument.  His invention can be heard in all sorts of popular music from the past 50 years or so, from the Beatles to Donna Summer to Daft Punk and beyond.  After decades spent in New York, followed by years of legal issues surrounding the rights tied to his name before and after his death in 2005, Asheville became the headquarters for the still prosperous Moog Music Factory.  The factory still functions as such, with every Moog synthesizer still expertly being constructed  by hand and meticulously tested against the standards of perfection first put forth by Moog.  The factory offers daily complementary tours of the factory, to give the public an insider’s look into how each machine is made, as well as to show off their private studio and compendium of relics collected from over the ages.  For those with only a few minutes to spare (or for those who get bored on tours – it’s not for everybody, no judgement!), the Moog Music Shop is where one can peruse an assortment of goodies and Moog inspired-media, including an impressive selection of vinyl (impressive in terms of quality, not so much quantity).  Also strewn about the shop are every Moog synthesizer product currently available for purchase – all available for you to explore and tinker with – along with an experienced staff to show you the ropes should you have any questions.

160 Broadway St, Asheville NC 28801 | Open M-F 10AM-6PM, Sat 12PM-5PM (Closed Sun) | Tours M-F at 10:30AM & 3PM, Call store to arrange | (828) 239-0123 | https://www.moogmusic.com/contact

Portrait of the man himself, Robert Moog.

The Regeneration Station 

It’s both easy and hard to miss this must-see spot for antique enthusiasts, makers, and anyone looking to add a little uniqueness to their everyday décor. Easy because it’s somewhat off the beaten path, unless you are already cruising the antique shops along Swannanoa River Rd; difficult because once you turn onto Glendale Avenue from the north, it’s enormous lime-green presence is very much impossible to ignore.  Once inside the massive warehouse, it’s easy to get lost amidst the dozens of consignment booths that line the makeshift concrete corridors, many spending hours just wandering around the space, discovering treasure after treasure in the form of repurposed “up-cycled” furniture or an epic deal on an otherwise expensive item (I got a full surround sound system there for $30 – and it works brilliantly!).  Towards the rear part of the complex (right where you leave one warehouse and enter another – there’s a very noticeable light change) is where you’ll find scattered bins of records, and while they are somewhat few and, well, not so far between, they are stocked to the gills with old blues, jazz, rock, and pop records.  Be sure to bring something to tote your teetering takeaway pile in – records are heavy once their quantity hits the double digits.

26 Glendale Ave B, Asheville NC 28803 | Open Daily 10AM-7PM | (828) 505-1108 | http://regenerationstation.com/

Second Chances

Located just across the street from The Regeneration Station is the Brother Wolf Animal Shelter, a local non-profit shelter for wayward animals looking for a home. Directly next door slightly up the hill is a small edifice that resembles the kind of backwoods shed that your parents probably advised against approaching when you were a child, but in actuality it is one of Asheville’s most interesting and eclectic thrift stores, benefiting a most noble cause – the welfare of our furry, four-legged brethren.  It’s quieter than most thrift stores, and their selection of clothing is less than what one might expect, but for the lack of apparel they make up for in housewares, appliances, luggage (lots o bags here!) and media.  Their record bin – located on the north wall next to the fitting room/restroom – is overflowing with interesting finds to be discovered alongside the expected standbys (I’ve seen a lot of 80s and 90s alt/garage/indie stuff floating around there).  Plus, you will leave with a full heart knowing that all the proceeds will benefit Brother Wolf next door, ensuring a brighter future for the pups and other pals that inhabit the shelter.

49 Glendale Ave, Asheville NC 28803 | Open M-Sat 10AM-6PM, Sun 1PM-5PM | (828) 505-2017 | https://www.bwar.org/second-chances

Bryant Antiques

Asheville is known for its multitude of antiques dealers, and the area just north of Biltmore Village seems to be their decided hub, as along Swannanoa River Rd, just across from the river itself are several large-scale antiques “malls” – Bryant being one of the most frequented among them. The rooms inside are smaller than what is expected when greeted with its broad exterior, but as you snake your way through the semi-labyrinthine corridors from room to room, you’ll find a few booths with a fair share of classic vinyl on display.  Don’t expect to be able to choose from a collection of hundreds, but you may just find that some album you’ve been searching for making an unexpected appearance.

120 Swannanoa River Rd, Asheville NC 28805 |Open M-Sat 10AM-5PM, Sun 12PM-5PM | (828) 225-5872 | https://www.facebook.com/bryantantiques

Antique Tobacco Barn

As far as barns brimming with antiques, this is the one you should make a priority while planning your visit to Asheville. Voted time and again as Western North Carolina’s #1 Antique Shop, this is by far the biggest and boldest collection of vintage furniture, collectibles, clothing, artwork, dishware, sculpture…everything.  They have everything.  It runs on a consignment/booth-based system, kind of like a big indoor flea market filled with fancier, more expensive stuff.  Much like The Regeneration Station, it is easy to get lost in the ATB’s sprawling frontier.  Some booths – though not many – have big ole bins of vinyl ripe for the picking, and most rotate on a semi-regular basis, just to keep things fresh.  Hey, you might find a nice early 1900s-era Victrola to play them on too, if you’re in the market for one.

75 Swannanoa River Rd, Asheville NC 28805 | Open M-Thu 10AM-6PM, Fri & Sat 9AM-6PM, Sun 1PM-6PM | (828) 252-2791 | http://www.atbarn.com  

Habitat for Humanity ReStore

Habitat for Humanity is one of the most well-known, celebrated and most-volunteered-for non-profit organizations to ever grace our great nation, thanks to our former President and peanut enthusiast-in-chief Jimmy Carter, who founded the program back in 1976. When I was living in New Orleans at the beginning part of this decade, just five years shy of the terrible destruction that brought ruin to much of the Crescent City and its surroundings, I would often volunteer myself as a worker on one of many sites, or I would spend the day at the ReStore: H4H’s version of a thrift store plus lumber & surplus plus furniture and cabinetry outlet.  Sound confusing?  Or maybe the best store ever?  This place truly has everything, from lightbulbs to ottomans to pianos to placemats to Christmas decorations to fine jewelry…they even host silent auctions!  The records are stowed in the rear as part of their media section, and while they can run a bit pricey ($20+ sometimes), there are some great finds back here, and it is very well organized.  They also have a pretty epic (and much cheaper) CD selection, and a ton of books (**Added bonus: they will buy your quality records from you in exchange for store credit or cash).  So, if you’re in the mood to balk at some pretty amazing stuff and are willing to sacrifice a weekday lunch or two to afford a high-quality secondhand record, then ReStore is your place to shop.

31 Meadow Rd, Asheville NC 28803 | Open M-Sat 9AM-6PM (Closed Sun) | (828) 254-6706 | https://www.ashevillehabitat.org/restore

American Vinyl Company

If you tire of endlessly flipping through bins and bins of records and find little to no satisfaction in other people’s music, then maybe you should have your head examined. Ha, I kid of course.  But wouldn’t it be cool if there was somewhere in town that you could find a high-quality pressing of your own original music, performed by you, all wrapped up and professionally packaged just for you?  As luck would have it, there is somewhere in town that specializes in that exact service: the American Vinyl Company, located just off Sweeten Creek Rd on the edge of Biltmore Village.  This groovy mom ‘n’ pop place is one of Asheville’s coolest, most best-kept secrets.  The shop boasts not only the opportunity to record your creative vision onto high-quality vinyl ­– for you to keep forever! – but also houses some locally recorded music from locally-sourced acts, all for sale to whomever is curious.  And that’s not all – they also run a mobile studio out of their aptly-named Sound Truck, where you can record your music LIVE onto vinyl, digital format, even reel-to-reel tape!  Packages start at just $29.99, which is a small price to pay for a prize that you will come to treasure for the rest of your life.

8 London Rd, Asheville NC 28803 |Open M-F 9AM-5PM | (828) 367-7354 | https://americanvinylco.com & https://americansoundtruck.com  

BONUS:  Merch Tables!

If all else fails, head out to show!  Most club shows feature a merchandise area where things like T-shirts and CDs are sold, and as of late, vinyl have become a very popular hot-ticket item at the merch stand.  It’s a great way to ensure some money is going directly to the artist, plus you have a souvenir of the show you were at, a beautiful piece of art, and a new album!  Plus, most new LPs come with digital downloads so there’s no need to break out the recorder to get mp3s of your new vinyl.  Win-win-win.

Check out the map I put together below for more details.  Have fun....

The Journey Continues Tomorrow ... Stay Tuned.