VIDEO: Waterparks @ Easy Street Records, as store relaunches live shows, launches loft bar

Another sign that West Seattle life is getting back to something resembling pre-pandemic normal – in-store shows at Easy Street Records in The Junction! Tonight ESR presented Waterparks, the rock trio from Houston, which had fans lining up long before the show, and singing along during it.

They’re on tour in support of their newest album “Greatest Hits.” Easy Street’s Matt Vaughan told us the relaunch show was one “for the kids.” But his record store/café/music venue has something new for the grownups too:

Kelsey and Patrick were in the loft tending the new Easy Street bar, which has been open for some sneak peeks lately. One more spin of Easy Street news – as of last weekend the shop’s gone back to pre-pandemic hours, 9 am-9 pm Mondays through Saturdays, 9 am-7 pm Sundays.

11 Replies to "VIDEO: Waterparks @ Easy Street Records, as store relaunches live shows, launches loft bar"

  • C July 13, 2021 (10:03 am)

    RIP Easy Street Records… Welcome Easy Street Cafe! Walked in yesterday to buy some music and got kicked in the gut. CD selection is now the size of a closet. I inquired with an employee behind the desk about the change and was informed “CD’s are not worth anything anymore”. LP’s have become boutique so out the CD’s went.  Brilliant… so are you going to carry Pokémon cards now?I stated that this change is just forcing long-term customers like me to order online from a source that can get it to me tomorrow. This is going to train their last music customers to do the same with LPs. I literally have no reason to walk in the door anymore… I’ve been fearful that we would lose them to some giant condo project one day… But clearly they care more about self-destruction. Fare Thee Well… 

    • Matt July 14, 2021 (7:49 am)

      This is Matt. Yes, we’ve shrunk our CD selection. We’ve been doing that every year for the last 7-8 years. You may have just noticed because we moved the section. Did u notice the prices now? $2.50-$5 . Cheapest in town. We did move them to the front of the store, not the back. New CD prices are at record lows. We haven’t given up on CD, we won’t, it was so good to us. We have a soft spot for the CD. Anything recorded and mastered for CD from ‘88 thru the 00’s, it sounds best on CD. With thst being said, the record labels are shrinking their inventory and selling thru and removing titles from their  catalog. There were 3 record shops in Seattle that went out of biz during the pandemic. Bop Street, Rat City, and Everyday Music. The latter store, Everyday boasted one of the largest CD collections in the city. They were a 8,000 sq ft store. I have seen every format come back to life. Cassettes are a thing now. We never gave up on em. I pulled my old tape racks out and we are selling more tapes now than we have in over 20 years. Yes, vinyl is a thing too. 45’s too. We never gave up on em. We are probably the only record shop in town they didn’t jump on the bandwagon. We were already on the bandwagon and had been all along. Not counting the CD out, but their current value does not equate when measuring sq footage, rising rent, payroll, etc. Target, Barnes & Noble, and all the big boxes have pulled all CDs from their stores. Our demographic tends to be a lil younger than some of the other record shops in town. With that, we will be selling what they desire. Vinyl is where it’s at currently and we don’t see that sliding. Btw…if u want to see more of our CD selection, we have been donating our excess CDs to Lifelong Thrift , a great non profit store funding AIDS research and those living w HIV. Store is on Broadway, great deals and selection. There is no Easy Street without the CD. Hang onto your CD Club Card !  Matt 

  • Brian Hughes July 13, 2021 (10:49 am)

    I’ll definitely check it out.  I don’t care about CDs. Happy to by LPs and cocktails. I’m sure Matt knows what he’s doing. (Famous last words). 

  • WestSeattleDad July 13, 2021 (11:37 am)

    RIP Easy Street Records…” Really! That’s to bad. Easy Street is more then a record shop its a community. They have great food the workers there are wonderful. Music is always changing and the CD is a bad investment in todays world. Records hold more value because they are rare and sound better then any digital format. I am record collector and last Christmas I bought six LPs from east street. Easy Street is one of the small stores in West Seattle that needs everyone’s support. Please keep supporting this wonderful West Seattle gem. 

  • lox July 13, 2021 (1:05 pm)

    I had a wonderful time at the show seeing so many smiling and joyful faces.  Such amazing energy beaming from every single employee and person involved. Times change, we adapt. Easy Street has done an amazing job staying relevant and being a beacon for the music loving community. I plan to support them in whatever iteration they continue. Long Live! 

  • shot July 13, 2021 (1:38 pm)

    I heard they don’t even sell 8-track tapes anymore! The horror! RIP Easy Street! 

  • Eric July 13, 2021 (1:39 pm)

    Congrats to Matt Vaughan  and Easy Street for their staying alive through a very tough year and adapting to the future! We love ES!

  • sw July 13, 2021 (1:56 pm)

    Last year vinyl outsold CD’s for the first time in decades and the used CD market is nonexistent.  Streaming has made the CD obsolete, automakers are no longer putting CD players in cars.  I suspect Easy Street knows their business well and has shifted to meet what the market is currently seeking.  Far from “self destruction” I would say.If CD’s are still your jam, you can hop a C-Line bus down to Silver Platters in SODO.  They have a large CD selection and are still buying used CD’s (for the moment, anyhow).

  • Sunflower July 13, 2021 (8:48 pm)

    Turns out records might be the most environmentally friendly way to listen to music, well, perhaps aside from live music.

    https://theconversation.com/the-environmental-impact-of-music-digital-records-cds-analysed-108942

    Good to have live music again!

  • Matt July 13, 2021 (11:01 pm)

    This is Matt. Yes, we’ve shrunk our CD selection. We’ve been doing that every year for the last 7-8 years. You may have just noticed because we moved the section. Did u notice the prices now? $2.50-$5 . Cheapest in town. We did move them to the front of the store, not the back. New CD prices are at record lows. We haven’t given up on CD, we won’t, it was so good to us. We have a soft spot for the CD. Anything recorded and mastered for CD from ‘88 thru the 00’s, it sounds best on CD. With thst being said, the record labels are shrinking their inventory and selling thru and removing titles from their  catalog. There were 3 record shops in Seattle that went out of biz during the pandemic. Bop Street, Rat City, and Everyday Music. The latter store, Everyday boasted one of the largest CD collections in the city. They were a 8,000 sq ft store. I have seen every format come back to life. Cassettes are a thing now. We never gave up on em. I pulled my old tape racks out and we are selling more tapes now than we have in over 20 years. Yes, vinyl is a thing too. 45’s too. We never gsve up on em. We are probably the only record shop in town they didn’t jump on the bandwagon. We were already on the bandwagon and had been all along. Not counting the CD out, but their current value does not equate when measuring sq footage, rising rent, payroll, etc. Target, Barnes & Noble, and all the big boxes have pulled all CDs from their stores. Our demographic tends to be a lil younger than some of the other record shops in town. With that, we will be selling what they desire. Vinyl is where it’s at currently and we don’t see that sliding. Btw…if u want to see more of our CD selection, we have been donating our excess CDs to Lifelong Thrift , a great non profit store funding AIDS research and those living w HIV. Store is on Broadway, great deals and selection. There is no Easy Street without the CD. Hang onto your CD Club Card !  Matt 

  • insertname July 14, 2021 (6:49 pm)

    I really miss the Queen Anne Easy Street location. I remember seeing the Goo Goo Dolls there. Along with many other amazing in-store performances. Don’t forget to support Easy Street this weekend (7/17) for Record Store Day 2.0. 

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