Saturday, April 21 is the day music fans wait all year for; Record Store Day! In Dayton, Ghettoblaster Magazine Editor David Obenour became involved in making the day one to remember. Not only will there be special Record Story Day releases in all of the area’s record shops, but the day will also feature live music, music trivia at Blind Bob’s, an evening screening of Empire Records at Neon Movies, and discounts from many of Fifth Street’s other businesses.

We caught up with Obenour as he prepared for the event and here’s what he had to say:

You Indie: Are you involved in the Dayton, Ohio Record Store Day activities in a capacity as Ghettoblaster Magazine’s editor or are you involved in some other sort of capacity?

David Obenour: I’m saying that Ghettoblaster is throwing the event, I’ve said Ghettoblaster is a sponsor, but it is moreso that I’m linking the four stores around the area that were already doing stuff. Through sponsorship from Blind Bob’s and Thai Nine and Fifth Street Deli we rented out the Neon Movies to do a screening of Empire Records. At Blind Bob’s we are going to have trivia, and Andy Rowe has been booking DJs as well. I will be doing the trivia from 4:00 to 6:30pm. I am hoping that my involvement will raise awareness of Ghettoblaster magazine though.

You Indie: Where are you getting the trivia questions? Will it be real hard ball stuff or are there going to be some soft pitches in there too?

David Obenour: It will be a mix. Because it is an indie music day I wanted there to be some indie music questions. But I also realize that there will probably be some 40+ year old dudes who come down for the Warner Brothers special Eagles reissues or whatever and I want those types to feel involved too. It won’t be strictly indie, there will be some easier things in there too.

I am actually going to be on the Fox morning show the Friday before record store day so today I came up with the five questions I am going to ask them. I think three of the questions are relatively straight forward. I didn’t want to ask five questions and have them not know any of the answers.

You Indie: Do you think the day is designed for music diehards? Is there are air of snobbery around it or is it something that you feel like even casual listeners of music can participate in?

David Obenour: It can definitely be a casual thing. If you want the Record Store Day only releases , and there are specific ones you have to have I recommend showing up early. But there will also be live music throughout the day and I think a lot of people who don’t normally have visits to the record store as part of their normal routine will hear about it and hopefully check it out. I really wanted to have some symmetry in all the events going on so that people who come from Centerville or Tipp City for these special releases one day a year might take their receipts over to Thai Nine and get a discount on appetizers, come do trivia at Blind Bob’s, go get a discount on clothing at Basho and stay for the movie at the Neon. My hope is that they’ll bounce around to all the businesses. I think that will increase the likelihood of them visiting the Oregon District before next year’s Record Store Day. I hope they’ll see this as the vibrant district and city that it is…

You Indie: And they’ve supported businesses that have been supportive of local arts and music, but who may not necessarily sell music…

David Obenour: Yeah.

You Indie: Have you read into the history of Record Store Day at all?

David Obenour: I’ve been a participant in previous Record Store Days and I think I get that the premise is trying to get people back to the brick and mortar, mom and pop shops.

You Indie: The Midwest recently lost a huge asset in Ear-X-Tacy in Louisville earlier this year. Do you think events like Record Store Day will change the public perception of how immediately they need music and what the best way to get it is? What do you feel like the gravity of this event will be in terms of convincing the public to return to supporting local business, and supporting real, independent record stores?

David Obenour: I think the good part about involving other businesses is that you can kind of cash in on their regulars as well. People who are coming to Blind Bob’s will see the posters, see that we’ll have events downtown and raise the awareness of their local shops. People who know about, and anticipate Record Store Day all year, will be coming to Record Store Day anyway. So then the question is how do we expand that participation? So I am talking with you, with the Dayton City Paper, with the Dayton Daily, with Fox in the Morning. I don’t think people would be paying as close attention to the event if we hadn’t tried to cast a bigger net this time.

I think it scared some of the record store owners initially. I think they were like, “This is our day. When you involve these other events and businesses you might take patrons away from us.” That is a valid concern. But I think the bigger picture is that most of the additional events where we are raising money we will reinvest in the Dayton Music Fest, creating a stronger local scene, and that will create stronger support for local record stores. It is all interconnected. Six of the businesses are within a block and a half of each other and I really believe that helping one helps the others.

As an aside, Rob Strong has been incredible to work with on this event, and is a wonderful asset to the city. If you look at any event downtown, I feel like you always see his logos as a sponsor. He is a great dude; he’s a really nice guy and I think as a result his businesses do very well.

You Indie: Do you know that he used to be a roadie for the Afghan Whigs?

David Obenour: Yeah. He’s a fan of music, which is really cool. We talked earlier and just sort of shot the shit about the reunion tours and the Nelsonville Music Fest. We’re giving away tickets to the fest at the screening too. He’s a genuine, real human being, not just a business owner. He was really excited to get involved in this and has been extremely gung-ho about making this successful.

You Indie: Do you feel a kinship to Record Store Day in that you are part of a media that is challenged by online presences? You’ve got a magazine that people have to go to a store and pull of the newsstand and purchase…you may have a digital version…but buying a magazine is one of those experiences like holding a piece of vinyl…

David Obenour: I work a computer job, so I don’t want to spend a lot of time online when my work day ends. It is nice to have a physical copy of a magazine. This is not a throw away magazine. It is not meant to be consumed and forgotten. I hope that Ghettoblaster is something that people will put on their shelves or leave on their coffee table and share with friends. One of the greatest things about music is how it can interconnect people. Whether it is hanging out at a store and seeing someone else pick up a record by your favorite artist and the kinship that can grow from that, or sharing and talking about something you read in a magazine is powerful in different ways than what you take away from an online experience.

(Here is a list of participants and events taking place during this year’s Record Store Day in Dayton:

Omega Music | 318 E. Fifth St Dayton, 937-275-9949
 *Special Record Store Day releases & live music all day (check their facebook page for schedule) – Free

Toxic Beauty | 220 Xenia Ave Yellow Springs, 513-965-1195
 *Special Record Store Day releases & live music all day (check their facebook page for schedule) – Free

Record Gallery | 16 Brown St, Dayton, 937-224-3277
 *Live music all day (check their facebook page for schedule) – Free

Feathers | 440 E. Fifth St Dayton, 937-228-2940
 *Live music all day (check their facebook page for schedule) – Free

Blind Bob’s (local sponsor) | 430 E. 5th St Dayton, 937-938-6405
 *Live DJs all day (check their facebook page for schedule) 
 *4-6:30 pm Underground Music Trivia with prizes from great indie labels like Merge, Rhymesayers, Thrill Jockey and many more!
 Free until 9pm / $5 cover in benefit of 2012′s Dayton Music Fest

The Neon | 130 E. 5th St Dayton, 937-222-7469
 *10:15 pm screening of Empire Records at The Neon with a Nelsonville Music Fest ticket giveaway!
 $6 tickets in benefit of 2012′s Dayton Music Fest ($4 with receipt from Omega, Record Gallery, Feathers or Toxic Beauty)

–LOCAL DISCOUNTS–

5th Street Deli (local sponsor) will be offering 20% off all food with a receipt from Omega, Toxic, Record Gallery or Feathers

Thai9 (local sponsor) will be offering 50% off appetizers with a receipt from Omega, Toxic, Record Gallery or Feathers

The Neon will be offering $2 off Empire Records tickets with a receipt from Omega, Toxic, Record Gallery or Feathers

Basho in Dayton & Yellow Springs will be offering 10% off with a receipt from Omega, Toxic, Record Gallery or Feathers)