In an era dominated by MP3 players and downloaded music, two music lovers are confident other fans are hungry for the real thing: vinyl, and lots of it. Dal Basi, a longtime Tower Records music buyer, and his partner, Nich Lujan, are banking on the importance of being able to touch your music collection. They are opening an independent vinyl specialty store, Phono Select Records, in Midtown in early September. "Digital music is so soulless," said Basi, 42. "Fast food is kind of like an MP3. You're getting what you need for the moment, but it's not something special." Basi and Lujan both use digital audio players. But the most devoted music fans are into the entire "organic" experience:

Russ Solomon, the iconic founder of Tower Records, officially retired from the music business Saturday. But it was clear he hasn't retired from the hearts and minds of many Sacramentans. More than 200 people turned out on a scorching afternoon for Solomon’s retirement party at the corner of 16th Street and Broadway — the longtime site of his Tower Records store and now the home of Dimple Records. The 84-year-old record store mogul built a multimillion-dollar chain that spanned seven decades, with stores on three continents. Guitarist Skip Maggiora, owner of Skip's Music stores, thanked Solomon for "putting music into millions of lives," including his. "He had a passionate way of doing b

Dimple Records opened at Broadway and 16th Street Wednesday in the longtime home of Tower Records. The Radakovitz family, which has officially operated Dimple Records since 1978, said they plan to dedicate the store to Tower Records founder Russ Solomon at his retirement party Saturday. The location is nearly hallowed ground for local musicians and music lovers. Tower Records got its start nearby when Solomon began selling vinyl records in his father's drug store and soda fountain in 1941 in a building shared with Tower Theater. The family recognizes Solomon as an icon in the music business. "He's been here in this neighborhood since 1941," said Dilyn ("DYE lyn") Radakovitz, who starte

Two years after he opened an independent record store on the site of the Tower Records empire he founded half a century ago, Russ Solomon will close his R5 Records at 16th and Broadway. "The rumors are true," he said on noon Wednesday. "I'm finally going to retire. Enough already." Solomon, who will turn 85 this year, side-stepped questions about the success of the store in a tough economy and a dismal retail record environment, but was quick to note that "the new people are in a better position to make it a success." The "new people" will reportedly be the owners of Dimple Records, a locally-owned small chain with stores around the Sacramento area. Solomon would not confirm Dimple's ro

*Note, there is a bias here because I'm directly involved with the Festival's organizaiton, etc. -RH In The Flow 3! The 3rd annual In The Flow Jazz/Improvisational Festival will be at Luna's Cafe, R5 Records and Beatnik Studios this weekend (Friday, 5/14 through Monday, 5/17). The lauded young improvisational music festival will feature musicians from all over the West Coast, including Vinny Golia, Nels Cline, (guitarist from super group Wilco and the Nels Cline Singers), Lovely Builders, Gerry Pineda, Tony Passarell, Henry Robinett and many more. In The Flow 3 Festival, produced by area guitarist Ross Hammond along with a group of volunteers, will post up over thirty music groups at tw

Sacramento jazz fans, get ready. The second annual In the Flow jazz festival starts Friday and will be invading four venues on downtown's Broadway. Last year's festival was held on the patio of True Love Coffeehouse. This weekend, Beatnik Studios, The Comedy Spot, R5 Records and Java Lounge are opening their doors for three days of live jazz performances. "Sacramento has an incredible jazz scene. We have great players with great, original ideas that span all things jazz and beyond," said Ross Hammond, the main coordinator of the festival. The idea for the festival was dreamt up during a coffee outing with Hammond, jazz musician Byron Blackburn and some of their friends. They wanted to h

On April 18, 2009, R5 Records will be having a huge record swap for the internationally celebrated Record Store Day! Record Store Day is a day where hundreds of independently owned record stores celebrate the art of music. When R5 Records had their celebration last year, over 1,000 people showed up to see tons of local bands play and to get their hands on some awesome music paraphernalia. This year we will once again have a huge lineup of local bands and DJs that are going to be playing great music all day long. Inside the store EVERYTHING is going to be on sale and you'll have a chance to find some awesome stuff in in the Rock n' Roll garage sale we're having. There's also going to be rec

When Tesla the band launched nationally in 1987 on powerhouse label Geffen Records, few thought that Sacramento’s most successful rock export would still be rocking more than 20 years later. That was even more true when the band broke up in 1995, victims of their own rock star egos and chemical dependencies. Even after reuniting in 2000, some wags dismissed the band’s return as the mere desire to cash in on a well-known name from the classic rock era, which said naysayers considered completely played out. What a joke, they said. But Brian Wheat has had the last laugh. Bassist and manager of the band he co-founded with guitarist Frank Hannon in 1982, Wheat has worked for this decade to r