John and Julian perform an acoustic version of Hey Kate! on 96Wave

John and Julian of The Fire Apes perform an acoustic version of Let Me Know on 96Wave.

Monster, Cat's, 52.5 Records, and hundreds nationwide embrace vinyl, discs, and more!

Locally-run music shops Cat's Music, sister store Monster Music & Movies, and indie spot 52.5 Records celebrate the inaugural "Record Store Day" on Sat. April 19. It's a wide-reaching event during which hundreds of like-minded indie record shops across the U.S. "simultaneously link and act as one."

"This will be a very big deal for us," says Galen Hudson of Monster and Cat's. "We have several events going on that day. We'll also have sales going on all vinyl — new and used, all day — used DVDs, and box sets, and free stuff and free goodie bags while they last."

Hudson's staff will stay busy giving out gift cards every hour, registering people to vote, and helping the Red Cross conduct a blood drive.

Cat's Music on James Island will conduct a Guitar Hero competition and late-afternoon performances by In Reverie, The Fire Apes, and The Modern Day Monks. Cat's in Summerville features mixtape man DJ Chuck T on the turntable.

Monster will feature a full day of live music, starting at noon. Performers include reggae band Tropix International; rock bands Souls Harbor, The Fire Apes, Robert Bradley's Blackwater Surprise, Blindsyght, Near Fatal Fall, Moonless Moth, Valkyrie, The DaliDrama, and The Defilers; and hip-hop acts Marly Mar and DJ Chuck T.

"Record labels have been generous with promotional items for us to give away," says 52.5's Clay Scales. "We'll have CD samplers, limited 7-inch singles, and free copies of Paste." His shop on King Street will also officially unveil a Lending Library & Community Activism Bulletin Board, and offer free donuts and coffee from 1-6 p.m.

"For most indie record stores, the rumors of our demise are not just greatly exaggerated, they're downright confusing," say organizers.

This may be the first, but it won't be the last; plans are already in the works for Record Stre Day 2. Get that stylus ready. —T. Ballard Lesemann

Visit www.recordstoreday.com, www.catsmusic.com, and www.corporaterocksucks.com. See City Paper's interview with Galen Hudson online at www.charlestoncitypaper.com.

John & Julian discuss the origins of The Fire Apes at the 96 Wave Boardroom.

John & Julian warm up for the 96Wave Boardroom appearance by covering a Bob Dylan classic... "It Ain't Me Babe"

Click here to register for your chance to win a seat in the 96Wave Boardroom with us on April 9th, plus 2 tickets to the Map Room show on April 10th!!

Basically just go to 96Wave.com, click on The Fire Apes Boardroom link, and register to win; the registration ends this Friday afternoon. We’ll get a hold of all the winners, and you pretty much know the rest: Boardroom will be on Wed. for the winner and a friend, and they also get two tickets to the show on Thursday.

96Wave.com