Bull Moose began as a makeshift music store, carrying only a few discs. Started in Brunswick by Bowdoin College junior Brett Wickard in 1989, it is now the largest independent retailer of new and pre-owned music, movies, and video games in Maine and New Hampshire.
There is one day a year that celebrates independent music stores such as Bull Moose, and that is April 18th, the second annual Record Store Day.
Record Store Day was first thought of by Bull Moose’s Chris Brown as a day to celebrate the unique culture of all the independent record stores across the United States and internationally. Music stores join with musical artists to celebrate the art of music with festivities such as special vinyl and CD releases and special appearances and live performances from artists.
Metallica officially kicked off the first Record Store Day at Rasputin Music in San Francisco on April 19, 2008 and it is now celebrated the third Saturday every April in hundreds of stores across the US and internationally.
However, only independent record stores such as Bull Moose Music participate in Record Store Day. The Record Store Day webpage actually states how they define a record store qualified to participate: “a physical retailer whose product line consists of at least 50% music retail, whose company is not publicly traded and whose ownership is at least 70% located in the state of operation. (In other words, we’re dealing with real, live, physical, indie record stores-not online retailers or corporate behemoths).”
The Bull Moose record stores of Maine and New Hampshire are some of the stores participating in this year’s Record Store Day on April 18th. There will be rare and limited edition album and merchandise releases as well as free in-store concerts and autograph signings at Bull Moose stores all over the state.
Some of the items known so far that will be available in limited quantities at Bull Moose stores on Record Store Day include:
Brandi Carlile 7″ single including “Downpour” and a live version of the song “A Promise To Keep”
Bruce Springsteen 7″ specially-packaged single including: “What Love Can Do” and a live version of “A Night With The Jersey Devil,” which has never before appeared on CD or vinyl
Modest Mouse 7″ single including the two brand new tracks “Satellite Skin” and “Guilty Cocker Spaniels”
Queen’s first EP – a limited edition, numbered CD, on sale for the first time in the U.S.
Black Kids’ Wizard of Ahhhs 10″ – released for the first time on a physical format
The Decemberists’ 7″ single including “The Rake’s Song” and the previously unreleased “East India Lanes”
The Stooges’ 7″ single including “1969” and “Real Cool Time”
The New Hampshire-based band Wild Light will be performing at the Salem Bull Moose at 4 p.m. on Record Store Day. At the Portland Bull Moose on Middle St. the band Disturbed will be signing autographs at noon, and the Portland-based band This Way will be performing live at 4 p.m. The band Killswitch Engage will be signing autographs at 4 p.m. at the Scarborough location.
For more information about Record Store Day visit their website at www.recordstoreday.com. For a complete listing of all free concerts and special offers and merchandise at Bull Moose stores visit the Record Store Day section of the Bull Moose website at www.bullmoose.com.