The Bell Tolls on Tower…

By the end of this week virtually all Tower Records stores across the country will be dark.  The impact of that will reverberate for many months, if not years on the record business. Many smaller labels will be hurt badly. By both the bad debt of the bankruptcy, as well as the loss of, for many, what was their largest retail account.

I walked by the Harvard Square Tower store last Wednesday night, and saw signs like “4 CDs for $2.50” through the window.  Much like an open casket at a funeral, I just couldn’t force myself to walk in and look around. Never went into Virgin either, near the end. Just too depressing. These were the giants we always competed so fiercely against, and yet their passing is just plain sad…

Dresden Dolls  - In: The Onion Cellar @ the ART, Cambridge

My friend Sam Weisman took me to see this show. It is not to be missed! Whether you are a fan of The Dolls, “Rock Opera” , or just great avant garde theatre, I very much recommend this show to you.  The American Repertory Theatre has transformed their Zero Arrow Street Theatre space in Cambridge into an amazing cabaret for this production. Amanda Palmer, as usual, fills the stage with her powerful performance along with fellow Dresden Doll Brian Viglione. Several great and moving performances are delivered by the “regular” ART cast as well. They even built a real bar in the space for theatrical drinking DURING the performance!  This kind of art is worth your interest and support!

Check it out: http://www.amrep.org/onion/

Classical on Newbury Street, Natick

We now have a ton of classical repertoire in our flagship Newbury Street location, with lots more on the way. Both Bert and Fred (ex-of Tower’s 2nd floor - Harvard Square) are working furiously with the staff there to create a great experience for classical fans. New releases will start coming in by next month.

We are also beginning to create a “real” classical dept. in out Natick store. A couple of others will be announced shortly, as we try very hard to be the best all around record store we can be, and serve some of those customer needs previously met by Virgin and Tower.

Happy Holidays to ALL!

Most of us are blessed in so many ways, I think we sometimes forget…cheers!

cheers, mike dreese

co-founder - newbury comics

p.s. any comments can be directed to mike@newburycomics.com
(please do not reply to the address this was sent from, as i won't get it)