Welcome to Central Texas Grooves

3/18/2008- So I had spring break last weekend and I went and hung out in San Antonio, I was looking through the Current and saw a shop I hadn't noticed (I haven't read the Current in a while) named Music Town, so I headed on down there and checked it out.

1/23/2008- Welcome to the new year! I hope everyone is doing well. From what I can tell everyone is holding up pretty well in town. For a second I thought Backspin Records was down and out, however I they had just moved, their new location is:

4631 Airport BLVD
Suite 110-A, Austin, TX 78751

Here are some pics of the new place:

11/13/2007- So the LP's have just been pouring in from people I know, so I have not made it by other shops except to say hi, everyone seems to be doing well, though I have not been able to visit everyone. A while back I went to the DJ Dojo's party, it was hot, here are some pics from that:

I have also been working on other small related projects, I had a floor jack go through my sub in my car and decided to build a new custom 15" subwoofer, to say the least it "thumps". Good times!

8/13/2007- Sometimes when the chips are down and you have no money for new records you think all is lost. This happened to me this summer. I have bought one new record this summer, the new Megadeth, however that is all. But sometimes the kindness of strangers is more then you will ever need.

A week ago I went to San Antonio to visit my family, everything was great and everyone was well. When I was packing up to leave my older brother came up to me and said "some guy at work just moved here and said he wife wanted him to throw his records, I told him I would take them, figuring you might find something you like".

It is times like this that make having no money, but people looking out for ya totally memorable. Not only did he have a few records I was interesting in listening to, but he had about 60! I haven't even been able to listen to them all, but needless to say, they are a great escape from reality! Every time someone just gives me their records I wonder if they know how great they sound and what they are missing out on, however everytime I tell them this they give me blank stares and say "but there are all those pops and cracks!". I wish they could all just come over and hear the records on a good system.

Anyway, that is my rambling for the month, hope you all are having a great record shopping time! Good luck:)

1/30/2007- So I made my way down to San Francisco this past week on a business trip so of course I made my way over to the Amoeba to check out their warz. I actually didn't find anything I couldn't buy here in Austin, which was a nice surprise in a weird way. While I came home empty handed it was good to know that Austin reps the records! Here are some pics:

Note: I saw this record store Recycled Records, but didn't get to go in and after conversations with my friends that live in S.F. they said there were many other shops I needed to hit up, alas I did not have enough time. Next time! I also missed out on the hi-fi shop I was trying to find on Pine St., gotta love those S.F. hills!

1/4/2007- Happy new year everyone! I hope you all are having a good one, I have been chilling out during the break, hitting up record shops here and there. I have also been listening a lot and even had to buy more shelving for the LP's, check it out! I got it at IKEA for like 80 dollars or something. I also borrowed some Tannoy Glenair's from a friend to check out, talk about some serious loudspeakers, they have 15" dual-concentric drivers!

8/2/2006- I made my way over to Music Mania the other week, make sure you drop by there if you are looking for some bargain buys as all their LP's cost less then $5 dollars! Also for those who do not know, I have a myspace account, friend me if you want!

7/12/2006- I finally made my way over to Sundance Records, so make sure you check out their page as I have added some pictures. Also I have been making the rounds to a lot of the shops around central Texas and everyone seems in great spirits and to say the least the LPs are a flowing! Anyway, Just for kicks I thought I would post a picture of the system I listen to my LP's. Here they are:

6/23/2006- I made my way by Friends of Sound the record shop that took Shattered Music's space. Here is a link to the page I created for them (I will add them to the links later this week). They are just getting started so be patient as they get their collection organized. I also stopped by End of an Ear, they seem to be doing great, as well as Backspin. I think I will go listen to my new records, later!

6/22/2006- So I haven't posted in a while, sorry for those who have sent me emails and I have not replied, please send them again, I got wayy behind on the email after releasing the website. The good news is that I finished my masters (yah!) and am going to be starting UT's Ph D. program in the fall. Anyway, I will be making some rounds to all the shops and seeing what is up, updating photo's and checking out stores that contact me. Also please let it be known that I am no longer going to hifi shops and am purely interested in visiting record stores. I guess that is it for now, oh yeah, for those who don't know, Shattered Music has closed, check out their link for more information.

4/18/2006- So I have posted the pics from the Austin Record Convention, it was a great time, lots of records to buy and nice people to boot!

3/26/2006- So people have told me I should put a donation button on the site to help cover my costs of running the site, I figure why not, so here it is click here to donate (I will also add one to the side bar). Back to the reason you all are here, I have added Encore records after many people's request, as well as Backspin Records, I need to hit up both of these shops, which will hopefully happen in the next week.

3/18/2006- Aite, so spring break has come and gone and I was able to hit up more shops and post more pictures for some shops I had mentioned but not made my way to. I have to say Debi at Dirt Cheap Distro in SA rocks, her shop is really cool and people should make their way down there if they are looking for some good punk music. I still have more places to hit up, as more shops recommend others, I went by Function^2, but they were closed. I still need to get picture for shattered music and turntable records, all in time I guess, I will let the SXSW dust settle. Also do not forget that the Austin Record Convention is coming really soon!

3/5/2006- So I have been sick all weekend and didn't make it to the shops to take photo's, I will get there this next week though... Anyway, I really appreciate all the emails people have sent, again, if you all have any more recommendations just let me know.

2/23/2006- As of right now I have consent from all but 180gram and Audio Systems (still need to go see these guys) to have them listed on this site. Yeah I know I can list whoever I want, but that is not the point, I made this site so that not only consumers know about the shops, but shops know about each other. Having talked to almost everyone listed, I get the feeling that a site like this was long over due. I have to say thank you to everyone who let me go into their shop and annoy them with my camera! I will post more on each shop as I get more information.

2/21/2006- As of right now I am going to use a lot of the shops website's and myspace accounts to have information, however over time I will try and get original content. (Shops: if for any reason you find this site annoying and would not like me to list you, just let me know and like magic it will be like you were never listed here.)

2/20/2006- Sup... So this website was created after much frustration with trying to figure out where all the cool records shops are in the Austin/San Antonio area. Being a Central Texas dweller my whole life, I thought there must be more people out there who are also looking for a resource that has information about all the cool independent record shops in our area. Below is a list of places I have found, each with varying degrees of information as I learn more about each one. I am going to try and get all original content from each shop, including photos, how they came to be and much more, being handy with the DV cam, maybe I can get some interviews as well. Feel free to email me about them at contact@ctxgrooves.com. You probably notice I have included a couple hifi shops. Yeah I know, now a days hi-fi is thought of as some stuffy bunch of twits with too much time and money, but the places listed here are bring it back to the music, make sure you check them out!