The soul-sucking commercialism of the holidays doesn’t really kick in until Black Friday. While the hoards are fighting over plastic crap at Wal-Mart though, music freaks know that they can avoid massive crowds by hitting their local record store.  Record Store Day Black Friday gives collectors the chance to find previously unreleased rare gems and when the shopping is over there’s no need for the shame that comes with mass consumerism, even if you buy every title. Record Store Day started in 2008 as a celebration of independence. It’s a day for all involved in independent music — from stores to artists to customers — to come together to celebrate the unique culture of record stores and the indelible mark that these establishments have had on our culture. Every store submits a wish list of sorts for RSD, but they don’t know what releases they’ll have until RSD itself. By the way, a Record Store Day participating store is defined as a stand-alone brick and mortar retailer whose main primary business focuses on a physical store location, 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 first North American vinyl release of Neil Young’s Harvest Moon, a deluxe 2xLP 40th anniversary edition of Richard Hell & the Voidoids’ Blank Generation, Clutch’s Pitchfork & Lost Needles picture disc, Gone is Gone’s Phantom Limb 7”, Chris Cornell’s take on the songs of Cliff Poncier, and a live recording of the night Walter Lure (The Heartbreakers), Clem Burke (Blondie), Tommy Stinson (The Replacements) and Wayne Kramer (The MC5) took on Johnny Thunders and the Heartbreakers’ L.A.M.F. album are just the tip of the messy, beautiful pile of rock releases hitting the racks. Below are the participating stores on the Front Range — many of which will have in-store performances, specials, and concessions. Go check ’em out:   Absolute Vinyl 5360 Arapahoe Ave, Boulder 303.955.1519   Albums On The Hill 1128 13th St. Boulder 303.447.0159   Angelo’s CDs (four locations)

• Colfax Denver 303.863.8668
• S. Broadway Denver 303.798.6378
• E. Iliff Aurora 303.337.1399
• Youngfield Wheatridge 303.232.4477

  Bart’s Record Shop 1625 Folsom St, Boulder 303.444.1760   Black & Read 7821 Wadsworth Blvd, Arvada 303.467.3236   Chain Reaction Records 8793 W. Colfax Ave. Lakewood 303.237.4445   Twist & Shout 2508 E. Colfax Ave. Denver 303.722.1943   Wax Trax Records 638 E. 13th Ave. 303.831.7246