And, indeed, the early birds did catch the worms on this day: By noon, the temporarily installed Record Store Day release section set up in the store was well combed-over, the most clamored-after offerings long gone.
But the crowds hardly dissipated.
Neither, turns out, did the line.
For much of the afternoon on Saturday, waiting to get into the actual store meant waiting until someone came outside. For the first three-plus hours or performances the line remained, through the opening performance from young 'uns Matthew Celsur and Andrew Lyon (son of the store's regular UPS delivery guy) and continuing on through the next two performances, both of which could be seen in more traditional venues later on that night -- sets from Sarah Jaffe (who would go on to play Club Dada that evening) and Jason Lytle with Midlake (as would be performed again later that night at Dan's Silverleaf in Denton).
But those stuck out in the parking lot didn't seem to mind. Congregating in small groups and enjoying conversation, food from Sonny Bryan's Smokehouse and the sounds provided by the DJs performing out in the lot, the vibe at the celebration, which doubled as the store's 11th anniversary party, was as relaxed and supportive as it had been seen at each of the store's Record Store Day parties in recent memory.
And, far as I could tell, this year's festivities came without any problems. Except for that one father who glared at me when, during my day-opening DJ set I played a song with some curse words after assuring him that my selections would be family-friendly.
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