Love & a 45 @ Rio Rita Tonight

We'll never forget the summer we discovered our parents' abandoned .45 collection in the garage. In between shiny black discs featuring songs we'd been raised on (probably Beach Boys, Marvin Gaye, Chicago), we discovered some gems that were totally new to us. Our first introductions to Nilsson, Harrison's solo stuff, Tim Hardin and Steve Young all happened that summer in the garage, and many a mixtapes for boyfriends of the future were forced to deal with our romantic nostalgia because of it.

For that reason (and whatever reason you have for continuing to keep your vinyl obsession raging) it's absolutely imperative to head to Rio Rita on Monday nights for their weekly Love and a .45 get together. Bring a handful of your favorite .45s (we assume they'll also accept the 7", just don't bring in the Gravity or Ebullition catalog), sign up and spin three tunes to your eager audience. Everyone's a DJ, and everyone gets to thrust their dense and persistent memories on the helpless crowd: how could anything go wrong? Side note: this sounds like a wonderful way to propose to your girlfriend, if you can manage to get your hands on a .45 of Fleetwood Mac's "Save Me a Place."

Rio Rita has a handful of awesome weekly events they'd love for you to attend. Tuesday's at 8 pm are always set aside for Old Timey Music Circle and Thursday's at 7 pm are for Arts & Drafts, where you're invited to bring whatever piece of art you're currently working on. They serve pizza, light fare and alcohol (we can attest to the strength of their Bloody Mary), and they're located at 1308 E 6th St, just look for the old 7 Up sign and pull over. The video featured above is for M83's "Sister (Part 2)", which was filmed inside this lovely little coffee / wine / booze lounge. Do go check it out if you haven't already.

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By Paige Maguire in Arts & Entertainment on May 19, 2008 10:45 AM 0 Comments

Comments [rss]

davidamnesia

Yes, 7" records that play at 45 rpm are most welcome, in fact the most common format. .45's with 7" barrels are not.

miesvanderrobot

Because as Saturday Night Live has taught us, repeating a mediocre joke without enhancing it in any way is the epitome of hilarity.

BettieRage

Also...Arts and Drafts is Thursday not Wednesday as listed above. Wednesday's is Milk and Cookies with Dave Williams.

paigemaguire

I think it's hilarious. And Rio Rita lists it with a decimal on their MySpace, so that is how I duplicated it, thinking perhaps the joke is intentional:

Mondays @8pm Love and a .45--It's a Record Player Party! Bring three of your coolest 45's and dare to impress us!

http://www.myspace.com/theriorita

miesvanderrobot

Yes indeedy, I'll never forget the day I found a box of Colt revolvers in the garage. What a life-changing day that was!

After a little practice, I was spinning my .45s like a pro.

I'd invite my friends over and say "You have GOT to hear this!" And wouldn't you know it....BAM! My .45 blew them away.

And as soon as it got the end, I'd cue my favorite .45 right back to the beginning and let it go around again.

I'll never forget the summer of the .45s. The shiny, black look and the sweet, sweet sounds. Ahhhh...the memories!

karenjeannette

this is awesome, but please note that a ".45" is a gun (as in the movie "love and a .45" is a reference to), but a seven-inch single is a 45, no decimal point, referring to the speed at which it's played.