Music in Rochester

The hollowing out of the city’s downtown is sad to see, everything is grey, dull and under construction, and the streets are scarily empty even on weekday mornings. 

But the music scene in Rochester appears to be alive and well. Jazz in particular seems to be thriving: I saw posters for shows all over the city, at venues ranging from theatres and clubs to restaurants and music stores. Rochester also hosts an annual jazz festival each summer, while the large university population helps sustain a healthy live music scene throughout the year. And then there’s the Eastman School of Music, which undoubtedly ensures a steady supply of first-rate musicians in the live music scene.  

I also visited two music stores, both among the best I've ever been to. Each has a massive inventory of new and used vinyl and CDs, knowledgeable staff who are passionate about their jobs, and a regular schedule of live music. Both are located on the outskirts of the city, tucked into strip malls in quiet neighbourhoods where space is abundant and there's ample freedom to make noise in the evenings.

Record Archive is a massive warehouse of music, books, toys/merch, and electronics, boasting a 50-year history in Rochester.  The vibe is not unlike California's Amoeba Music, a colourful emporium of all things music-related, the kind of anything goes and everything sells store that has survived every fad and trend imaginable.  The back room looks like a great place to catch a show too, featuring more of a laid-back cozy vibe compared to the visual overload of the main store.  Vinyl records line the side of the bar, several glistening chandeliers hang from the ceiling, and a dino skeleton stalks next to the stage.  Notable purchase: my first EVER Rush purchase, the 40-th anniversary edition of "Hemispheres".  The latest reunion tour has put me in the frame of mind to finally discover Rush deep cuts, no, I can't really explain it either.   

Bop Shop has a different atmosphere entirely.  Whereas Record Archive is like a massive community bake sale and thrift shop, Bop Shop feels more like a carefully curated personal collection put up for sale by a couple of old school music junkies.  Their jazz selection appears second to none, and they regularly host jazz shows right in the centre of the store, clearing away part of their crowded inventory to do so.  I found about a dozen hard-to-find classical CD's (Philip Glass opera sets?) and would probably drop a fortune there on a regular basis if I lived in Rochester.  The inventory displayed in the store is actually a fraction of what they sell through Discogs and Amazon.  Managing those sales appears to be a full time job for the staff -- in-store sales are their side gig.