REVIEW: The Adirondack Vinyl Slam Turns Heads to Tables at The Shirt Factory
11/09/2024 at The Shirt Factory, Glens Falls
“once you make that first dive in, it’s hard to not finger through every crate available at arm’s reach, in hopes of finding that hidden gem you never knew you needed.”
On November 9, Record Riots hosted the Adirondack Vinyl Slam at The Shirt Factory in Glens Falls. After one too many days of temperatures in the 70s, the brisk morning gave Upstaters the taste of Fall they had been searching for. The turnout for the event’s start right at 10 a.m. was promising, despite the chill in the air.
Greeted by record vendors as soon as patrons walked up the stairs to the entrance, music junkies were quick to get to crate digging to keep warm and find the next addition to their collection. Although, inside wasn’t much warmer, due to the bare-boned infrastructure of the old factory building, originally built in 1902 to make and sell shirts and, later, dresses. Nevertheless, The Shirt Factory provided a unique experience to host a record show, a level-up from the typical convention center vibe.
Oftentimes, it’s hard to know where to start among the tabs and tabs of labeled sections of genres and artists scattered throughout dozens of crates. Record shows especially, contain a mix of everything at an affordable cost. But once you make that first dive in, it’s hard to not finger through every crate available at arm’s reach, in hopes of finding that hidden gem you never knew you needed.
Various tables were situated among the meandering halls of the factory, with a U-Haul parked out front foreshadowing such a sight before even stepping inside. The building was a winding maze spotted with crates of records at every twist and turn.
Sellers hung round their respective items, there to offer any friendly assistance, but prioritizing letting customers browse as they pleased. Most record collectors know, these sellers know their stuff and have been in the game for a while should they have a specific pressing or edition they are looking for.
CDs and cassettes also received some love too, with several vendors displaying them for sale as well. Additionally, patrons could purchase books on popular musicians, such as Elton John, Bob Dylan and The Beatles, as well as fan-made zines.
Among other names present at the record fair were The Rolling Stones and Genesis, both of which saw their own dedicated sections in various vinyl collections throughout the building.
Upon further wandering, visitors also likely stumbled upon dresses and shirts framed and pinned to the tall, paint-peeled walls – artifacts of the factory’s past. Turn another corner, and they found themselves strolling into a local artisan shop, some featuring books, candles, antiques, art or other odds and ends for sale.
The fun didn’t have to end there. Once guests flicked through so many of the white bins of vinyl that their fingers were coated with that classic dusty and musty feeling – a tell tale sign of a used and loved collection – many headed over to Sweet Side Records. Their record store may have had it the easiest compared to the other booths at the show, only having to walk a minute or two over from their storefront to the factory building next door.
After flicking through more records, a perfect end to the day for many included stopping by Rock Hill Bakehouse & Cafe, right next to Sweet Side. Stacked records lay next to pastries, vegetarian sandwiches and local craft colas, as the aroma of bread filled the room all the way up to the top of the high beamed ceilings. Sweet tooths and record lovers alike were left satisfied by the end of such a venture.
While the Adirondack Vinyl Slam may have been on the smaller side compared to Record Riots’ typical shows in Albany and other big cities, there was no shortage of quality vinyl for attendees to take home.
