Kiss the Sky supports local musicians
Yes, I go far enough back to be able to say I used to go to the downtown record store, go in a booth and play the record before deciding to buy it.
Kiss the Sky in Geneva isn’t quite that far of a throwback, but it’s the closest thing to it, mainly because it still sells vinyl records in addition to vintage CDs in an era in which these types of music shops are few and far between.
But owner Steve Warrenfeltz plans to add a little more luster to Saturday’s national Record Store Day by revealing a new vinyl album he compiled of local musicians called “Made in Aurora.”
“I’m doing it for a couple of reasons,” Warrenfeltz said about why he encouraged local musicians to make a vinyl record. “I’m a big supporter of local music, and these guys need to get heard. Secondly, the money we raise will go toward the Paul Ruby Foundation for Parkinson’s research.”
Warrenfeltz talked 30 musicians into taking part in three days of recording at a studio in Aurora for the purpose of creating the record, of which Kiss the Sky will have 500 copies on sale for national Record Store Day.
“About four years ago, a group of independent record store owners got together to create a day that would let people know we are still around,” Warrenfeltz said. “It has worked out really well, and we continue to encourage musicians to release music that would be a product only for independent stores on that day.”
Warrenfeltz admits that his store on State Street in downtown Geneva is struggling like any other music store in a world that is leaning more toward digital music downloads.
During my visit with Warrenfeltz, two or three record owners came in seeing if the shop was interested in buying, and several young people bought CDs. So it appears, for now, Kiss the Sky should be able to keep on chugging along.
A bigger saleLast week I mentioned that warmer weather also signals the start of garage sale season. St. Charles Park District will be right in the middle of it, holding its communitywide garage sale event on Friday and Saturday for the benefit of the STC Underground Teen Center.Information about the sales is available at stcunderground.com.The center benefited through a $20 fee that those conducting garage sales paid to be part of the promotional info that alerted the community to the event.It helps the babiesPeople enjoy walking around Pottawatomie Park in St. Charles, but you don#146;t always see as many as 500 people doing it at the same time.That should be the case Sunday when the March for Babies, which is the largest annual walk for the March of Dimes, will take place at 9 a.m. at Pottawatomie.The walk, which is also held in other spots around the Chicago suburbs and across the country, has raised nearly $2 billion since 1970 to fight birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. Those interested in taking part can call (312) 596-4721. It is sponsored by Central DuPage and Delnor hospitals.dheun@sbcglobal.net