10 performances to check out on Record Store Day

Limited-edition vinyl releases are one reason music fans flock to independent shops on Record Store Day.

The eighth annual Record Store Day is set for April 18, when customers will wait in lines for the chance to buy exclusive releases by the White Stripes, Run the Jewels, D'Angelo and more.

Free all-ages performances are another favorite component of Record Store Day. In Indianapolis, Luna Music, Indy CD & Vinyl, Vibes Music and Irvington Vinyl have live music on the schedule. This Record Store Day marks the end of an era for Vibes, which will close next month.

Karma Records East, 21 N. Post Road, won't have bands this year. But Karma customers will have the chance to win pit tickets to Wilco's May 7 show at the Murat Theatre in Old National Centre.

Here are 10 Indianapolis performances (listed in chronological order) worth checking out on Record Store Day:

The dual threat

Who: Nathaniel Russell. When: Noon Where: Luna Music. Details: As a visual artist, Nathaniel Russell is known for devising comedic fake fliers and covers for books that don't exist. As a folk musician, he's recorded albums as part of a duo known as Birds of America. Later this year, he'll issue a solo album on Indianapolis label Warm Ratio.

Hear Russell's music at Bandcamp.com.

Garage sorcerers

Who: Frankie and the Witch Fingers. When: 2 p.m. Where: Luna Music. Details: This Bloomington-to-Los Angeles band issued a self-titled album in February. Signed to Chicago-based Permanent Records, Frankie and the Witch Fingers play garage rock in the tradition of the Velvet Underground and the 13th Floor Elevators. Two members of Frankie and the Witch Fingers, Glenn Grigman and Josh Menashe, are members of dreampop/surf band Triptides.

Hear Frankie and the Witch Fingers' music at Bandcamp.com.

Soul siren

Who: Cold Specks. When: 2:15 p.m. Where: Indy CD & Vinyl, 806 Broad Ripple Ave. Details: Cold Specks, also known as Ladan Hussein, will play Record Store Day before her evening commitment as supporting act for Sufjan Stevens at the Murat Theatre in Old National Centre. Cold Specks' current single, "Living Signs," appears on 2014 album "Neuroplasticity."

Hear Cold Specks' music at YouTube.com.

Melody makers

Who: Mike Adams at His Honest Weight. When: 3 p.m. Where: Luna Music, 5202 N. College Ave. Details: This band is not fronted by Colts safety Mike Adams but by Bloomington singer-songwriter Mike Adams. Also known for stints in the bands Husband & Wife and Prayer Breakfast, Adams specializes in rock songs built on infectious melodies. Mike Adams at His Honest Weight made videos for every song on 2014 album "Best of Boiler Room Classics."

Hear Mike Adams at His Honest Weight's music at Bandcamp.com.

Lo-fi experts

Who: S.M. Wolf. When: 3 p.m. Where: Vibes Music. Details: Led by Amo Joy vocalist-guitarist Adam Gross, Indianapolis-based S.M. Wolf makes ear candy on a template of lo-fi power pop. Gross and band mates Melanie Rau, Ben Leslie and Rachel Enneking contribute three S.M. Wolf tunes to "Canine Country Club," a new split-EP cassette that also features West Lafayette-based Faux Paw.

Hear S.M. Wolf's music at Bandcamp.com.

Punk pioneers

Who: Last Four Digits. When: 3:30 p.m. Where: Irvington Vinyl at Bookmamas, 9 Johnson Ave. Details: As one of the early Indiana punk/New Wave bands, the Last Four (4) Digits recorded a 1980 EP titled "Big Picture" and contributed a cover of Captain Beefheart's "Diddy Wah Diddy" to landmark compilation "Red Snerts." A lineup change transformed the band into the Last Four (5) Digits. The 2015 lineup is known as the Last Four Digits and is a hybrid of the earlier bands: Dave Fulton, Steve Grigdesby, Mike Sheets, John Koss and Julie Huffaker.

Hear Last Four Digits' music at YouTube.com.

'Trek' in effect

Who: Five Year Mission. When: 3:45 p.m. Where: Indy CD & Vinyl. Details: This prominent sci-fi band writes songs inspired by every episode of the original "Star Trek" TV series. Indianapolis-based Five Year Mission issued its "Spock's Dog" single earlier this year, and an EP titled "Spock's Brain" will be released on July 3. "I would say our fan base is 50 percent 'Star Trek' fans who have discovered us through their love of 'Star Trek,' 40 percent music fans who aren't necessarily into 'Star Trek' but like what we are doing and 10 percent are people who have discovered a new love for 'Star Trek' thanks to our music," singer-guitarist Mike Rittenhouse told The Star in 2013.

Hear Five Year Mission's music at CDbaby.com.

Retro rockers

Who: Thee Tsunamis. When: 6 p.m. Where: Vibes Music. Details: It's easy to theorize that Bloomington's Thee Tsunamis would be John Waters' favorite Indiana band. Vocalist-guitarist Betsy Shepherd, bass player Jenna Beasley and drummer Sharlene Birdsong ace retro guitar rock on tunes titled "Female Trouble" and "Cry Baby," two selections from upcoming debut album "Saturday Night Sweetheart."

Hear Thee Tsunamis' music at Bandcamp.com.

Crushing blows

Who: Kvlthammer. When: 6 p.m. Where: Indy CD & Vinyl. Details: Featuring former Demiricous frontman Nate Olp on vocals and guitar, Kvlthammer delivers punishing hard rock at breakneck speed. The Indianapolis-based band issued a self-titled album in 2014. Pitchfork.com described the recording as "everything anyone with a healthy appreciation for Motorhead, Sodom, and Venom could ever want."

Hear Kvlthammer's music at Bandcamp.com.

Mind benders

Who: Apache Dropout. When: 6:45 p.m. Where: Vibes Music, 1051 E. 54th St. Details: Indiana's kings of bubblegum psychedelia issued an album titled "Heavy Window" last year on Bloomington-based label Magnetic South Recordings. Pitchfork.com assigned a 7.2 score (out of 10) to "Heavy Window," praising Apache Dropout for seeing "the past not as an escape, but a source of fuel."

Hear Apache Dropout's music at Bandcamp.com.

Call Star reporter David Lindquist at (317) 444-6404. Follow him on Twitter: @317Lindquist.