Louisville welcomes new record store with a street show this Saturday, grand opening on Sunday

BY: LARA KINNE

It is a blessing for vinyl-lovers, compact-disc enthusiasts and tape-heads alike. Another Louisville record store debuts this weekend, introducing…Modern Cult Records.

The crate-digging experience can’t quite be found in places unlike a record store. Modern Cult caters to that taste for the obscure, with an inventory focused on heavy rock, hip hop, jazz, international music and “general weirdo, avant-garde stuff that we tend to enjoy,” according to Sean Liter, who opened the shop with former Underground Sounds co-worker Tyler Chanely. Through small labels and distributors, Modern Cult will keep their shelves fresh and up-to-date, away from the mainstream sense, but not completely.

“I know I didn’t take readily to some of what would later be my favorite records upon the first several listens,” Tyler added. “Life is a progressive journey and musical path can mimic that.”

It was predestined over a decade ago. Sean had moved into a house on Highland Avenue, a window’s view away from Underground Sounds, across the street from his self-described “notoriously weird house where we had shows and parties.” Then, one day in the post-millennium sector of Highland & Baxter Avenue, he met Craig Rich, the owner of Underground Sounds, the guy who can talk to anyone about music. Sean began working there in 2001, left a year later and returned the summer of 2012 as a full-time manager.

Tyler met Sean in the same vein when he started work at Underground Sounds in 2008, after many days and hours loitering in the shop and acquainting with Craig. Their experience there would become invaluable as they readied plans for a record store of their own, Modern Cult Records, which opens this Sunday, Oct. 6 at 2100 Frankfort Ave.

“I really got the bulk of my musical education in (Underground Sounds),” Sean said, where he learned the infrastructure of the music-trade industry. Inspired by sociable encounters of selling records and turning others on to new music, Sean wanted a place to encourage that trend.

“I always wanted to have a place where I could do that for other people, a place where ideas are exchanged.”

Most of all, Modern Cult aims to enrich the local scene.

“Growing up, I was enamored with Louisville music,” Sean said, citing several local bands as some of his favorites.

“I always wanted to have the kind of record store that was involved in the scene, making sure people hear local bands, buy the records, go to the shows, support the arts in Louisville. There is so much music here that just gets passed over by radio and these big festivals. I would like to see that change.”

They’re in the right mind. And the Louisville music scene will surely provide a strong welcome this Sunday for the grand opening.

On Saturday, Modern Cult and Underground Sounds present an all-ages show starting at 5 p.m., featuring locals Jaye Jayle, Snow Snake, Sapat and New Bravado. North Carolina’s spacey-doom band U.S. Christmas will close the night around 11 p.m. It’s the first of many shows to come, as the Modern Cult location boasts a back patio space for future events. Tyler says they’re open to late weekend hours and midnight release parties; their current hours are:

Mon. – Sat. 11:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.

Sun. 1:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m.

2100 Frankfort Ave.

(502) 377-9139

www.Facebook.com/ModernCultRecords

What are you listening to lately?

Sean: “Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats’ ‘Mind Control’, New Bravado’s ‘Unconscious Afternoon’, Follakzoid’s ‘II’ and the new Acid Mothers Temple.” Tyler: Jesus and Mary Chain ‘Darklands’, Fela Kuti ‘Live w/Ginger Baker’ and the recent Body/Head record have been in heavy rotation for me.”