January 2012
3 posts
Gil-Scott, Sioux Favorites, Fugs, Basho & A Feast...
Okay, it is actually finally cold out. And there is a quarter inch of icy snow mix on the ground, but surely you have watched enough episodes of Pee-Wee Herman and/or American Horror Story or Justified in your pj’s to be ready to venture out into what passes for the Arctic tundra these warm days.
We have just the vinyl haul to entice you! What Goldmine magazine calls “A Shorts...
December 2011
6 posts
New Store Sign!
The Normal’s Culture Mothership has been getting a lot of facelift and body work done this year. To go with the slick new Santa Fe facade Mistress of Visions Jen Kirby was brought in to whip up some wall candy.
On the scene shot of Professor Franklin implementing “The Bang Device”.
Sign creator Jen Kirby after many sleepless nights of feverish work.
In seems an...
New Vinyl!
Abe Vigoda - Reviver. On PPM, $6.
Abe Vigoda - Skeleton. On PPM, $8.
Aloha - Some Echoes. Polyvinyl, $6.
Devendra Banhart/Jana Hunter. Troubleman Unlimited split, $8.
Beach Boys - Rarities. Capitol, with inner sleeve, $8.
Black Sabbath - Greatest Hits. Ariston import, $8.
Cocteau Twins - Head Over Heels. 4AD, $6.
Girlschool - Hit & Run. Stiff, $6.
Iron & Wine - Our...
November 2011
8 posts
Vendredi Noir Sale at Normal's This Friday!
Cultural Warriors -
although the day after Thanksgiving should be officially named National Plasma TV Day, we here at Baltimore's oldest book and record style combine hold out hope that the things we hold most dear will not completely blink out of existence like the American Middle Class.
To help whet your appetite for fine literature and sublime vinyl we're having a 30% off sale on...
Taking The Love To Blaster Al In Austin
Oh how we miss Blaster here at Normal’s and in Baltimore in general. Now matter how crazy the world or things would get he’d always have a story about when it was far worse.
But we are very thankful that he is still in our life even if it’s in faraway groovy Austin. This week literary emissaries Francis Poole and Megan McShea went down and gave him some heat seeking noogies.
...
More Spoils of the South
Just back from a great trip down South visiting family and hitting all the book and record stores that my wallet and time would allow. A couple highlights: Books Again in Decatur, Georgia and Wuxtry Records in Atlanta. Sadly the much anticipated Low Yo Yo Stuff has moved back to Athens, so I now have to wait until Christmas to wander its vast collection.
Below are some of the treasures I...
tumblrbot asked: ROBOTS OR DINOSAURS?
Southern Book & Record Expedition
Good lord it felt good to be back on the road again. Not necessarily with a bulging wallet, but with perfect sunny fall weather, a fully functional vehicle and a partner with an equal love of books, records and funky road food.
Our first stop was a fairly middle of the road Antique Mall where they have hundreds of dealers with widely varying levels of expertise and pricing. The closest I got...
New Batch of Books, Most of Them 2011 Review...
Occupy Normal's Baltimore - in these continuingly stressed out economic times everyone is squeezing a buck to get by. Some just because they are pervs. Well, we have some hot new items in that are in new condition, but priced used. They would make for good early holiday shopping or just for your own edification and wallet relief. These just came in today from our journalistic source and...
October 2011
2 posts
Shattered Wig Night This Friday, November 4th
Shattered Wig Night
At The 14 Karat Cabaret -
218 W. Saratoga
9PM, $6
With:
Sea Couch
Her Fantastic Cats
Bruce Jacobs
Kim Gek Lin Short
Shattered Wig Night is very honored to be the venue hosting the CD release party for Baltimore’s loving string duo Sea Couch. Original material on mandolin, banjo and acoustic guitar with a pleasing punk edge. Plus some beautiful...
The Violet Hour, Girls In Trouble & Jefrey Brown...
Greetings Music and Book Lovers - big in store show this Thursday: The Violet Hour with touring duo Girls In Trouble (Alicia Jo Rabins and Aaron Hartman) plus Jefrey Brown of Jackie-O-Motherf*cker and Evolutionary Jass Band fame. Here is some further info: Thursday, Oct. 27th. 8PM at Normal's - 425 E. 31st St. Baltimore, Cultural Capital of the Known World Suggested donation of $5 or $6 for...
September 2011
4 posts
Six Bags of Minty Arkham House Along with Nearly a...
Saturday was a day that reminded me why I love this job and business, despite the concerted efforts of the Satanic Masters and a certain pustulent boil located directly behind us to eradicate book and record stores, along with their paid employees. In walked a very friendly gent with six bags of Arkham House books in mint condition, along with almost a dozen Robert E. Howard titles, most on...
Baltimore Literature Dance Party At the Metro...
Folks - it’s culture packed great meltdown head weekend! The High Zero is in flight through Sunday, but take some time to pop into the Metro Gallery tomorrow night, Friday, at 8pm to dance for words. Money goes toward City Lit’s “Across Words” program. The Metro Gallery is at 1700 Charles St. The party starts at 8pm. A dance party for literature...
The Whiskey Rebellion Publication Party At...
Normal’s Books and Records is hosting a book release party for out-of-towners’ Jerome Crooks and Jason Baldinger’s The Whiskey Rebellion, just out on Six Gallery Press. It’s shaping up to be a great little show that will also feature music by local group The Daily Lion and solo guitarist MacGregor Burns. The show takes place Saturday, September 17th at...
Upcoming Events at Normal's and Normal's Related!
As everyone knows now, Baltimore is currently a sizzling flashpoint of all culture. So I'm trying to strike early to announce three readings/shows coming up. First a reading here at Normal's on Saturday, September 17th at 8pm for the release of the new poetry book The Whiskey Rebellion by Jerome Crooks and Jason Baldinger. Here is the skinny on the visiting scribes who will be here: Jerome...
August 2011
7 posts
Bill Evans, Gil Evans, Mingus, Monk, Tristano, the...
The rock and soul lps have been pouring in over the last few months like a gent getting some relief behind the slated for doom Rendezvous Lounge right before last call, but we’ve had a small jazz drought until this week. We got two boxes of jazz vinyl and a few heaping stacks of cds in. Most of the lps are nice reissues of classics in the affordable $4 to $8 range, but here are a few...
4 tags
Still From Secret Agent Man (AKA Danger Man)
Sublime Batch of DVDs in, Including Many Gold...
This being summertime, you are probably, like many humans over the age of 20 aching for some good movies beyond the flaccid realm of CGI technology. We just got a batch of great films in on DVD, including many Criterion editions that will give your brain the esoteric stretch, walk and squat and jump it’s been craving!
CRITERIONS
Knife in the Water - Polanski. $15.
Beauty and the...
Jo'Burg Hawk, Jansch's "Lucky Thirteen" and more
A cool front is coming, as is Shakemore, business has been good and the doctor told me the orange growth on my back was only a Cheez-It implant, so life is good! Plus the third Red Room Philosopher’s Union is taking place this Friday. Info below:
Jane Bennett on “Powers of the Hoard: Notes on Material Agency.” Jane Bennett is an inspired original contemporary phlosopher...
Survival of the Lit-est · Baltimore Fishbowl →
Bookstores play chess with the skullman shrouded all in black………
July 2011
8 posts
The Gods of Weather Have Smote and Smote and...
I just got done with the sweet two and a half boxes of near mint promo records from last Monday and was getting jazzed up for the Gold Plated Normal’s Night at the Golden West when a gent pulled in at a quarter to five with a large well constructed record crate (that now resides in my home). “You want to take a look at these?” he asked slightly mischievously. “It will...
A Giant Crab Comes Forth Clutching New Vinyl...
Slipping into my Baltimore mid-summer swamp suit! Bring on the roiling sweats, baby. If you can’t escape to Prettyboy, Gunpowder or some lucky sucker’s pool (or best yet, the beach), nothing can take your mind off 130 degrees of merciless blazing heat and Dick Cheney crotch humidity than some fine literature or timeless tunes.
We just got in over two boxes of sweet sweet vinyl,...
Rat Fink & Darger Lead the Charge
July is hitting like Thor’s hammer, so Artscape must be slithering up on us! Exotica Hypnotica, the Artscape wing of The Red Room has changed their name this year to Worlds in Collusion. Our Gold Plated Normal’s Golden West show is booked solid for Saturday, July 23. In the meantime, help us stay open until July 23rd by picking up some of these sweet new items just in:
Borough...
Normal's Night At The Golden West!
Normal’s kind friend, other groove psych folk musician, Waverly dad about the village and all around good guy Tony Lambright convinced the kind folks of Golden West restaurant in Hampden to let Normal’s Books & Records take over their venue on the night of Saturday, July 23rd. Not take over exactly, they’ll still do all the hard lifting, but Tony is filling their...
June 2011
16 posts
Vinyl That Just Slid In The Bins
All-Star Hootenanny. Original Riverside mono, deep groove. With Memphis Slim, Staple Singers, John Lee Hooker, Bob Gibson and The Lonesome River Boys, $15.
La Vern Baker Sings Bessie Smith. Sweet! Rare original Atlantic mono pressing, $40.
Captain Beefheart - Doc At the Radar Station. Promo copy, $12.00.
Captain Beefheart - Ice Cream for Crow, $12.00.
Bjork - Big Time Sensuality. ...
More Blues CDs In, Plus Vonnegut and a Motherlode...
No time to list all the great books that are being processed right now, but it’s about eight boxes of philosophy and classic literature. Plus, some more sweet blues and jazz titles in on the almost old enough now to be sexy again cd format:
Cannonball Adderley and the Poll Winners. Capitol.
Johnny Adams - There Is Always One More Time. Rounder.
Roy Brown - Greatest Hits . King.
...
Big Ol' 21st Anniversary Sale & Saturday Free Show
(No, sadly Tiny Tim won't be there in person, but he certainly will be in spirit) THE HIGHLIGHTS: 30% off all used merchandise from 6/17 through 6/19 Live music show during store hours Saturday, June 18th. With Sweatpants, Susan Alcorn, John Berndt and Friends, Sea Couch and more. Music starts around 2pm. Free snacks and beverages! ... Lordy how the time flies in book and music loving and...
WATCH: Bad Lil’ Boy, Bethany Dinsick →
Comrade Bethany of the Normal’s staff’s mesmerizing video with Robitussin palette.
Moon Rappin' With McDuff & Other Jazz Pleasures...
Joe Carroll - Man With a Happy Sound. Stereo on Charlie Parker Records, $15.
Eddie Lockjaw Davis & Shirley Scott - Jaws In Orbit. Sweet sweet original Prestige deep groove mono. Yellow and black label. $40.
John Kasandra - A Higher Plateau. Original Capitol, $20.
Brother Jack McDuff - Moon Rappin’. Blue Note in gatefold. Much sought after sample grove, $30.
Jimmy McGriff -...
More Vinyl and a Few Special Books
A small sampling of some cool records in this week, plus a few special books, including a first edition, first printing of Cormac McCarthy’s All The Pretty Horses pictured above. Also in, a true first of James Dickey’s Deliverance and a first edition, third printing of Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar. We also have in a first edition of Aldous Huxley’s Heaven and Hell,...
