John Larson believes in the power of music. As a 51-year-old Designer for Moog Inc., he came of age at a time when records were king and cassettes were the newer medium, followed shortly by 8-track tapes. Like many folks in his age group, when compact discs burst onto the scene, he made the switch. But it never felt quite the same.

Renewed enthusiasm for the vinyl format led Larson to launch the Vinyl Tap Facebook page, which provided the jumping off point for Vinyl Mania, a new record convention (with books, DVDs, shirts and other collectibles) that launches this Saturday evening at the Brounshidle Post 205 in Kenmore. No sooner had he announced the sale than he discovered local indie venue Sugar City was planning a similar event for the next day. This coming weekend looks to be a blast for local vinyl enthusiasts.

“I remember when I got rid of my record collection, and I couldn’t see it at the time, but it was the first step toward losing the album form and also the social interaction that comes with listening to music,” Larson said over the phone last week, excitedly gearing up for the Rush concert at First Niagara Center. “Putting on a record is a commitment, almost like seeing a movie. There’s a definite beginning and end. Each side has its own flavor and character. CDs changed that into one long flowing thing which people then started putting on shuffle. MP3s aren’t social at all, they make music a solitary experience with ear buds and whatnot… it’s not like you’re going to proudly show off your MP3 collection to someone when they come over.”

As a kid in the Southtowns, Larson began buying records in 1976. It was a time when new records got released without much prior announcement—unexpected surprises from your favorite artists. Record stores were gathering spots for music lovers to hang out and shoot the shit, exchange ideas and listen in groups. If you were lucky, maybe a friend would let you make a  cassette recording of a new album they’d purchased, but records themselves could not be replicated. Once CDs became something that could easily be burned at home, Larson says he believes that’s when they lost their appeal as something special and high-end.  

“About five years ago when records really started to noticeably come back, my brother let me have his stereo. It was the first time I’d had a real stereo system in a long time, and I got back into records in a big way. I started hosting vinyl nights around town and began rediscovering my love for music, exploring genres I hadn’t ever before. I have thousands of CDs, but now I almost never buy them anymore. Meanwhile, the LP format has actually kickstarted a lagging music industry.”

Larson’s view of vinyl as a component of social interaction isn’t necessarily embraced by all collectors, many of whom have quietly pursued their passion for what’s long been perceived as a “dead medium,” playing their cards close to the chest and developing a curmudgeonly reputation. Think Comic Book Guy from The Simpsons. Now picture several hundred sweaty Comic Book Guys packed into a convention hall, climbing over one another to sift through crates of records and that’s what many folks envision as your average record convention.   

While it’s not that far off the mark (I can attest as someone that’s been attending vinyl conventions since I was a teen in the 1980s), Larson says he’s pleased to see the hobby begin to transcend stereotypes.

“Records and music should remain fun, even when it’s a hobby you take seriously,” he said. “One neat thing I’ve noticed through the Facebook page is that a lot of young people are getting into collecting records, especially now that newer bands are pressing vinyl. And 25 percent of the people on the page are women, which is a huge development for a hobby that’s always typically been populated by dudes.”

It’s in that spirit of fun and positive change that Larson, along with help from local Media Producer (and fellow vinyl enthusiast) Martin McGee, put together Vinyl Mania, which will feature 35 tables and a cash bar downstairs. A portion of proceeds will go to benefit Music is Art, a regional 501c3 founded by Goo Goo Dolls bassist Robby Takac.

“After I started the Vinyl Tap page, people said I should do a show,” Larson explained. “A long time ago somebody decreed that Sunday mornings were the best time to buy old things—antiques, records, and so forth. When Martin and I started talking more seriously about doing this, a nighttime event felt right to us. He’s been a great partner, he works in video production and has prior experience organizing events… we make a good team.”

When he realized that Sugar City was having a vinyl sale the following afternoon, Larson reached out to the performance space so as to cross-promote one another’s events and retain the inclusive spirit that guides his passion for music and records. For those wondering, the two sales will indeed have distinctly different flavors.

“The Vinyl Tap guys are doing such an amazing job putting their sale together,” said Sugar City President and Co-Founder Aimee Buyea. “Ours will definitely be a little more low key… kinda goes with our volunteer, DIY vibe. I think it’s actually pretty great that both are happening the same weekend since they have different appeal. They end up complementing each other well.”

Buyea said this is the fourth Sugar City vinyl sale, but it’s the first in their new location. In the past, they’ve had bands playing during the event, but they opted to try it without live music this time around. She specified that there will be a focus on smaller label punk releases and indie artists.

“Buffablog asked us about having some programming on Sunday for Herd Fest, so we decided it would be a perfect time for the vinyl sale since there’s so much live music happening the rest of the weekend,” Buyea said. “We’re letting folks come sell that might only have a crate or two, which I think goes well with Sugar City’s mission—empowering the casual collector by letting them come and participate in selling even though they might not be full-on vinyl dealers.”

Larson remains certain that there’s enough regional interest in vinyl that multiple sales will consistently draw people. He tips his hat to Dan Doherty, AKA The Record Baron, for carrying vinyl’s torch all these years and organizing the twice yearly shows at the Leonard Post VFW (the next one is on September 27) since the 1980s.

“I have the utmost respect for Dan and I think there’s room for everyone,” he said. “With the amount of hours put into organizing this, it’s definitely a labor of love more than anything else. All of us benefit from anything that makes the vinyl community stronger.”

Vinyl Mania Record Convention is at Brounshidle Post 205, 3354 Delaware Ave., Kenmore on Saturday June 20 from 5 to 10 p.m. Early admission (first dibs!) is $10 from 5-6 p.m., regular admission is $3 from 6 p.m. on.  

Sugar City Record Fair is at 1239 Niagara St., Buffalo, from 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, June 21. Admission is free.