Events

[PARTY] The Beatles’ 1967 landmark Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band has always made me feel woozy, and perhaps that was the intended effect. It seems oversaturated in so-called “better living through chemistry,” and I can almost see everything trailing and melting into itself as Ringo gets by with a little help and Paul fixes a hole – fairly mundane ideas made glorious when seen through rose colored Lennon specs. But there’s no arguing about the disc’s historical value and the way it positively altered the contemporary music canon, enveloping the masses with countercultural spirit right at the dawn of the Summer of Love, broadening the sound of pop music to include vaudevillian and circus-like elements, and pioneering the almighty concept album. The lore surrounding its creation and the material that landed on the cutting room floor are part of the Pepper legend, and on Friday, May 26, Record Theatre (Main and Lafayette) will celebrate the release of a new, expanded, 50th Anniversary edition of the album with a proper shindig, including some craft beer, beginning at 5pm. Local Beatles tribute outfit PastMasters will perform at 6:30pm—look out for Record Theatre’s own Brandon Delmont (also from A House Safe for Tigers) on drums. The party is also the kickoff for the storewide 20% off sale. Apple is releasing several new configurations of this psychedelic classic to suit both casual fans and serious collectors alike – from a single disc version that features the new mix by Giles Martin (son of original producer George Martin) to a six-disc trove that includes posters, an unreleased film, and no less than 34 alternate takes. There is, of course, a vinyl version as well. Should you absolutely have to have the super deluxe box in-hand on Friday, call ahead: 716-883-1355.