In the blistering heart of Austin, Texas, where the pavement sweats and the ghost of music past lingers, sits the cathedral of wax known as Waterloo Records. In my opinion, this is the Austin version of Amoeba Records, an absolute institution that helped put the city’s music scene on the map since its founding in 1982.
Whether it’s the plethora of classics on reissued vinyl or the massive collection of used records (in what is probably the best organized of all new arrival sections on planet earth)
Waterloo represents the values and community of “Old Austin”—community over commerce, good times over status symbols. Recently, the legend expanded, with Caren Kelleher stepping into the fray as part owner, merging her visionary spirit with the store’s storied history. She also holds the reins at Gold Rush Vinyl, forging a new empire in the heart of the Lone Star State and ensuring that the grooves keep spinning even as the world burns.
Back in the spring King Khan and I stopped in the new location on Lamar do sign some records and tell some stories.
Chainsaw Magazine 