Dayton’s Record Shops

Bryce Russell | Arts and Entertainment Editor

(All photos courtesy of each record stores website)

Dayton may be nationally recognized as the Funk capital of the world, being the birthplace of bands like the Ohio Players and Zapp, but the city’s record stores offer a wide range of different music genres and events. All of these stores are locally owned and operated, so if you are a music fan and want to support local businesses, be sure to check these spots out. They also put on events, so be sure to check out their social media to stay up to date on what’s going on.

Omega Music | 318 E 5th Street, Dayton, OH 45402 (six minute drive from campus, accessible by the Flyer)

Omega Music is located in the heart of Dayton’s Oregon District. Definitely Dayton’s largest record store, it offers CDs, vinyl, and cassettes from every genre you can think of. 

“We carry a little bit of everything,” Omega shift lead Jack (they/them) said, “but because we get used stuff from the general public of the area we end up coming up with a lot of older jazz, funk, and soul which is pretty sweet.” 

Having been operating since 1983, Omega Music is Dayton’s oldest record store. Carrying used and new vinyl from Sonic Youth to Thelonius Monk, if you go in, you’ll definitely find something you like and won’t leave empty handed. 

 “We [also] do listening parties for albums, usually if something is coming out on Friday and we are able to do it we will play the album early in the beginning of the week,” Jack told Flyer News, “there’s freebies and give away stuff. We sponsor local events too, like with WYSO (the NPR affiliate), we help fund their quarterly music event called the Outside.” When asked what they’d like people to know about the store, they told us, “We’ve been proudly buying and selling music for 40 years now. We just try to give back to the community with music. If any local artists put out tapes or records or CDs we sell them. We’ve had a few employees run their own labels and put out stuff by people they know. We even had one employee who worked here years ago that now tours with the Black Keys and does his own solo stuff. We help build community locally with music and appreciate the local scene. We get people hip to the local stuff, and open people’s eyes to music they otherwise wouldn’t hear.”

Omega Music is open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. except for holidays.

Instagram: @omegamusicdayton

Blind Rage Records | 740 Watervliet Avenue, Dayton, OH 45420 (eight minute drive from campus)

Blind Rage Records is Dayton’s premier punk shop and the center of the Dayton punk music scene. “We definitely cater more towards punk and hardcore,” an employee said. Having opened during the Covid-19 pandemic, the shop has only been around for around 4 years, but is a must visit for any punk, hardcore, noise rock, or general music fan, with its large selection of used and new vinyl. In the shop, they put on various shows for local and national acts. Blind Rage doesn’t just host punk bands though, having acts from metal to indie to shoegaze. They have the best selection of punk and hardcore in the city, from classics like Minor Threat and Black Flagg to smaller bands like Oakland, CA’s Clueless. The shop also has an affiliated record label that puts out smaller punk and hardcore band releases from around the country as well as local Dayton groups. If you like punk, you have to go to this store.

Blind Rage Records is open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday through Sunday. Closed Monday.

Instagram: @blindrageshop

Skeleton Dust Records | 2101 E 5th Street, Dayton, OH 45403 (eight minute drive from campus)

Skeleton Dust Records has been open since 2017, but just moved to a larger space this past September. 

“We definitely have a focus on noise and experimental music,” store owner Luke Tandy said, “but we carry all different kinds of stuff too.” Aside from records, the shop also offers a selection of books and obscure, hard to find magazines. “We [also] have art openings every two months, and then we have DJs play in the store once a month. We also do live music that happens just whenever people need shows or are touring.” The store has mostly used records, so every visit you are sure to find something interesting and obscure, from Captain Beefheart to Brian Jonestown Massacre. In addition to vinyl, they also carry CDs and cassettes spanning all genres.

Skeleton Dust Records is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. Closed Sunday and Tuesday.

Instagram: @skeleton_dust_records

Catacomb Records | 2310 E Dorothy Lane, Kettering, OH 45420 (twelve minute drive from campus)

Catacomb Records is completely catered to all subgenres of metal, as well as some punk, hardcore, and industrial. From folk metal to death metal, Catacomb Records will have whatever you are looking for, especially if it’s obscure or hard to find. The shop has a completely metal atmosphere, complete with candles and a variety of metal t-shirts and distressed denim jackets available for purchase. If you are a metalhead in the Dayton area, Catacomb Records is a must visit.

Catacomb Records is open from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, and from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.

Instagram: @catacombrecordsdayton