by Greg McCorkle

Easy Street Records celebrated Record Store Day with live performances by bands The Young Evils and ReignWolf (AKA Jordan Cook) Saturday April 21.

The Young Evils' Troy Nelson isn't shy about acknowledging his musical crush on the legendary Scottish pop-rock band The Vaseline’s. But his own group's bouncy boy-girl pop bears witness to that affection while staking out a sound of its own.

Sounding for all the world like jaded juvenile delinquents on a sugar-fueled joyride, Nelson and fellow singer Mackenzie Mercer cruised through their set with a mix of snotty indie-rock and vulnerable '50s doo-wop, with head-turning results.

Reignwolf showed a maturity beyond his years with an amazing solo performance playing guitar, singing, and working a kick bass (while standing). A virtuoso on guitar he cranked out riffs that blistered the paint right off the walls and blew the hair back of everyone at the front of the stage.

When he opened his mouth the most amazing soulful rock tones came out and lifted the entire building off its foundation. As a child of the sixties I was immediately reminded of a young Eric Clapton. A voice both powerful and pained. Then the rest of the band took the stage and the wall of sound that was created stopped traffic on California Avenue.

If you didn’t make it to this event, smack yourself on the forehead because this was an evening to remember. Congratulations to Easy Street Records for giving so much to our community.

It was national Record Store Day and Easy Street celebrated by hosting an exhibition of the photographs of Lance Mercer, noted rock photographer and live performances by the Young Evils and Reignwolf.

Record Store Day also fell on the birthday of the 2012 Ambassador, Mr. IGGY POP!