The Sonics perform at Easy Street Records on Record Store Day 2015 On closing night, Yo La Tengo played to a packed house for the final in-store at the Queen Anne location. In his statement Vaughan added that Chase Bank would be the new tenant. Vaughan cited a significant increase in rent as the primary reason for the closure. On January 2, 2013, owner Matt Vaughan announced the closure of Easy Street's Queen Anne store, effective January 18, 2013. In addition, several artists have recorded their in-store performances for radio broadcasts, including Elvis Costello, the Shins, My Morning Jacket and Brad. Brandi Carlile's Live at Easy Street Records was released in 2007 and Gov't Mule's Mule on Easy Street (now out of print) in 2006. Two other artists have released EPs recorded at Easy Street. Titled Live at Easy Street, its two pressings have completely sold out, and it is the store's biggest selling record to date. Pearl Jam later decided to release a special EP of the highlights from the show. The band appeared, much to everyone's surprise, and proceeded to play a special set for the crowd of 200. On April 29, the retailers were bussed to the West Seattle store for what was described as a "work party". During one of several meetings with the band's management about logistics, Pearl Jam singer Eddie Vedder showed up and stated his desire to make it work, and the show was confirmed soon after. Vaughan proposed a surprise, invite-only in-store performance at the intimate West Seattle location. On April 25, 2005, Easy Street was chosen to host the national ten-year anniversary conference for CIMS (the Coalition of Independent Music Stores), an independent record retailers convention and Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready felt the band could do something special as a "thank you" gesture to these retailers. To date, the two stores combined have hosted over 500 in-store performances. Easy Street is a strong supporter of Northwest artists, and has hosted in-store performances by Mudhoney, the Shins, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, the Cave Singers, Brandi Carlile, Shabazz Palaces, the Moondoggies, Damien Jurado, Presidents of the USA, Minus the Bear, Band of Horses, the Head & the Heart and Blue Scholars, to name but a few. The larger store provided the extra room Vaughan needed to build a stage and soon national touring artists began performing there, including Lou Reed, Elvis Costello, Kings of Leon, Patti Smith, Paul Westerberg, Franz Ferdinand, Lana Del Rey, Dierks Bentley, Robyn, Jack Johnson, Jurassic 5, Wanda Jackson, Steve Earle, Regina Spektor, John Doe, Dick Dale, My Morning Jacket and many others. The following year he opened a second, much larger store in the Queen Anne neighborhood. In 1999, he leased the space next door (previously Joe's Grill), installed a new kitchen and bar, and by 2001 had opened a full-service cafe. Vaughan opened Easy Street Records in the business district of West Seattle (known as "The Junction") in 1988 and the following year moved the store to its current location on the primary corner of the Junction in the historic Hamm Building. In 1987, with both stores ready to go out of business simultaneously, Vaughan approached both owners and offered to consolidate the two stores into one. Owner/President Matt Vaughan worked at two record stores during his teen years. Easy Street is a member of the Coalition of Independent Music Stores (CIMS). In November 2012, Seattle mayor Mike McGinn "recognized Easy Street Records for their stability, longevity, and involvement in Seattle's music community, while embodying Seattle's pioneering spirit and reflecting Seattle at its best." In 2017, the Travel Channel named Easy Street one of "Eight Must-Visit American Record Stores". Time magazine featured the store in its article "10 Great American Record Shops" On October 10, 2012, Easy Street was named King County's "Best Small Business" in the 2nd annual King County Executive's Small Business Awards. The publication also included the store in its 2010 article "Best Record Stores In the USA". In 2018, Rolling Stone named Easy Street one of the ten best record stores in the US. The store carries new and used CDs, vinyl records, DVDs, new books, magazines and company-branded merchandise. Easy Street Records often hosts live in-store performances by national and local musicians. Easy Street opened its store in West Seattle in 1988, and later added a cafe/bar, which serves coffee, breakfast, lunch, beer and wine. Easy Street Records is an independent record store located in Seattle, Washington.
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