Hi. Dave the Traveling Music Man here.
I recently went to Las Vegas for a boys-only Super Bowl weekend. While the guys were busy gambling at Caesar’s Palace, I ventured off the strip to find an oasis of music at a record store called Wax Trax Records.
Wax Trax, located on 2909 S. Decatur Blvd, is fabulous! The owner (Rich Rosen) has had the business in many different locations over the course of years. Eventually it found its home in Las Vegas.
From the outside, the store doesn’t look like much, but once inside it’s a stairway to record heaven!
Not only are there vinyl records, but every kind of recording format you can think of. It was a treat going through the vinyl records, CD’s and 45’s. Every record was in alphabetical order so it was easy to go through the music to find what you were looking for. I was actually impressed to see this kind of order for a music store.
I got so lost in the store’s amazing stock of inventory, and the memories it invoked. I spent hours there, but easily could have spent days! I saw box sets of Hendrix and Cream albums that I have never even seen before!
Even the bathroom was jam-packed with music!
Wax Trax has practically every genre of music too!
There was a ton of great Kiss, Beatles and Elvis memorabilia! A fan of these groups would certainly be in heaven. Even if not a diehard fan, just seeing the memorabilia added a nice touch to the ambiance of the store.
My only criticism was that there were no prices on any of the inventory. I hate having to ask for prices. That always makes me feel very uncomfortable and at a certain disadvantage from a fairness perspective. Having said that, my friend bought some obscure U2 albums and said that he felt the prices were consistent with those on Ebay.
The only other criticism was that they didn’t have an album that I played on when I was a member of the band, Rattlers (entitled “Rattled“) in the store. Nor did they have my current solo CD, And then You Woke Up, by the Walter Midi Group. If they had either, that would have been PRETTY impressive.
If you are a music lover and/or a record collector or you just want to get the hell away off the strip on your next trip to Las Vegas, I suggest a visit to Wax Trax! It might just blow your mind, without the risk of gambling away your inheritance.
Happy music travels!
A New York frequent flyer who elegantly combines her passions for worldwide travel, running a gazillion marathons all over the globe and staying fit ... without sacrificing her fancy for good wine and food.
Of course the prices were consistent with eBay – that’s exactly where he gets his prices from. Which simply means that, just because some idiot vastly overpaid for KISS promo copy in an online auction, the shop owner can self-justify that that is surely what that LP must be worth, instead of the more likely reality that the eBay price in question is a aberration, and not the true value/price.
I refuse to shop for records with this kind of setup. It is indeed very uncomfortable to be “sized-up” by a shopkeeper who effectively changes his prices on a whim.
I know what range of price I’m willing to pay for a particular LP, and if it’s closer to my high-side, I can base my decision on the condition of the record.
It’s a total waste of my time digging thru the stacks and bringing them up to the counter – only to find out he’s totally overcharging for them.
Otherwise, nice report though, thx 🙂
How long has this guy been in business? There can only be one Wax Trax Records, and it’s not this guy!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wax_Trax!_Records