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Tony's Darts Away Hosts Vinyl Nights, Continuing This Sunday
Photo of a sampler of craft beers by LA Wad via the LAist Featured Photos pool
By Jamie Wetherbe
Bring-your-own-vinyl nights go gangbusters in in L.A. On the Tuesday evenings when Origami Vinyl's Record Club invades El Prado, throngs of nostalgic hipsters wait to sign up for a spin from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. It's been increasingly difficult to get a spot on the list (or to get a beer from the bar) on those nights because of the crowd, so Vinyl Nights at Tony's Darts Away were a welcome addition for record enthusiasts and craft beer lovers alike.
Travis Mills is honest about his inspiration for the new gathering at TDA, which launched earlier this summer. “I wanted something to draw more people, and I didn't want to pay for a DJ," says the general manager of the Burbank bar/restaurant known for its craft beers and hot dogs.
(Photo by Jamie Wetherbe)
DIY DJs seem to have done the trick: Launched this summer, customers can bring their own records and spin for an hour every other Sunday to a crowd of 80 or so. The next session will take place this Sunday 8 p.m. to midnight.
Mills selects the DJ lineup from regulars with record collections, music fans he spots at local shows and members of L.A.-based bands like the Kissing Tigers and The Little Ones, who DJed July 29. The pool table and dartboards are moved for a makeshift booth, and the deck and sound system are on loan from an MTV exec.
A song list on a recent Sunday bounced among generations and genres, including "My Sharona" by The Knack, tunes from '80s new wave band Tom Tom Club and tracks off the Beastie Boys' "Ill Communication."
All musical styles are welcome, so long as no one objects to the song or sound.” says Mills. "We've yet to have any complaints.”
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