For decades, anyone taking a stroll on Boston University’s West Campus had two nearly back-to-back options for scouting out new music: Hitting a show at The Paradise Rock Club, or venturing into the belly of In Your Ear Records’ underground shop. But when In Your Ear shuttered that longstanding Boston location last August, the neighborhood’s vinyl selection miraculously didn’t evaporate — it just got a makeover.
On the heels of In Your Ear’s departure from 957 Commonwealth Ave. last autumn, a new store called The Vintage Underground has moved in, bringing a fresh selection of music to the same well-worn basement space. The shop is the hybrid of existing local businesses Vivant Vintage and Cheapo Records, offering a “best of both worlds” stock that ranges from leather jackets and tarot-themed tote bags, to rare LPs, CDs, and rows of fashionable music memorabilia.
“Cheapo’s owner, Bob Perry, was a friend and customer of In Your Ear for over 20 years, so he was thrilled to carry on their legacy,” employee Rosie Deaderick tells Vanyaland. “When we first took over the space from In Your Ear, we knew that we wanted to take the space in a fresh direction rather than just open another record shop. Vivant Vintage [318 Lincoln St. in Boston’s Lower Allston] and Cheapo Records [538 Massachusetts Ave. in Cambridge] had already collaborated on a pop up called ‘Pop Central’ that was in Central Square — that unfortunately had to close due to the pandemic. But the initial success of that location led the owners to want to create a new, more permanent collaboration.”
One wall of the basement shop is reserved strictly for vinyl, including small sections for rap, reggae, electronica, jazz, and international music, plus a hefty chunk of new and classic pop-rock. A rainbow of flannel shirts complements a corner rack of ivory nightgowns and slips, while a row of denim jackets offers the perfect blank canvasses for shoppers eager to display their pin and patch collections.
The variety of t-shirts is impressive; while most record shops strictly stock tees from classic rock bands, The Vintage Underground sells designs from artists such as SZA, PJ Harvey, Björk, and, unexpectedly, the late celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain. The classics are represented too, of course — any given Mac Miller shirt is sandwiched between the likes of Lou Reed or The Cramps. The accessory selection is just as enviable, spanning Korn and Frank Ocean beanies, and heart-shaped sunglasses that might match a rare record by Lizzy Grant (a.k.a. pre-fame Lana Del Rey).
“It’s important to us to have as much diversity as possible in our selections,” Deaderick elaborates. “We want there to be something for everyone. That’s why we have newer names such as Frank Ocean, Arctic Monkeys, and Lana Del Rey right next to more classic sounds like Led Zeppelin, Black Flag, and Fleetwood Mac. Our record selection is essentially just a mini collection of the massive collection we have over at Cheapo [in Cambridge]. As for Vivant’s racks, they try to aim the selection at the Boston University students — lots of vintage denim, leather jackets, fur coats, gorgeous lingerie, and sweaters. Practical, stylish, and unique with a wide range of prices and sizes — things that a college student, or anyone for that matter, could wear and style for years.”
Because just like the cultural legacy of 957 Commonwealth Ave., The Vintage Underground’s stock was built to last.
Take a look around the shop below.
