Album listening parties at Electric Fetus

Electric Fetus in Minneapolis scheduled two free album listening parties this week, turning a record store calendar into a pair of after-work music gatherings. (electricfetus.com) The first was Noah Kahan’s “The Great Divide” listening party on Tuesday, April 21, at 4:30 p.m. at the store’s 2000 Fourth Ave. S. location, with wristbands starting at 4:00 p.m. (electricfetus.com) The second is American Football’s “LP4” listening party on Thursday, April 23, at 4:30 p.m., eight days before the album’s May 1 release. Wristbands start at 4:00 p.m. (electricfetus.com) Electric Fetus said both events are free, and its recent listening-party format has been open to all ages, built around playing a forthcoming album in full before or near release day. (electricfetus.com 1) (electricfetus.com 2) For the American Football event, the store said attendees can get an “LP4” companion zine while supplies last, enter to win a pair of tickets to the band’s August 16 show at First Avenue, and use a wristband for 20% off most items during the event. (electricfetus.com) For the Noah Kahan event, Electric Fetus said it had 140 posters for fans, an enter-to-win tote bag, and the same 20% storewide discount during the party, with some restrictions. (electricfetus.com) The store has been running these listening parties as a regular part of its event schedule, alongside in-store performances and Record Store Day programming. Its events page listed the two listening parties this week, then a Friko in-store performance on April 28 and a Stephen Sanchez listening party on May 5. (electricfetus.com) Electric Fetus describes itself as a Minnesota record store that has been operating for 57 years, which helps explain why a weekday album preview can function as both a retail event and a neighborhood meetup. (electricfetus.com) By Thursday evening, this week’s two listening parties will have bracketed the store’s release-week calendar with one simple pitch: show up at 4:30, hear the album front to back, and hang around with other fans. (electricfetus.com 1) (electricfetus.com 2)