There is something exciting about a room full of people listening to songs they already know. Or don’t. And not just as background noise in a cafe or through algorithmic playlists. I’m talking about playing a record on turntable with a needle on the groove and conversation orbiting around music. In my quest to discover music with people and listening sessions, I found that there are multiple opportunities to do it in the city. Some free, some paid. 

Collective memory

I have fond memories of the Retro Vinyl Listening session hosted by Laguna by TGS. The evening was a celebration of the 1980s and 1990s — an era whose music has escaped the fate of nostalgia. These songs continue to exist in public memory, passed between generations. A room can still collectively react to a Michael Jackson bassline or a guitar riff that has become part of cultural vocabulary.