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Category: Music & DVD's [Edit]
Neighborhood: Upper KirbyMon-Sat. 10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Sun. 12:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
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This is the independent record shop you've been looking for in Houston!
**Excellent selection
**Extremely knowledgeable staff w/good taste
**Ample in-store performances
**Prices comparable to anywhere else
**If they don't have it, they'll get it
**A great way to support local business
So skip pirating, embrace your inner collector, and head to best shop around
: )
This is the BEST record store in Houston, BY FAR. The staff are all very helpful and will make sure you leave with exactly what you're looking for, and probably a few more things!
The newer location has everything that you'd expect from the old location except they removed the video rental section (go to Movies! the Store for that!) and added a room with nothing but vinyl.
Make your journey down there now!
I can't believe it's taken me so long to visit the new incarnation of this Houston institution. I was a regular at Cactus thanks to a boyfriend who collected vinyl records, and more afternoons than I care to recall were spent peering over his shoulder as he flipped through the stacks. When we stopped seeing each other I stopped seeing Cactus, and I was vaguely aware that the old place closed up shop and shortly afterward a new location was announced.
Ironically enough, being pushed out of the old space is probably the best thing that could've happened to Cactus. The new space is just as big as the old store, if not bigger, and has an entire room dedicated to vinyl, both vintage and new. There's actually a stage for the occasional in-store performances. The movie rentals are out and they've focused their business down to the music, though there's a selection of silly toys and other novelty items that kept me interested long after I was finished looking through the music. Everything in general looks fresher and more modern, and they've got a great motif going with the Day of the Dead sugar skulls, thanks to the featured artist that's showing his work in the Record Ranch room.
It may have taken me a while to stop by, but less time will definitely elapse between visits now that I know how great the new layout is. Good to have you back, Cactus. You're a Houston classic.
Cactus is a Texas musical institution. No, no, it is a musical and social destination.
When I first heard that The (should have just stuck with grocery stores) Weingarten's were in essence shutting down one of Houston's greatest assets in 2006, my heart broke. Cactus Records was a place that provided me with music and movies when I was in high school and beyond. It was my favorite place to discover "new" bands, find out when they were coming to town and where they were going to play. Find the latest cd of that local band I'd seen the night before or that random soundtrack to that obscure movie that I couldn't find anywhere else. Rent quite a few indie movies, and cheaply, too. Hang out with that too cool for school audiophile friend who just happened to work there. Listen to one of the coolest, free-est jukeboxes in town.
Yes, there WAS Sound Exchange, but that place didn't have much of a personality and no matter who you were, you always felt like you didn't belong there. Cactus tangibly exuded cool from every rpm of its being. (The new locale is well on its way to also exuding cool, it just needs a little more time to steep.)
Alas, in the late summer of 2007 I began to hear rumors that Cactus was re-emerging quite near its home. It seemed that was all anyone was talking about. The city was abuzz. A few months later, in November, it joyously reopened. I had to go see for myself; I visited shortly before its grand opening. It was sparse, in fact the employees were still unpacking and alphabetizing the cds in the familiar cd racks.
As the year has gone by, I've visited frequently; watched as more and more life has been resuscitated to this Houston gem. I love that the space is larger than the previous store. There is a nice-sized stage for live in-store performances. A growing cd and dvd selection.
The entire room of vinyl is awesome. They call it the Record Ranch. The selection is growing by the week. A few months ago it was pretty paltry. As of my visit a couple of days ago, I believe it too has a pulse. A really cool thing I discovered on this past visit, the room has its own turntables and sound system. You can listen to your record before you buy it over well balanced speakers as opposed to some cheap, broken, nasty headphones. It doesn't play in the entire store, just The Ranch.
The thing I miss most from the old store is the jukebox. While Cat Stevens provides pleasant background music on a Sunday afternoon, the jukebox was awesome to program with MY selection of songs.
As a side note, does anyone think my work would mind me putting a Stooges poster in my office? Because I have my eye on a rather awesome one...
Not so impressed. Maybe I am just too used to Waterloo in Austin, but this place just didn't really live up to its reviews. I have been twice in the past month and found the same situation every time. They didn't have most of the artists that I was looking for, although they could have been sold-out. The place is a mess though. And the employees seem like they just rolled out of bed and have just about as much desire to be there as the small dog trapped in the back office. And seriously, the cash register is at least 15 years old. It looks like the owners have a great idea and they just haven't made the last leap to get this music store up to par. But, I would rather shop at Cactus than a major chain.
Cactus Music is the preeminent store for music in this town, period. From an outstanding staff, to a great cross section of music, movies, and sweet paraphernalia. In addition to this what sets Cactus apart from the rest is there devote dedication to regional music. They go out of their way to support and recognize local talent.
If you are into vinyl, well the Record Ranch which is tucked away in a separate room has just what the doctor order. Nothing cooler than digging through the slabs of wax and coming across that vintage disc you so loved from the 80's.
What it get's better. In addition to everything mentioned above they also have live in-store concerts that are free. And to top it all off they serve up free beer from Saint Arnold Brewing Co. during the show.
Even if you are only semi into music, Cactus is the place for all things cool.
OMG!!! I had no idea that cactus music moved (I have been hiding under a rock I think), Growing up in the West Alabama neighborhood my friends and I would walk to this place to buy and collect the single vinyl records back in the late 70's and early 80's every Friday (allowance day). I had awesome memories from that place with my childhood friends that are still my friends of today... I am rating the old location, haven't been to the new location....
Cactus Music is my new vice.
I know in the age of technology and instant web access, music stores are a dying breed (Damn you iTunes). But this little gem is a "must-go" for any music lover.
I myself collect vinyl, and boy do these guys have a selection! A dedicated room in fact, not to mention box after box after box of "sale" records line one wall.
These guys have it all: LARGE selection. Rare and obscure EP's. Variety of old and new. Live shows from time to time. Friendly and helpful staff. Good selection of movies and live show DVDs. Random *goodies*. And a overall excellent vibe.
Though I had never been, I hear that they used to be open, then closed, and now re-opened or something along those lines. Whatever the case: they did it right this time!
I stopped in after work (considering it's only a few blocks from my house I'll probably be doing that more often) a couple weeks ago out of curiosity and was in pure nirvana. What I planned on being a short 15 minute stop-in became a 2-hour journey, and I really didn't want to leave. ....or should I say I didn't want to but my wallet did. ;-)
I could ramble on and on here, but I'll try and spare you.
Moral of the story: Go to Cactus Music, enjoy and thank me later.
Let me preface this by saying that I am not a music person. In fact, I tend to find one cd that I like and play it nonstop for about four months and then do the same thing with the next cd.
That being said, I was pretty impressed with Cactus. It was smaller than what I thought it would be considering it is somewhat legendary in Houston, but it had what it needed. The music was actually organized well (and by well, I mean that someone knew their alphabet) which is a major plus. They had a pretty extensive vinyl section if you're into that. And they play live music once in a while.
If I were a music lover, this would be my haven. Unfortunately, I was looking for the one band that I love and they were all out of their cds and I left heartbroken. Okay, not really since I walked out with the new Neil Diamond cd (hey, don't knock it--it is actually pretty good) for the oh-so-fabulous price of $11. I'm not sure I would've saved any money buying it off of iTunes which is generally my litmus test. Now, if only the staff didn't have that tinge of too-cool-for-school vibe that all music freaks have (ahem, yes, I'm looking at you, City of Austin).
Cactus Music is a true gem for the Houston music scene. I sure miss that old store on Shepherd, and I'm grateful it continues on in a smaller setting. The in store shows are great! The selection of CD, vinyl etc. still continues to amaze me. I'm grateful for their support of local acts as well as touring shows. Jack Ingram, Bruce Robison, and Kelly Willis, Allison Moorer, and Steve Earle are among the many artists who have graced the Cactus store stage. Go for one of the shows and enjoy the free beer.
Hey a record store... hey an independent record store ... one with a thirty year history in Houston .... come on down. Cactus is also a perennial cd release party location. It is very nice to have a brick and mortar connection between people that buy music and the people that make it. Support the Cactus. Be the Cactus.
cute dig. i love how the stock up on indie labels. =)
So nice to see a real record store still thriving. (Or at least surviving.) Great selection of all kinds of music. Reminds me of all those independent record and CD stores like Rhino Records and Amoeba back in California in ancient history (the 20th century). And the in-store mini-concerts at Cactus are a nice bonus - hey, with free beer!
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