After opening this September, the Eastcoast Bandits underground vinyl den has provided a haven for pop culture lovers and music fanatics alike.

Words By Mattea Vecera / Graphic by Maxine Moses

In the heart of downtown Syracuse’s underground retail scene, a treasure trove of vinyl records and vibrant ambiance can be found at Eastcoast Bandits, an eclectic vinyl den, bookstore, and podcast created by two sisters and passionate music lovers, Janelle Brailsford and Chantel Powell this fall.

Brailsford, a 32-year-old native of Elmira, grew up immersed in the world of music. As a child, her mother would keep her quiet by sitting her in front of MTV to watch music videos all day. After growing up in Binghamton and spending more than a decade in Orlando, she returned to New York, working a full-time job for the state at a psychiatric center. However, her early exposure to music instilled a deep connection that she kept throughout her life, and that creative side had been itching to come out.

Powell, after living in Elmira and Binghamton, moved to Syracuse when she was 18 years old to pursue a degree in biology at SU. Her career path led to corporate life, where she ran a call center. Now 36, Powell continues to work her 9-to-5 job while dedicating additional time to actualizing the vision for Eastcoast Bandits with her sister.

The idea to create Eastcoast Bandits spawned in June 2023 after the sisters visited Roots Picnic in Philadelphia, an annual music festival hosted by the hip-hop group The Roots. Despite having full-time jobs, the experience struck a chord with Brailsford and Powell.

“I know that it inspired me on the way home,” said Brailsford. “In my head, I was constantly like, ‘I should not be going back to work my 9-to-5 job.’ I knew that it was time to do something different.”

Powell echoed a similar sentiment, sharing how inspirational it was to be with thousands of people with similar interests to hers.

“We wanted to bring that back home with us and give that to our communities,” Powell said, “and I love a good party, especially if there’s brunch. So, how do we figure out how to do this?”

The initial idea for Eastcoast Bandits was a “brunch party pop-up” with vinyl, which Brailsford proposed to McCarthy Mercantile and Wildflowers Armory founder Michael John Heagerty. Located in downtown Syracuse, McCarthy Mercantile is an underground marketplace that provides a vibrant hub for many independent businesses, regularly hosting events to promote local creatives and pop-up vendors. At their first meeting, Heagerty took their idea and helped them grow it, bringing their vision to life at the Mercantile.

“I don’t force anyone to do it. They have to do it. They have to leap,” Heagerty said. “I did not tell them to leave their… jobs to pursue their career in record sales, but they were already there.”

Mere months after the conception of Eastcoast Bandits, Brailsford and Powell held the store’s grand opening on September 9th. Friends, family, and other McCarthy Mercantile business owners came by to see the space, and a few people hopped on the podcasting microphones for a test run.

“Yes, it was a grand opening, and it was big, and it was good,” Powell said, “but we wanted you to come and feel like you were essentially at your grandmother’s house or you’re at a picnic or in your backyard having a good time. That’s really what we strive for. We want you to come in and feel the energy and that the energy is welcoming.”

The picnic table is still in front of the store two months later, welcoming customers to stay a while and enjoy the atmosphere. Inside the store, they sell handpicked vinyl records, books, patches, posters, clothes, and various items that all people – music lovers or not – can enjoy.

“It’s a lot more than just vinyl,” Brailsford said. “Anyone can come in, even if you don’t have a record player or don’t know what a vinyl is. We can teach you and put you on.”

Their weekly podcast, raw and uncut, showcases their knowledge of music and pop culture and creates an environment where genuine conversations flow freely. Mostly unscripted, the sisters always ask guests to “say it with their chest,” urging everyone to let their (sometimes unpopular) opinions flow.

“It all flows so well when we improv it and try to just be ourselves,” Powell said. “Yeah, we might be podding here for three hours, but we’re genuine to who we are in that.”

As for the future of Eastcoast Bandits, Brailsford’s dream has always been to open up a “lounge music vinyl bar”, and Powell supports that goal. In the meantime, the sisters want to host brunches, throw gatherings and parties, and be a part of the different arts and vintage events in Syracuse. They also want to grow the podcast, bringing on new guests, local artists, and bigger artists performing in Syracuse.

“It’s a lifestyle,” Brailsford said. “I think we’re gonna be so much more than just selling vinyl records. Now that we’re in here and meeting people, we’re feeling the energy that’s in here. Eastcoast Bandits is growing bigger. Bigger and better.”