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KEENE, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) For Danny Kamps, opening a record store isn’t just about selling albums — it’s about recreating the experience that first made him fall in love with music.
The Gilsum musician and former educator is opening Dodo Music at 20 Main St. (the entrance is next to Shadow and Soul Emporium and Tea Lounge) in a second-floor suite in downtown Keene on Saturday, offering new and used vinyl records, CDs and cassette tapes while hoping to revive the sense of discovery once found in independent music shops.
Kamps traces that passion back to his teenage years growing up in Westmoreland, when trips to Turn It Up on Main Street became a regular part of his life. Among his first purchases were “Willie and the Poorboys” by Creedence Clearwater Revival and “Aqualung” by Jethro Tull, launching a record collection that expanded well beyond the progressive rock and jazz fusion that first captured his attention.
Over the years, artists ranging from Yes, King Crimson and Black Sabbath to Miles Davis, Weather Report and Return to Forever shaped his musical tastes. Today, however, Kamps says he cares less about genres than great performances. He maintains the same level of excitement for both banjos and synthesizers.
That curiosity has remained with him throughout nearly three decades as a musician. Known locally for his work with the psychedelic and progressive rock band Omoo Omoo, as well as the experimental duo Kendra, Kamps also performs solo, creating atmospheric soundscapes through electric guitar, live looping and improvisation.
Professionally, his career took a different direction. He taught special education at Keene Middle School before working with ApprenticeshipNH, but music never stopped pulling him back.
Eventually, he decided the Monadnock Region needed a dedicated music store in Keene once again.
The store’s inventory reflects both his personal tastes and his desire to introduce customers to something unexpected. Alongside classic rock favorites are selections spanning jazz, international music, folk, psychedelic rock and contemporary releases sourced through a wholesale distributor. Much of the used inventory came from private collections Kamps purchased over the past several months.
Dodo Music has the feel of an independent record store Exposed brick archways and a retro-inspired mural of flowing orange, gold and brown stripes and matching floor covering create a nostalgic atmosphere that echoes the golden age of vinyl. The décor mirrors Kamps’ eclectic musical interests, blending vintage aesthetics with an appreciation for everything from progressive rock to jazz and world music. The hand-painted artwork, playful dodo branding and locally designed merchandise give the shop a distinctly personal touch, while bins of records and music memorabilia invite customers to browse at their own pace. Instead of feeling like a modern retail chain, the space is intimate and welcoming—a place designed to encourage exploration and the thrill of discovering an album you never expected to find.
That spirit of discovery also inspired the store’s unusual name. Kamps, a lifelong bird enthusiast, chose “Dodo Music” because of his fascination with the extinct bird and the idea of preserving things before they disappear.
As streaming continues to dominate the music industry, Kamps hopes Dodo Music offers something listeners can’t download: the excitement of flipping through records, discovering an unexpected favorite and talking with someone who loves music just as much as they do.
Dodo Music is located in Suite 2 at 20 Main St., above Shadow and Soul Emporium and Tea Lounge. The space previously housed a therapist’s office, something Kamps only learned after former clients recognized the location during his renovation.
The grand opening will be held Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Regular hours will be noon to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday.