Mike from The 'In Groove in Phoenix is back for episode three of Analog After Dark, digging into all the latest in vinyl, audiophile gear, and record collecting.

This episode, the guys break down the Electric Recording Company's surprise announcement of The Doors' LA Woman — Mike's favorite record of all time — and whether a $600 boutique reissue can finally live up to ERC's price tag, plus the usual master-tape sourcing questions. They get into Mobile Fidelity recalling the Van Halen 1984 SACD for a remaster with beefier low end (and why it's been the oldest preorder stuck in the store's system for five years), Rhino's growing reel-to-reel lineup, and Clearaudio's new multi-size ultrasonic cleaning machine.

Then it's on to the most hated topic in the entire vinyl community: slabbing and grading records. Mike shares his experience sending Sex Pistols and Stones records off to AMG, why graded music is still the bottom of the collectibles totem pole, and how a $3.2M sealed Super Mario Bros. cartridge stacks up against Ringo's personal copy of the White Album. The guys also dig into Discogs finally letting sellers upload photos and what the platform still gets wrong.

Plus, viewer Q&A: the truth about eco/bio vinyl and whether it actually sounds worse, and why a record store owner doesn't lose sleep over Record Store Day flippers.

New episodes drop regularly — drop your questions in the comments for a shot at the next Q&A segment.

In Episode 2 of Analog After Dark, Mike from The In Groove (Phoenix, AZ) sits down with longtime friend and regular customer Leland.

They kick things off with personal stories — including their unforgettable Metallica concert experience — before diving into the biggest topic of the week: the ongoing Michael Fremer and Mobile Fidelity (MoFi) controversy. Mike shares his thoughts on Fremer’s shifting statements, runs the original drama through AI for an interesting analysis, and reflects on how the scandal affected trust in the vinyl industry.

The conversation also covers life at the record store, customer culture in Phoenix, and the importance of preserving history in the audiophile community.

A laid-back, honest chat between two passionate music lovers.

Join Mike (owner of The ‘In’ Groove in Phoenix, AZ) and his buddy Leland for the debut episode of Analog After Dark — a laid-back, music-obsessed podcast for vinyl collectors, audiophiles, and anyone who lives and breathes music.

In this first episode, Mike and Leland dive into:

• The Vinyl Summit in Salina, Kansas — Acoustic Sounds’ massive 40th anniversary event featuring Chico Freeman, Mud Morganfield, Taj Mahal, a huge record fair, and eye-watering VIP packages up to $6,290. Is it worth the trip from Phoenix?
• The latest high-end audio drama — Michael Fremer vs. Jay’s Audio Lab over $780,000 Wilson Audio speakers and a $114,000 paint job.
• New Rhino Hi-Fi releases — Dusty in Memphis, Cher’s 3614 Jackson Highway, and Joni Mitchell’s Court and Spark. Which ones are must-buys?
• Collector stories — Mike scores a sealed Velvet Underground & Nico from the legendary Easy Street Records haul in Seattle.
• Recent concerts — David Byrne shows, Coachella memories, Brian Wilson, and more.
• Record Store Day pickups — Leland’s favorite finds including Dada, Billie Eilish live, and Blink-182.

Plus, they answer listener questions about mispronouncing album titles on purpose and buying tickets just for the opening act.

Raw, honest, and full of shop talk — this is the vinyl and music podcast you’ve been waiting for.

Drop your questions in the comments — they might get answered on the next show!