Music can be seen as a universal language. It can cross borders between cultures and allow people to connect on an internal level.  
It’s music’s power over people that moved Dana Labat to start Capital City Records, Baton Rouge’s newest record store. 
Labat, a native of LaPlace, Louisiana, decided to open the shop before his recent retirement from Shell Oil Company after 35 years. The store has been a labor of love for Labat, who’s been working on getting it open for nearly two years.
“I figured it would be a good little thing to do after retirement,” Labat said. “One of my passions and loves has always been music, records and things like that. I thought it was better than sitting around playing golf. I can have a little record store and hang out, listen to music and beef up my own collection at the same time. The more record stores, the better.”
Labat has been working to open Capital City Records for the last four months, fine-tuning the shop’s interior and conducting feasibility studies on its potential success as Baton Rouge’s third major record store.
“I had about a year left to work at my real job, and I kind of put it on the backburner,” Labat said.
Labat has always been interested in music. Like many enthusiasts, he can recall his first experiences with music. Since his youth, Labat has attended concerts and events that have helped build his catalog and his knowledge. In his earlier years, Labat ran the LaPlace underground music hall Mad Club.
“I can remember my first time hearing The Beatles and my first little single, 45 record that my mom bought me,” Labat said. “Naturally, when I was a teenager, that was my big thing. Music, going to concerts. I’ve been fortunate. I’ve seen numerous bands back when a ticket was $4.”
As the third installment in Baton Rouge’s constantly growing vinyl interest, Capital City Records will bring even more analog music options. For Labat, the shop’s true purpose is not so much to make a splash against its competition, but to add more to the city’s musical background. In addition to the Atomic Pop Shop and Lagniappe Records, the shop will act as another outlet for Baton Rouge music aficionados to get their wax fix.
“I think we’ll all be the same,” Labat said. “[But] I think what separates us is probably the stock of what they’re selling. Every store has diversity of what they carry and what they’re able to find and put out for sale. The one thing I was focusing on was finding a good location. I tried to design it so that everybody is comfortable coming in, no matter if you’re eight years old or 80 years old.”
Capital City Records’ main goal is to offer customers a wide variety of genres and artists at considerably lower prices than both its competition and major retailers. Stores that specialize in vinyl sales can mark records with prices up to $35 for one album.
“You’ve got all types of people, some just collectors,” Labat said. “I have great, sealed collectible records that are worth money. I focus on getting right below eBay prices, too. I make my money on the used records and have nothing to worry about profit margins on some of these new records.”
Located on Perkins Road, Capital City Records hopes to cater to all tastes of Baton Rouge’s music fans. The records available are a combination of sealed classics and modern bands who have jumped on the vinyl bandwagon with fervent feedback. 
Capital City Records is scheduled to open to the public on Nov. 7. Labat invites customers to come and look through the selection for the right record. With exposed beams, a brick wall and a mural painted personally by New Orleans artist Kristen Downing, the shop’s layout will help display the entirety of Labat’s catalog.

Gallery • 6 Photos

Emily Brauner

Capital City Records, located at 4641 Perkins Road, opens it's doors Friday, November 7, 2014.