On the other hand...

Stopping in at Sam Ash does have one advantage. They're the only music store that consistently has those cheesy free mags/newletters covering the LI and NJ metal scenes. You know... the ones in which the highest praise a band can receive for a performance is that they kicked ***.

These are the only place you get to read reviews like this (from Paragon music magazine's review of W.A.S.P. in Sayreville on July 31st, 2004):

Blackie had an awesome custom-made mic stand which looked like a giant spine with a skull and cross-bones at the top of it. He was able to jump on it and rock back and forth, and I must say, watching a guy near his '50's move around that much is VERY entertaining.

And, they've got pictures. Music journalism at its finest!