August 6, 2025 By Carol Britton Meyer
Music lovers of all ages will be excited to hear that a Best Brother Records shop is opening in downtown Hingham in August, featuring new and used vinyl, album premieres, and other special events in a comfortable and welcoming space that’s expected to attract enthusiasts from near and far.
Co-owners Bryan Hamill and Alexis Voss, both Hingham residents, are enthusiastic about expanding BBR operations to include a brick and mortar shop offering “deeply curated,” multi-genre collections in the heart of Hingham Square at 51 South St., #104.
“I’ve been involved in the Boston music community for the last 30 years,” Hamill — who started out in radio as a DJ in Boston and Phoenix — told the Hingham Anchor. “I’ve always kept my hand in the music scene, writing music reviews and hosting a blog, ‘The Ash Gray Proclamation,” featuring music news, reviews, and opinion.
Bryan and Scott, his older brother, grew up in Marshfield, where their love of music blossomed from a young age. “In the ’80s we talked about starting our own label or retail record store, at a time when vinyl records were the thing,” Hamill recalled.
Dream becomes a reality
Years later, in 2023, their dream became a reality with the creation of the Best Brother Records Boston-based independent record label.
“The idea for Best Brother Records began years ago but officially started in 2023 during a very difficult time for my family,” Hamill said. “My brother was being treated for cancer, which he succumbed to in the spring of that year.”
During one of their typical music conversations, talk shifted to plans for the label, when he turned to Bryan and said, “Whether I’m here or not, I’m your partner,” hence the name Best Brother Records.
“We had already planned our first release — Rick Rude, a New Hampshire-based guitar-driven indie rock quintet, for their third LP, Laverne. My brother remains a constant inspiration to me,” Hamill said.
The BBR label is promoted through Bandcamp — an online record store and music community “where passionate fans discover, connect with, and directly support the artists they love.”
BBR’s most recent release, Deck, from Boston’s own Hallelujah The Hills, was selected by The Boston Globe as one of the best albums of the year, so far. The project consists of 54 tracks over four albums. Best Brother issued the vinyl version in June.
‘Just the right place’
Hamill and Voss chose downtown Hingham after looking for “just the right space” for two years. “It’s a beautiful location at just the right time,” Hamill said. “There’s a real call for creative art in the downtown area, and BBR is unique — there aren’t many record shops [on the South Shore and beyond].”
The shop will offer “a pretty even mix of new and used records,” Hamill said. “Our shop will attract both experienced record collectors and those who are being exposed to vinyl for the first time and could develop a passion for it. There will be something for all ages and demographics.”
The collections will range from indie rock to Jazz as well as well as carrying the newest releases, and much more.
Hamill noted that in 2023 and 2024, “more vinyl records were sold in the United States than ever before — including during their heyday in the ’70s and ’80s — and those numbers are expected to grow even more.”
‘Records offer a more personal experience’
When asked what he thinks accounts for the growing interest in vinyls over other formats over the past decade or so, Hamill pointed to the ‘tangible” experience of “holding a record in your hands and getting immersed in the sound and the album covers themselves. Records offer a more personal experience.”
At the same time, there is “a significant group that has never stopped collecting actual records,” he said.
In addition to music playing on a turntable inside the shop, there will be one available for customers to listen to records with headphones before making their choices. There may even be a turntable or two for sale.
“We also buy vinyl,” Hamill said. “We’ll assess the value and offer a fair price and make house calls.”
The grand opening on Saturday, Aug. 16, will feature one or two musical guests and lots of fun browsing the collection. “We aim to create a reputation as the go-to shop south of Boston, with a friendly and knowledgeable staff who treat their customers right,” he said.
Voss said she’s “very excited. . . .The shop will add something different to the downtown mix. We’ve had really good feedback so far.”
TLC Real Estate, LLC President Charlene Levi told the Hingham Anchor, “We’re thrilled to welcome Best Brother Records to the heart of downtown Hingham! This vibrant new shop will add fresh energy to the Lincoln Building and bring vinyl lovers together in the best way: in a combination of music, community, and nostalgia. We can’t wait to see it become a favorite spot for locals and visitors alike.”
For more information go to https://bestbrotherrecords.bandcamp.com, @bestbrotherrecords and bestbrotherrecordshop on Instagram, or bestbrotherrecords on Facebook.
I recently received an awesome vinyl collection dating back to I’m not even sure! Do you do appraisals and buy/ sell older vinyl? This collection is amazing..