Not everyone who grows up in the Antelope Valley music scene stays here. Some move to other cities and carry part of the AV with them. Jonathan Hall is one of those people. Jon is an interesting man. Originally from this Southern California desert, Jon has lived the Bay Area for many years. He’s an artist (with a proficiency for being able to turn anyone into a cat), musician, writer, and a unique perspective on things. Anyone able to catch his band Hello, Yes This Is Dog can testify to this. So here’s his perspective on the music and art scene in Oakland, California. Enjoy.

 

Here’s the thing with scenes: it is a noun that is used to describe people you know or a place that you make yourself think that you associate in. The words alone, “S-C-E-N-E,“ comes off almost fictitious (the word is heavily used by screen- writers and English teachers).

 

In music, among the dotted county lines of civilizations, it is easier for us as listeners to generalize the types of sounds we hear based upon (here it comes again…) scenes. In the words of Mr. Oberst, “I’m a goddam hypocrite.”

 

So, welcome to Oakland California (population 400,000). It is divided by a bridge covering approximately 7 miles of motionless saltwater known as the San Francisco Bay, whereas the city of San Francisco is directly on the other side. Oakland consists of literally hundreds of bands and thousands of musicians (www.eastbayexpress.com) It is virtually impossible to live a lifetime and say, “…yeah, I’ve heard all the music in the bay.”

There ‘s a plethora of romantically practical reasons to live in Oakland for artists, but to discuss a few big ones:

There are a lot of job opportunities and rent is reasonable (renting a room is roughly around the same price as somewhere in downtown LA/echo park/eagle rock etc.) and you can pretty much pay it by locking anything from entry level 9-5, retail, bartending, financial aid, etc. There’s also tons of free-lance to grab onto based on the high level of art galleries, festivals, writing blogs, magazines, music studios etc.

 

There’s a giant variety of creative people. There’s a giant variety of non-creative people. Either way, life in Oakland is very open-ended and everyone is doing something. Hence, plugging in a guitar and tape recorder from your bedroom can go very far and it is happening all over this city.

 

You also don’t need to pay for a car, insurance, or parking. You can easily get to a show, bar, work, friends house, school etc. via foot, bicycle, cab, subway or phone app. (There is a cool shit happening at a dive bar, house show, music venue, social club, literature reading every single day/night) so getting around and exploring is a virtue to many. Even if you’re more of the recluse type, just knowing that there’s a potential adventure waiting down the street can be a huge convenience!

 

Call it a community, call it magic, call it what people in Oakland call it: “I dunno… I guess it’s weird or whatever.” I mean yeah, there are a lot of people here who do art. I think that’s all we really need to know and that every individual should check in, check out and gather their own observations from whatever the heart sees, hears and feels.

 

OAKLAND: NO ONE REALLY CARES. BUT WE ARE REALLY TIGHT..

 

A town/city simply does not need a tightly knit ‘musical community’ in order to succeed (succeed? What the shit does that even mean?!). What really matters is that you, as one person, creates art. Take that art and show it off. Show it off to yourself. Send it to your girlfriend. Send it to your boyfriend. Show if off to your friends. Show it off to random people. Show it off around town. Show it off in the town next door. Save up for a car, quit your stupid job and take it even further. Get a wireless connection and show it off to the world. As long as you are breathing and creating, others will notice. Some will vibe you. Some will curve you. And some will just straight up bite your shit. Come to Oakland and you will experience a heavy dosage of this. But more importantly, stay right where you are and create your own batch.

 

spots for shows:

The Night Light

• The Legionairre
• World Rage Center
• Lobot Galley
• The New Parish

–     Jaguar Karaoke (cheap private rooms byob)

 

bands to black out to:

–     Lumerians

• Thee Oh Sees
• Golden Drugs
• Meat Market
• Mallwalk

 

artists who got their stardom from here:

En Vougue

• Too $hort
• T u N E y A r D s
• Del Tha Funkee Homosapien
• Hieroglyphics
• MC Hammer
• Keak Da Sneak
• Mac Dre
• Anticon Records