LA on Lock Concert Venue Review [McCabe's Guitar Shop]

by Travis Erwin

In my continued quest to review the many live music venues of Southern California I step away from the big arenas, and share my thoughts on a small, intimate, listening room.

McCabe’s Guitar Shop, Santa Monica

Yes, as the name implies McCabe’s is a working shop that sells and repairs instruments as well as offering lessons. You won’t find a more knowledgeable, or friendly shop in this area no matter if you are an established musician or a curious newcomer, they will take the time to chat, offer advice, or enlighten you. Since 1968 they have hosted a variety of shows in the back room.

On my most recent trip is caught a show from Texas Indie stalwart, Slaid Cleaves.

History

A look through past concerts will reveal that artists of many genres have played here, but for the most part you will find singer/songwriters, Folk, Americana, Bluegrass, and similar brands of artists dominate the schedule.

The first stage at McCabe’s was painted by Linda Ronstadt and since that time the 150 seat back of the store venue has hosted a treasure trove of musical talent from the late great Townes Van Zandt to Arlo Guthrie.

Z to A might not be the usual way to order things but this isn’t your usual venue. Other well-known artists to grace the McCabe’s stage include R.E.M, Wynonna Judd, The Bangles, Emmylou Harris, and far too many others to list.

Here is a vintage grainy video from years back with Warren Zevon and T Bone Burnet performing a classic on the McCabe’s Guitar Shop stage.

Parking

There is free parking in the lot behind U.S. Bank after 6:00 PM, seven nights a week and metered spaces along Pico Blvd, which also extend a few doors north and south on each residential street. These spaces are also free and unrestricted after 6:00 PM and all day on Sundays. The residential streets to the north and south of Pico are permit parking only, seven nights a week.

Getting There

If you don’t want to drive, rideshare is always an option but really this is an alcohol free venue so driving home after isn’t a problem and the small size makes it easy to get in and out or find parking.

Pico Blvd is a major thoroughfare with ample service and McCabe’s is less than a block from the nearest bus stop.   

Upgrades

Again, this is a very small venue so there really are no real frills or VIP amenities. Nor are they needed as this is simply a nice listening room without a bad seat in the house which is why venerated artists like Elvis Costello have performed in such a small space.

Seats

The seating is in standard folding chairs but there is space to and legroom and if your butt is tender, they have some cushion up near the stage to add some plush softness for your booty. Again, it only seats 150 and the rows are all close to the stage with ample site lines.

There is a pole in the center aisle toward the back, but I always arrive early and sit in one of the first few rows, so I have no firsthand knowledge if it impedes the view from any of the seats behind it. You can see the pole and seats in this picture.

Food and Beverage

This isn’t your regular conession type deal. McCabe’s does generally offer a few soda’s, bottled water, and coffee as well as snacks such as chips or cookies. These are sold from a small table out in the shop and I believe all sales are cash only.

Bathrooms

The bathrooms are small but clean. Just down the hall. I’ve never experienced more than a one or tw person line but some shows do ask you not get up or go back and forth during songs as again this is more of a listening room environment.

Respect the artist and your fellow audience and you will be fine, but if you are one of those who go to concerts to talk to their friends and ignore the music, this isn’t the place for you. I’d argue live music isn’t for you if that is the case, because no one paid their admission to hear you yak about the traffic on the 101, your insane boss, or any of the other inane banter that has no place going on while an artist is on stage performing.   

Neighborhood

Quiet and walkable at least right around the venue. Never had any issues or felt unsafe before or after a show.

Sound

Excellent. This is an intimate environment offering a well dialed sound that only a few venues ever manage to achieve.

Overall Impression

One of my very favorite venues. The place is clean and well run and a bit of a throwback to another time and era. I haven’t been in a while, but I feel confident things change slowly around McCabe’s and that is a very good thing.

Upcoming Events

https://www.mccabes.com/concerts-landing/?v=7516fd43adaa

Many shows sell out here, and a look at their current calendar proves that point so I suggest you go directly to the McCabe’s website and see what shows are upcoming and which ones still have tickets available.

TK x Kanejohnson - WestSide (feat. KaneJohnson) [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“This is a song that would make you want to get to steppin shawty on the ‘Westside. Cruising in the car and out of their favorite store TK and Kane gives listeners a classic vibe in their new single. Riding in old school whips they display what it is like living on the Westside in the 6. ‘Praying On My Down Fall because I am heaven sent’ is one of my favorite verses out of many. ”

— Kreadiv Kesh (LA On Lock Blogger)

Breaking Down LA on Lock Reviews (AKA ... Where are the 1 Star Reviews)

Post written by LA on Lock Blogger Travis Erwin

Over on the Official LA on Lock Facebook page, a reader recently dropped this comment in response to one of our posted reviews …

“Which albums have a 1 out of 5 rating?”

That comment made us collectively smile, but it left me thinking about the perception of what we do, and how we do it. There are three of us that review songs and each of our tastes are a little bit different, as are our individual process, but good music is good music and our mission is to help artists find more listeners for their deserving work.

So speaking only for myself in this piece, I am going to break down my review process.

I give virtually every submission at least 90 seconds to grab me before I issue a mental rating (I only give actual scores for those that will be featured on the blog) of the song on a scale of 1 to 5. The exception to that 90 second rule would be when there is a glaring issue with the production, or something painful.

Yes, I said painful which brings us to our lowest possible score.

1.0 AKA … Somebody PLEASE HELP!

Thank the Lord, I don’t see a lot of tracks that fall here, but the ones that do are complete misses. The production quality sounds like it was recorded on a vintage Boombox in the bathroom of a Super 8 Motel, the vocals are pitchy, flat, or monotone, and the lyrics a jumbled set of MadLibs gone bad.

For my (private commentary) I would suggest they find a professional to help them with production and work on writing songs that mean something to them so they can impart more into the delivery.

1.5 AKA … Two out of Three is still pretty bad.

Maybe the track does have a quality sound to it, but the vocal, musical, or songwriting talent is still not there. Maybe they have talent, but bad writing and production. You get the idea.

(Still privately) I would praise that area of strength and then pick one or two areas that did not work for me. Maybe ask for more emotion or cite the place lyrically where it fell apart for me.

2.0 AKA … Something is still glaringly wrong.

Art is objective, but you can still not like something and yet understand it has merit for others. However this rating means we still are not there. Above here, subjectivity comes into play but sometimes I hear tracks that have talent, great writing, and still sound like they were recorded in that Super 8. Or I hear the voice of an angel, finely recorded, and singing what amounts to the Barney theme song.

As a novelists, and fiction writer, I’ve had those sobering critiques and rejections where an editor points out a glaring misstep for me. These are the reviews that make you grow and I’m proud to say I don’t get them now that I have gained experience enough to look out for such pitfalls. I hope to do the same for the artists I review and when most of it is good, but there is one bad egg in the bunch I try to put it fairly bluntly (still privately) while still citing the things I did appreciate.

2.5 AKA … Maybe it’s just me, but probably not.

We’ve hit the halfway mark in the LA on Lock grading system and honestly the majority of things I hear falls in this category or the next. These are the songs that show promise and talent, but don’t quite reach their potential. For the ones that land here it is probably a bit more than personal taste, but that is certainly a factor.

My still private commentary would mention that they are close, but there was still that last little bit of something lacking for me. A spark, a resonance, a few missed notes or a jarring line in the lyrics that shook me out of my attachment.

3.0 AKA … There are plenty of fish in the sea.

This is my cutoff. Everything above this mark earns a feature on the blog so these are still viable songs, but not necessarily my songs.

I often remark that if this track came on while I was listening to a playlist I would not skip it, but neither would I add it to my own list. The very best songs break through personal preference, pet peeves, and temperamental moods, but these are the near misses that can’t quite overcome such things for me.

3.5 AKA … It’s complicated.

Pinpointing why a track lands here is tough because the reasons ares varied, but converting our 5 point scale to a traditional grading system and this category earns a 70% which means there is definitely more good than bad and that is why every song from this point forward makes it to the blog.

Probably, I loved one single element and was okay with the rest of things. That said, bad production never works for me. I’ve heard flat vocals that the lyrics and melody carried. Or a beat and rhythm that cannot be denied even though the song said very little and virtually every other combination of that factor. This is often the score I give such tracks.

I scale back my criticism just a bit because for the first time the comments will be seen publicly and I feel it is our job to cite the best elements in a track to help artists find their audience rather than to dissuade a would-be listener by my judgment. These are good songs, worth a listen and while I might have longed for a bit more in one element, the next listener might find beauty in that flaw. Like that cute little freckle on your girlfriend’s earlobe.   

4.0 AKA … Everything but the chips.

I’ve never liked the saying … She’s all that and a bag of chips, because frankly chips are salty and not good for your health. Wait a minute, that also describes a few of my exes. Finally I get it. But I digress.

These tracks are rock solid. Nice production, talented vocals, no glaringly bad lyrics. They have it all except that extra little finisher. That is not to say everyone will love these songs because art is still subjective and things hit different for every set of ears, but no matter how you stack your chips these tracks have value, and for some these tracks may have the personal resonance to lift it into the next category.

Again my public commentary will be positive with no mention of any shortcomings. I try to give the listener a sense of what to except regarding genre and style with a taste of the song’s intent.

4.5 AKA … Lay it on me.

Sticking with the chip theme, I can’t stop at one … listen that is.

These songs are not only quality, but have that bit extra resonance for not only myself, but a larger slice of society. Songs that truly say something, and do so beautifully. The emotion is tangible and real.

My commentary here is glowing and appreciative. These tracks venture from the predictable and make me think or explore ideas and emotions and I try to touch on that in the reviews if I can do so without tipping off the hook or emotional payoff. In those cases I try to get out of the way and let the listener discover for themselves. 

5.0 AKA … Straight outta Hogwarts.

Don’t tell me magic isn’t real, because the right piece of music has the ability to take you back in time … make you feel that heart racing taste of first love … conjure smells of grandma’s kitchen.

The right piece of music speaks to your heart, soul, and brain all at once. The right piece of music is pure magic.

I rarely use this score and truth be told when I do it is because a track that might otherwise be a 4.5 has a strong personal reference for me. Or because it shocks me with its beauty in songwriting and in performance. In other words, I feel every word.

When I write this review there will be no doubt that I have stars in my eyes and a flutter in my heart.