Melissa Mobley

Doom Dong

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RESURRECTING THE LIVING ROOM: Back around the time I was moving out of the UCSB dorms and into my very own I.V. hovel, I made my first trip to the Living Room. Tucked in an unassuming industrial park not far from the S.B. Airport, the venue was small, dark, and curiously inviting. The place was swarming with kids—some older than me, some younger—and the vibe was perhaps one of the warmest I can remember from my collegiate show-going days. Sadly, that summertime stop (to see violin-toting punksters Yellowcard, if memory serves) was my first and last. Not too long after, Goleta’s favorite all-ages hub closed its doors, and music lovers throughout the county felt the very palpable loss.

Since then, I’ve heard stories about the Living Room’s legacy from all walks of folks; fellow writers still sing its praises, old-time Santa Barbarans still recall the club’s more “epic” shows, community leaders still laud its drug- and alcohol-free policies, and even pop tartlet Katy Perry still reminisces about spending a memorable 13th birthday there. Yet, it’s longtime Living Room lovers Allan Viscarra and Daniel Billington who wave the venue’s flag the proudest. Currently, the duo are working their hardest to find a new home for founder (and current member of the Goleta Water District's Board of Directors) Larry Mills’s musical brainchild, and this weekend you too can get in on the action.

This Saturday, Viscarra, Billington, and 15 Santa Barbara bands will team up at Casa de la Raza (601 W. Montecito St.) for an all-day event geared at raising funds and piquing community interest in the future of the Living Room. The cash will go directly to DANCE (Drug Alternative Nights & Counseling Events), Mills’s youth-minded, substance-free nonprof that at one time sponsored all the venue’s events. The majority of the benefit’s bands and event staff are also one-time Living Room disciples, meaning that there will be plenty of storytelling and photo swapping for those who still want to learn a little more.

“I’d like young people to know that they are invited to help reopen the Living Room and play an active part to create a fun place to see bands, hang out, and meet friends,” Viscarra said. “And I’d like adults to understand that a place like the Living Room is invaluable in our community because it provides a safe, positive, and healthy place for young people to spend their time and explore their creativity without the pressures of drugs and alcohol.”

The Hero and the Victor

Personally speaking, I can’t think of a better cause to get behind. The Living Room benefit concert kicks off this Saturday, August 15, at noon and is slated to run ’til 11 p.m. that night. Performers include The Hero and the Victor, Doom Dong, Verna Beware, The Bitchfits, Shanghai’d, and many more. To learn more about the event, call 965-8581 or visit myspace.com/thelivingroomclub. And for more on the venue, its history, and its resurrection, visit independent.com/livingroombenefit.

LEARN FROM THE PROS: And next weekend, the future generation of music-makers will get yet another opportunity to study some history when the Rockshop Academy presents its evening seminar and panel discussion How They Made It in the Music Biz … and What You Need to Know. Geared toward any and all up-and-coming musicians, the panel discussion will touch on everything from making money in the digital age to releasing independent records. The speakers range from acclaimed Santa Barbara musicians to big-deal industry names, guaranteeing a well-rounded and insightful couple of hours for anyone interested in breaking into the big leagues. Thus far, the Rockshop has locked in Dishwalla guitarist Rodney Browning Cravens, Sugarcult guitarist Marko DeSantis, MySpace Records’ director Danny Ornelas, producer Luke Ebbin, music attorney Tim Boris, and many more. The event will be held on Friday, August 21, at Red’s Wine Bar (211 Helena Ave.) from 4-7 p.m. and is open to all ages. Admission is $5 and seating is limited. Call 962-1211 or email info@rockshopacademy.com to RSVP.

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