Kitty Cash Bar 02
Kitty Cash Bar is a tribute series to recognize San Francisco's most beloved live and electronic music venues in an effort to raise funds for them during Covid-19 mandatory closures.
Every Tuesday and Thursday, we invite you to pour a drink (or 2) for Happy Hour (loosely all day, these days), reflect on some of your fondest shows and memories, share one of those memorable moments with your social media family, and to tip your bartender (via the venue campaign page)!
Inspired by the efforts of the community to rally around our scene and conversations had with our friend femmelectric - we decided to collaborate on this project in order to bring a consistent, targeted approach to helping the causes we’re passionate about.
April 7th 2020 - Rickshaw Stop
Founded in 2004, Rickshaw Stop is one of the most important independent live music venues in the Bay Area. The space on Fell Street has been home to local legend Aaron Axelsen’s Popscene - “one of the longest-running weekly parties in the country” - where burgeoning acts often make their SF debut. With a capacity of just 400, the space is an integral part of the Bay Area’s venue hierarchy - without places like this, lesser known acts simply have nowhere to play.
Not only has this venue hosted acts such as The Killers, Glass Animals, and most recently, juggernaut Billie Eilish, but it’s also the home to Emo Nite, Nerd Nite, and is a known safe space for LGBTQ+. The bar staff is friendly, the drinks are stiff, and the vibe is always special. Wether the room is packed and sweaty, or sparse and socially distanced - I've always had a blast here.
If you’ve ever been to a show here, than you know I’m preaching to the choir - but if you’ve only heard of some of the incredible acts I listed above, the likelihood is that you never would without a venue like Rickshaw Stop. Funds generated from this GoFundMe campaign have already begun to be distributed to staff - but as this shelter in place continues, so must our donations! Whether you can afford to give financially or not at this time, we invite you to share a memory or an act that has blown up in popularity since playing this venue. We can’t wait to return to this venue ASAP.
Notable responses from our social media endeavors:
“Sam Smith. I think it was the only time he's ever played there. He kept saying the stage was quite small.” - Mai
“The Killers was my very first Popscene show. I was a Senior in high school, and my mom got mad at me the next day because it made me late for school and I missed my Senior graduation breakfast. SO worth it.” - Amanda
“Rickshaw stop is near and dear to my heart. I took my wife (then girlfriend) to see The Teddybears there and Aaron Axelsen was DJing after and when we were dancing to a “Something Good Can Work” remix I knew in that moment I loved her.” - Aaron
April 14th 2020 - Fault Radio
Today we feature another anomaly - while not a physical venue, Fault Radio provides a consistent space for emerging local DJs and producers to perform online each week. They've also boasted pop-ups in LA, NYC, Tokyo, and Tel Aviv with notable guests such as Moscoman, Tornado Wallace, and Buffiman. They’ve been livestreaming before livestreaming became the only venue. Pre-shelter-in-place, their quality broadcasts happened in distinctive record stores, cafes, and other independent shops throughout the bay - simultaneously increasing both artist and business exposure. As a result of over 500 broadcasts in just 2 years, Fault Radio has unified and strengthened the bay's music community and continues to build a thriving international community online.
Quickly responding to our new normal, Fault Radio modified their practice, empowering artists to broadcast from home with a series called Relief Sessions. Fault ensures artists have the necessary equipment and set-up for a quality broadcast, provides them with step-by-step instructions on software requirements, and creates promotional assets. They facilitate and lead the broadcast remotely, while hosting and promoting on their platform with a robust and international audience. The sessions have received a warm response from artists and audiences alike. Fault has already hosted over 20 artists in just 4 weeks, and has no plans of slowing down while we continue to SIP.
In addition to broadcasts, Fault has also hosted two amazing record fairs, Shifting Plates, with another anticipated this summer. They produce interviews, editorials, music guides, and other community-driven content. Led by 2 co-founders, Fault Radio is a not-for-profit organization with occasional support from 5 volunteers. They’ve been low-key on fundraising since they began in 2018, and have been providing a FREE public service to our local music scene for two years. Now is our time to say thank you with a financial donation to support their current relief efforts, plus future broadcasts and projects.
April 16th 2020 - The Independent
When I consider the prospect of no mass gatherings until 2021, the first place that comes to my mind is The Independent. The 500 capacity SF institution on Divisadero has hosted live music since it’s jazz club roots in the late sixties, rendering it sacred ground for the Bay Area music scene. The space has changed names and faces multiple times since - punk venue The Vis briefly before becoming The Kennel Club in the late 80’s, where the inaugural Noise Pop Festival took place. It would become Justice League in the 90’s briefly, hosting notable hip-hop acts before ultimately transitioning into The Independent as we know it in 2004. The key to The Indy’s continued success is it’s multi genre curation, top-of-the-line production, no bullshit attitude - and above all, it’s amazing staff.
Denizens of The Indy are members of a family. On just about any given night of the week you could stumble upon this venue and no doubt see one of the best shows in town - events that are made possible by the impassioned efforts of the entire staff. Not only is The Indy a right of passage for up and coming acts, but it’s often where one-off’s and rarities perform - such as Outsidelands Night Shows or Glass Animals Deja Vu Tour (which was regrettably scheduled the day SIP was implemented). Aside from perhaps The Great American Music Hall, The Indy is unmatched in energy and intimacy.
In a post pandemic world, this is where I want to return to first - it’s up to the community now to ensure that’s possible. Head to their GoFundMe and donate what you can, even if that’s just the price of a beer + tip; together we can keep these venues a float long enough to wether the storm.