As downtown Indio continues to grow—with an emphasis on the arts—certain businesses are beginning to become community hubs.
One retail space that has grown to represent more than just sales is Music House Indio. The shop opened in Indio in late 2021 and has blossomed into a multifaceted space for purchasing music equipment, recording music, having band practice, learning an instrument, seeing a show—or just hanging out.
During a recent interview with co-owners Geoffrey and Estefania McManus, they talked about how the shop began with Jim Little, Geoffrey’s grandfather.
“He always has a bunch of ideas—a youth cover band, a recording studio, a music store,” Estefania said. “He wants to get more into the recording side, too. He’s done all of this stuff in the past on his own. He owned his own music store in Portland, and he did recording for a bunch of people up in Oregon.”
Added Geoffrey: “He’s always had this dream of having one joint operation of music for everyone. Like Stef was saying, his old music store … was just a hangout. Musicians would come who were going through on tour, and he would pitch to them, ‘Hey, come give a clinic, and I’ll let you guys use a rehearsal room for free.’ Kids would be in there just chatting up, trying different things and making groups. We tried doing that over in our old location, off of Cook Street (in Palm Desert), but it was an industrial complex, and it wasn’t really inviting. When we got the opportunity to move, we jumped at this location, because it has a storefront, a nice little middle section for a recording studio, a great back room—and all these things just started coming together. That’s when we’re like, ‘Oh, it kind of fits the vibe of what’s going on here, so let’s pour more money into inventory, and make it a real music store.’”
Geoffrey said he takes pride in offering a “mom and pop feel.”
“People can walk in here, and they feel like they can talk to someone who not running around, answering a phone, not really giving you the time of day, or trying to push something on you that you know isn’t really in your price range,” he said. “Here, I’ll tell you if you don’t need that, and I’m able to give out free things like, ‘Oh, hey, you bought this; here’s X, Y and Z.’ Having that ability to just give back to people and not be money-hungry is what I think people really appreciate.”
The folks at Music House Indio work to eliminate the fear and pressure that come with buying your first instrument.
“Sometimes we get students and kids coming in with their parents, and they feel much more welcomed here,” Estefania said. “… I think there’s a lot of apprehension when it’s a big investment, and you want to make sure your kid gets set up right. We’re really here to make that a more comfortable process.”
Beyond the retail storefront, Music House offers music programs free of charge.
“We have a program called MES, Music Educational Services, and that’s our afterschool band program where we go through Desert Sands Unified School District and hit all the elementary schools that want us,” Geoffrey said. “We offer beginning band, ukulele, guitar, pre-band, drum circle, mariachi and all these different things. The district pays for it, but everything is free for the kids after school. During the summer, all that stops, but we continue to have summer band here, so that way, kids can still come and have a band experience, and try new instruments all the time.”
Another element of the store’s musical outreach is Heatwave—a youth cover band.
“It is sponsored through the Boys and Girls Club, and they make it so no one has to pay any money to be in the group at all,” Geoffrey said. “It’s there to give kids a real-world experience without having to spend an arm and a leg on their own. We help facilitate, get them gigs, and (help them) learn popular music. You’re not just playing charts; you’re playing actual things that are being taken from the Grammys.”
Added Estefania: “Heatwave started in 2008, and was founded with a National Association of Music Merchants grant, and then from there, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Coachella Valley wanted to keep sponsoring us. Heatwave provides experiences like touring: It’s a week long, usually during spring break, and they get to go to all these different elementary schools and perform for them … and then we usually have a big performance somewhere. Two years ago, we played at Whisky a Go Go, and then we were also able to take the kids into a recording studio. … We want part of the proceeds from the store to keep going into Heatwave so that way, we can keep providing more of those opportunities.”
Heatwave recently performed at Second Saturdays, a monthly concert put on by the city of Indio at the new Center Stage on Miles Avenue.
“I would say that the city has been very supportive of us and what we’re doing here,” Geoffrey said. “I think the whole music scene itself is being supported now by Indio, since they’re kind of catching on to, ‘Hey, we have the biggest festival here, and we have nothing to show for it outside of that,’ so they’re getting this ‘Miles of Music’ thing going, and I think they’re supportive of anything that’s art that comes through.”
“Music’s fun for everyone, so we want to break down anything that’s intimidating, or anything that might make someone apprehensive to start.”
Music House Co-owner Estefania McManus
Added Estefania: “I think they also support us because we’re focused more on the youth and giving them opportunities. Then the youth can go on to make their own bands, and be adults here, and just continue that cycle.”
A few months ago, Music House Indio opened the doors to their back room for local shows. Ever since, the diverse nature of the desert’s music scene has been shown off in the tiny, makeshift venue, especially the Coachella Valley’s hardcore scene.
“It’s been the whole ideology for everything we do—giving people the opportunity to try something new and take that first step,” Geoffrey said. “Ever since the hardcore scene has popped up in our back room, it’s grown on me so fast—because I didn’t really like it. I like the music, but the culture itself was very intimidating. Once I got to meet everyone, it’s like, ‘Oh, everyone is a big teddy bear.’ Everyone’s having a great time and thankful that they are given a place that isn’t going to break the bank.”
Music House is the latest new venue to open its doors to bands from across the desert.
“It’s a great springboard, especially with Little Street increasing their capacity,” Geoffrey said. “Our whole plan is to have our space be the beginning, where beginning bands come through and do smaller shows here. Then, it’s going to be around 300 in capacity for Little Street when it’s all said and done.”
Added Estefania: “With the youth and the store and the venue, we just want to make people’s first step something comfortable. Music’s fun for everyone, so we want to break down anything that’s intimidating, or anything that might make someone apprehensive to start.”
Music House Indio is located at 82777 Miles Ave. For more information, visit instagram.com/musichouseindio.
Absolutely believe in what you are doing. Bravo and will be passing word. The arts have been my life though mainly was involved with visual artists but unofficially trained and supported music, theatre, writing etc. Indio is doing a great job as are you. I’ll be in and promoting what you do. You’re providing joy and opportunity. Appreciate your heart.