A little more than two years ago, Little Street Music Hall opened its doors—and it quickly became the most consistent live music venue in the Coachella Valley, hosting a wide variety of bands, especially on weekends.
But on July 14, Josiah, Sam and Vince Gonzalez, the brothers who own Little Street, at 82707 Miles Ave., in Indio, shocked local music fans by announcing, in an Instagram video, that the venue was closing, citing a “competing set of values with the city.”
The Gonzalez brothers declined to comment further, so I reached out to artists, bookers and music fans who will be affected by the closure. (I performed numerous times at the venue, and booked many shows there as well.) Some of their remarks were sent via text or instant message.
The Gonzalez brothers, musicians who perform as Avenida Music, aimed to make Little Street Music Hall a venue where creatives were comfortable. They learned from bad experiences they endured as performers, and made sure that every show featured a professional backline, with top-notch sound and lights.
“We played our best show yet at Little Street,” said Jose Antonio Martinez, aka Toño, lead singer and guitarist for the Divines. “It was the night of the It Came From the Desert Vol.2 release show. We played our songs with the best energy we could, and for a moment, I could see everyone in the room admiring what we did. I had never felt so special until I heard people singing my songs back to me. It was that room that was filled with those people.”
Dylan Hendrix, of Daytime Moon and Warsaw Poland Bros, said Little Street had “big heart.”
“It was an inspiration to us all—so sad to see it go, but so happy for the memories,” Hendrix said. We played when they first opened, and (then) a few months ago, and saw how much it grew. There was a lot of love in that hall.”
Anthony Ferrer—one of my bandmates—who has been playing guitar for Empty Seat for more than 20 years, loved Little Street as a venue with “a greater purpose other than sales.” Little Street bridged communities “through its musical showcases and events that exposed many patrons and locals to their local bands and much more,” he said. “Sadly, it will be missed but never forgotten.”
While Little Street primarily hosted bands, it also welcomed rappers, DJs and other electronic acts.
“Little Street Music Hall was a communal space that brought so many people together,” said Sebass, a local DJ who has performed at Coachella, pool parties and other nightclubs. “It gave opportunities for artists to express themselves in a community that thrives on art during festival season. I’m forever grateful for a space that looked out for local artists.”
Rapper Mike Lavish feels similarly.
“It was a pleasure to host my EP release show at Little Street Music Hall,” he said. “It was bittersweet, because it was my first and last performance there. … I had a great time performing, and all the staff are great people. I’m happy and thankful I got to be a part of their history.”
“For the past few years, it’s been a haven for musicians and artists to express themselves and to share their passion with others. The community that has been built there is second to none in the valley.”
Jason Zembo
Some bands ended up playing the venue regularly, like the grunge-rockers Whitewater.
“There’s not a venue out here that has meant as much to my band and I as Little Street has,” said frontman/guitarist Jason Zembo. “It will always have a special place in our hearts. For the past few years, it’s been a haven for musicians and artists to express themselves and to share their passion with others. The community that has been built there is second to none in the valley. … It’s a huge loss to the valley’s music scene, but I’m certain that the Avenida Music bros will continue helping out the scene any way they can, and no matter what, I am thankful for the times we shared together.”
Local booking agents are reeling from the loss of a consistent space to host live music.
“I’ve had the privilege to experience Little Street Music Hall as both a performer and a promoter,” said Billy Gargan, who runs Kickass Booking with Kyle Helm. “The closure of the venue is heartbreaking to me, because it is a space where opportunities arise for musicians and artists who just want a chance to express themselves. I, too, was one of those who wanted said opportunities, and Little Street did just that for me. The venue shutting down is going to create a great void for our community, and it’s a shame we are losing a safe space for all ages, which is a difficult thing to come by.”
Added Helm: “As a musician, Little Street felt like home, with the nicest staff, the best green room couch ever, and a stage that somehow made every band sound louder and better. … It wasn’t just a venue; it was a beating pulse in the desert, a true safe space, and I’m forever grateful to have been part of it.”
Xavier Dougherty, a booker and photographer under the name Noisepile, felt similarly about the professionalism of Little Street.
“Little Street Music Hall brought a sense of professionalism into the scene, being the only official-style music venue that facilitated nothing short of safe, multi-genre shows for all ages,” Dougherty said. “This space has opened the door for our music scene to expand.”
While the vast majority of comments regarding Little Street were positive, not all of them were. A contentious hardcore show hosted at the venue by Hot Stuff Booking caused a rift between some members of the local hardcore community and Little Street. Face Facts, a local hardcore band featuring Sage Jackson and Michael Jones, who also run Hot Stuff Booking, were billed on that show—and ended up not being able to perform. Jones commented on Little Street’s video: “Thank God.”
Jackson said, in a message to me: “They parade around behind the walls of a building trying to preach community and then turned their backs on the same community. Glad they’re gone. Worst venue and owners I’ve ever worked with.”
“This space has opened the door for our music scene to expand.”
Xavier Dougherty
Little Street did host other hardcore bands since the incident. Hardcore band Built to Break performed at Little Street a few times.
“Josiah, who I went to high school with, along with Sam, Vince and the rest of the crew, have built something really special,” said Built to Break drummer Marcus Velarde. “The setup is super-convenient, with a back room for gear, and the sound has been on point every time. Everyone we’ve worked with there has been respectful and easy to work with. Big thanks to Little Street for giving us a space to play and grow as a band.”
Jayce Levi, owner of the “World Famous” Repairland in Indio, credited Little Street for helping him make the transition from Palm Springs to Indio.
“These guys really helped me get going in Indio, and I will forever be grateful for them giving me a place to do pop-up repair shops while I was waiting to move into my shop,” he said.
Ken Larmon, a local photographer and College of the Desert professor, has been to hundreds of concerts. To him, Little Street was a shining example of what a music venue should be.
“Josiah, Sam, Vince and Sean (Poe) created something magical with Little Street Music Hall/Encore Coffee,” Larmon said. “An all-ages music venue was something that was desperately needed in the valley, and Little Street provided it at the highest level. They provided a venue for local bands to perform in a legitimate space—not a bar, not somewhere where their under-21 friends and family couldn’t go, and not a place they would have to leave right after performing. … The guys at Little Street Music Hall/Encore Coffee helped me organize the first Mid-Autumn Festival benefit show for Desert Cancer Foundation in honor of my late wife, Malinda. They helped me out so much with that, and I’ll always be grateful to them and the community they created at Little Street. It was more than just a music venue/coffee shop.”