Story by Alex Gonzalez & Rachel Stone | Photography by Melissa Laree Cunningham
On a perfect fall day in October, guitarist Pepe Valdez led a trio in an afternoon of Peruvian criolla music in the rear of a former tire shop on West Davis.
The socially distanced crowd consisted mostly of family and friends of the band, plus a few Oak Cliff neighbors.
“I love the concept of using an old mechanic’s shop for music venues,” says Victor Rimach, whose agency Chasquis Group put on a series of small concerts in the space adjacent to the former Bolsa Mercado.
Before that, they presented DJs and live bands in the courtyard at Trompo Bishop Arts. Rimach says he plans to put on more shows at both venues as long as weather permits.
“There are a lot of great musicians in Oak Cliff,” he says. “The musicians are suffering as much as any live music venue in terms of income, so the intention is to find them gigs.”
The Wild Detectives also started putting on local live music in limited seating outdoor events as a way for musicians to earn a little cash.
Local singer/songwriter Sarah Johnson released her debut EP, “Volcano,” in September, a few months later than intended, but she hasn’t been able to tour.
On a Sunday afternoon, Johnson plays outside of Mosaic Makers Collective in Bishop Arts. This isn’t the ideal scenario, but Johnson is in good spirits.
“It has just limited where we can play,” Johnson says. “But at the same time, it’s forced people to be creative. You just have to hustle.”
While some Oak Cliff venues are having shows, don’t any record release parties or live performances at neighborhood favorite Spinster Records in the near future.
“We’re a very tiny store, in the grand scheme of what a venue would be,” says longtime Spinster employee Kate Siamro. “Until the masks are off and it’s normal to not wear a mask, we’re not having any shows, sadly.”
Spinster Records takes many safety precautions. Upon entering the store, guests are encouraged to use hand sanitizer before touching records and surfaces in the store. Shoppers can also order vinyl online and pick them up at the store curbside.
While many venues are struggling to survive, Siamro says record stores are doing well, which she attributes to people’s desire to elevate their home setting.
“I think with music, the closest way to get to live music or anything that interacts with music would be to buy a turntable and records,” Siamro says.
It may be a long time before we can catch our favorite local band at a packed venue, but for the time being, Siamro hopes music will help heal our weary souls.
“When you put a record on, you’re having an experience with music,” Siamro says, “And that’s not something you can usually touch.”
