San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
Independent turning 20 with concert series
The Independent, a cornerstone of San Francisco’s live music scene, is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a weeklong concert series.
The anniversary lineup features an impressive roster of artists, including the Los Angeles indie dance duo Neil Frances, DJ Tokimonsta, former OutKast rapperturned-flutist André 3000, drag singer-songwriter Trixie Mattel, rock band Young the Giant, R&B outfit Emotional Oranges, indie rock band Real Estate, and comedian and musician Reggie Watts.
Tickets for these shows went on sale Friday, Jan. 26, via www.theindependentsf.com.
Since opening its doors on Feb. 27, 2004, in the heart of the city, the 550-capacity venue has hosted a stellar lineup of acts, serving as a launching pad for big names like Lizzo, the 1975, Tame Impala, Doja Cat and LCD Soundsystem.
Superstar acts like Metallica, Green Day, Beck, John Legend and the Killers have also chosen the Independent for intimate performances for their most fervent fans.
Allen Scott, co-founder and co-owner of the Independent, still recalls the mad rush of opening day.
“We were still painting, and the Fire Department signed off on everything while the band was soundchecking,” he said. “We had friends and family painting the venue right up until we opened the doors. And the owners were taking turns sleeping onstage until we got our security system installed. It was a labor of love.”
The first band to headline a show at the venue was I Am Spoonbender. Since its opening
night, the Independent has hosted approximately 5,500 concerts, drawing in over 2 million concertgoers. Scott credits its enduring appeal to its state-of-the-art sound and light system and a renovation that pushed the
once-center-of-the-room bar back against the wall.
The venue at 628 Divisadero St. has a storied history, undergoing various transformations. In the late 1960s, it was renowned as the Half Note, a jazz club frequented
by legends such as Miles Davis and Thelonius Monk.
In the ’80s, it was known as the VIS Club, hosting punk, new wave and experimental bands. By the end of the decade, it transformed into the Kennel Club, drawing emerging acts like Nirvana and Jane’s Addiction. In the mid-’90s, it experienced a rebirth as the Justice League, welcoming electronic and hip-hop talents such as Mos Def, Jurassic 5 and DJ Shadow.
In its latest incarnation as the Independent, it has helped revitalize the neighborhood, leading to its rebranding as NoPa, or North of the Panhandle, from the Western Addition — one of the city’s liveliest areas for dining and nightlife. Since opening, the stretch of Divisadero Street surrounding the club has welcomed 30 new storefronts while other parts of the city have witnessed a retail exodus.
“I’m proud of what we added to it and San Francisco and its potential,” said Scott, who is also Another Planet Entertainment’s president of concerts and festivals. The Berkeley-based company has been the club’s exclusive booker.
Another Planet, founded in 2002 by former Bill Graham proteges Gregg Perloff and Sherry Wasserman, has become one of the biggest promotion companies on the West Coast, producing the Outside Lands festival and operating the Greek Theatre in Berkeley, the Fox in Oakland, and the Bill Graham Civic in San Francisco. But it still considers the Independent its showcase venue.
“When we opened this venue 20 years ago, we all wanted it to be iconic while still staying completely independent. Now, not only has it stayed true to its original vision, but it’s become a leader and destination for live concerts in San Francisco and throughout the country,” Scott said. “It’s all about the music. It’s all about the performance.”