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Discover the beating heart of Los Angeles' DIY music scene with this list of small and independent venues putting on shows for the public.
Photo by: RDNE Stock project
Los Angeles may be home to sold-out stadium shows featuring music’s biggest names each night, but beneath the surface, another type of performance is thriving: the DIY music scene. L.A.’s DIY music venues may not have neon marquees and state-of-the-art sound systems, but they offer some things mega venues don’t: creativity, community, and raw energy.
DIY music venues in L.A. come in unassuming forms: basements, warehouses, and empty storefronts. But these ordinary spaces have shaped the Los Angeles music scene in extraordinary ways.
Read on to learn all about DIY concerts in L.A., their impact on music history, and some of our favorite DIY music venues in the City of Angels.
Los Angeles’ DIY music scene began with the punk movement of the 1970s. Punk was all about rejecting the mainstream, and its rejection of the music industry was no different. DIY venues in L.A. became a way that punk musicians could operate beyond the confines of the industry. Punk rock legends like The Germs and Los Lobos got their start at these kinds of spaces, playing at places like Hong Kong Cafe– a DIY venue that operated on the second floor of a Chinese restaurant in Chinatown.
The Masque, another popular DIY music venue in L.A., was located in a Hollywood basement and frequented by bands like X and The Go-Go’s. When the venue was eventually closed down by the fire marshall, its owner re-opened in a nearby location and named the new space The Other Masque, a testament to the scene’s scrappy, can-do attitude.
In the following decades, DIY venues in L.A. thrived. In the late 1980s, the rave scene threw parties in warehouses throughout downtown. In the early 1990s, the punk scene thrived thanks to a DIY music venue known as Cell 63, the basement of a home in the San Fernando Valley. When Cell 63 wasn’t putting on shows, the space was used to organize, host community art shows, and hold discussions about the state of the world. In the late 90s, DIY venue and coffeehouse Jabberjaw hosted acts like Weezer, Nirvana, Hole, Elliot Smith, and more.
Today, Los Angeles’ small music venues continue to thrive. Catch a DIY concert in L.A. at one of these grassroots spots.
One of the longest standing DIY venues in the area, The Smell is an alcohol and drug-free venue located in Downtown L.A. It opened its doors in 1990 and has since been home to acts like Best Coast, War Paint, and No Age. In addition to a performance space, The Smell also has a library, vegan snack bar, and gallery space.
Vying with The Smell for the title of oldest independent venue in L.A., Silverlake Lounge originally opened as a drag and burlesque bar. As Silverlake’s art scene exploded in the early 2000s, it transformed into a notable DIY space. Bands like Silversun Pickups, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, and Brian Jonestown Massacre regularly played there, as did Local Natives and Lord Huron, who had weekly residencies at the venue.
Zebulon is another one of L.A.’s small music venues that makes a big impact. The bar, cafe, and music venue, located in Frogtown, has hosted artists including Ty Segall and Kim Gordon.
Highland Park’s Lodge Room, located in the Highland Park Masonic Temple, opened in 2019. It’s helped launch the careers of Phoebe Bridgers and Sudan Archives, to name a few.
Founded in 1970 by keyboardist Don Randi, who performed on albums for Nancy Sinatra, Beach Boys, and Phil Spector, The Baked Potato is a jazz club in Studio City. It’s been a regular haunt of music legends like Prince and actors like Clint Eastwood.
This independent music venue located in between L.A.’s Arts District and Little Tokyo opened in 2017. During its first few months, Grizzly Bear, Julian Casablancas + the Voidz, and Grouplove graced its stages. Today, it features a balanced lineup of emerging and established artists.
Just south in Long Beach, Alex’s Bar is a staple of the Long Beach DIY scene. Past performances include Fishbone, Deke Dickerson, and Rocket from the Crypt. This. small music venue has appeared in shows like True Blood and Tenacious D.
Catching a show at a DIY concert in L.A. is one of the many ways to celebrate the city’s rich history. Looking for other unique things to do in the city? Check out our other offbeat L.A. article here, and keep an eye out for our sixth permanent exhibition, coming soon. Sign up for our newsletters here to stay up-to-date on our Meow Wolf opening and more!
