(re)collection (2021) is a series of site-specific soundwalks that seek to bring together memories of defunct and ephemeral music venues in the Bay Area, in order to reconnect participants in musical communities that have fragmented through time, to resurrect networks of musical collaboration that have lain dormant, and to invite newcomers to these communities to pay tribute to their inspirations. For each of five sites, a 10-minute audio collage was made, composed of musical performances recorded at that site, as well as spoken recollections from interviews with individuals who participated in the communities linked to the site.
(re)collection was produced through generous funding through Soundwave SF and Gray Area for the Arts
(re)collection can currently be accessed online <> echoes.xyz
The soundwalks
Marlon (Unlearn the World) and Eric (DJ Saurus) of Hip Hop for Change discuss the Uptown in the context of producing events. Featuring music by DJ Saurus.
Jerry and Bernie of the Stud Collective discuss the history and vision of the Stud, as well as working as a collective toward preserving and continuing its legacy. DJ set by Larry LaRue, from the San Francisco Disco Preservation Society.
Leila Abdul-Rauf (Vastum) and Sam Foster (Weakling) discuss Annie’s Social Club, formerly the Covered Wagon Saloon, and the larger metal scene in the Bay. Featuring a live performance by Vastum.
Nihar Bhatt (Warm Leatherette) and Chris Zaldua (CZ) discuss 848 Divisadero & the need for creative community spaces. DJ set by Nihar Bhatt.
Brian Behlendorf and Rocky Mullin discuss 510 3rd St. & the intersection between the early SF tech and rave scenes. DJ set by Maya 13, from the Cloud Factory archives.
More About (re)collection
What is lost when a music venue shutters? How do we access the memories associated with that location? How can we reconnect with a scene or community that has lost its physical nexus? How can we welcome newcomers into our community without showing them our shared past? How do we come to life again?
The musical scene of the Bay Area has encountered a number of challenges in recent years, from the closing of many artist warehouses where underground events were held after the Ghost Ship fire, to the closing of struggling venues during the Covid-19 pandemic, to the exodus of many musicians and artists due to rising rents and costs of living. While the vibrant and resilient arts community of the Bay Area, in a broad sense, has always managed to survive challenges of the past, something, too, has been lost: communities that coalesced around a particular sound or scene, venues where memories were made, and the stories that bring us together. In particular, the queer and BIPOC contributors that have had an enormous influence on the present-day musical culture of the Bay Area are recognized broadly for their impact, but not always celebrated in their specifics.
The purpose of (re)collection is to resurrect these performances and these stories, to reconnect participants in musical communities that have drifted apart through time, to renew networks of musical collaboration that have lain dormant, and to invite newcomers to these communities to celebrate those who have come before, inspiring upcoming artists with the rich historical tapestry of Bay Area creativity.
(Re)collection is not a melancholy monument to things that have passed, or a bleak statement on the impermanence of the connections we make through musical scenes, but rather an invitation to revitalize those connections that still exist. The purpose of this project is to strengthen and reconnect individuals with the intention of fostering not nostalgia, but rather a renewed interest in collaboration, creation, and continuity of community.