Music temples - McCabe’s Guitar Shop in Santa Monica 💫

 

McCabe's Guitar Shop, established 1958.

“Who knew in 1958 when furniture designer Gerald McCabe opened up a small 15 foot wide guitar repair shop in Santa Monica that it would become one of the most beloved and venerable music institutions in the country and a bona-fide LA treasure?

And yet, despite itself, it has done just that, thanks to its down-home aesthetic, inventive approach to instrument repair of all things stringed, their music school, and of course the world famous concerts that take place in the tiny back room where for 5 decades artists from Doc Watson to PJ Harvey to Norman and Nancy Blake have offered up some of the most intimate performances this city has ever seen.

A musician’s hangout, McCabe’s has become something of a musical community center that continues still, offering “rentals for the cautious, lessons for the eager, truth-telling for the fearful, repairs for the clumsy, concerts for the devoted, and free coffee for all.”

Since opening it’s doors 55 years ago, McCabe’s has seen over 2000 artists perform, over 10,000 lessons offered, 1000 miles of guitar string sold, and over  50,000 guitars find their way into the hands (and hearts) of players from all corners.

In October of 2008, McCabe’s marked their 50th year with a celebrated anniversary show at UCLA’s Royce Hall, featuring the many friends of McCabe’s who have performed on the little stage in that back room over the years. Included on this bill were Peter Case, The Savoy-Doucet Cajun Band, David Lindley, Bonnie “Prince” Billy, Dan Hicks, The Ditty Bops, Peter Rowan, Chrissie Hynde, Ricky Jay, Los Lobos, Loudon Wainwright III, Van Dyke Parks, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Odetta, Richard Thompson, Jennifer Warnes, and Jackson Browne. 

The first performance at McCabe’s was a fluke. When Elizabeth “Libba” Cotten was stranded in Los Angeles, she was invited down to the shop and her impromptu session was the first unofficial performance at McCabe’s. Cotten was a self-taught guitar and banjo player who played upside down and left-handed. She worked for Mike Seeger’s family most of her life and he recorded her first album when she was well past sixty.

The first official performance was by Bryndle (aka Karla Bonoff and Kenny Edwards of Stone Poneys) in 1969; the show was also the group’s debut performance. 

Camp and Riskin decided to make the performances a regular occurrence, mostly because they were tired of driving to other parts of town to see shows. Among the performers who appeared during the 1960s at McCabe’s were Arlo Guthrie and Ramblin’ Jack Elliott.