Cobalt Cafe
Encyclopedia
The Cobalt Cafe is an all ages, non-alcoholic venue in Canoga Park, California
that caters to local bands that range from punk
to heavy metal
to alternative
. Some of the bands that got their start there include AFI
, Jimmy Eat World
, Less Than Jake
, Incubus
, Strung Out
, Link 80
, Linkin Park
(as Hybrid Theory
), Avenged Sevenfold
, Hoobastank
(as Hoobustank), California Redemption
, and more.
Hoobastank
also included a prank call to Cobalt Cafe on their early release of Muffins EP
.
. The Cobalt was one of the first coffee houses that started in the sleepy San Fernando Valley
and was fashioned after the same manner of coffee house that San Francisco is known for. The original location of the Cobalt was on Ventura Boulevard
in Woodland Hills, California where it remained for three years. The style of the Cobalt then consisted of acoustic music
, weekly poetry readings, as well as an open mic night. Celebrities such as Mick Taylor
from the Rolling Stones
, David Becker Tribune
(World renown Jazz group) played there and Angelo
from FishBone
read poetry. January 14, 1994 was the Grand Opening of the Cobalt at its current location in Canoga Park, just three days before the Northridge earthquake
.
The Cobalt Cafe has also become a regular tour stop for underground and up and coming touring artists of all genres, playing host to thousands of bands a year. The Cobalt has hosted bands on indie and major labels. Most all larger shows are promoted by either Two Hearts Concerts or Tough Guy Promotions.
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
that caters to local bands that range from punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
to heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
to alternative
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
. Some of the bands that got their start there include AFI
AFI (band)
AFI is an American alternative rock band from Ukiah, California that formed in 1991. They have consisted of the same lineup since 1998: lead vocalist Davey Havok, drummer and backup vocalist Adam Carson, with bassist Hunter Burgan and guitarist Jade Puget, who both play keyboard and contribute...
, Jimmy Eat World
Jimmy Eat World
Jimmy Eat World is an American alternative rock band from Mesa, Arizona, that formed in 1993. The band is composed of lead vocalist and guitarist Jim Adkins, guitarist and backing vocalist Tom Linton, bassist Rick Burch and drummer Zach Lind....
, Less Than Jake
Less Than Jake
Less Than Jake is an American ska punk band from Gainesville, Florida. Originally formed in 1992 as a power pop trio, the band evolved into a hybrid of ska punk. Less Than Jake have also been cited as showing influences from a wide variety of genres including post-grunge, heavy metal, alternative...
, Incubus
Incubus (band)
Incubus is an American rock band from Calabasas, California. The band was formed in 1991 by vocalist Brandon Boyd, lead guitarist Mike Einziger, and drummer Jose Pasillas while enrolled in high school and later expanded to include bassist Alex "Dirk Lance" Katunich, and Gavin "DJ Lyfe" Koppell;...
, Strung Out
Strung Out
Strung Out is a Californian punk rock band from Simi Valley, California, formed in 1992. They are known mainly for their musical style, which fuses aspects of punk rock and heavy metal to form their primary sound. They have released seven albums on Fat Wreck Chords and appeared on numerous...
, Link 80
Link 80
-Band history:Link 80 started in late 1993 in the East Bay of California. In the beginning, original members played around town as Drano, The Rag-Tags, and Mr...
, Linkin Park
Linkin Park
Linkin Park is an American rock band from Agoura Hills, California. Formed in 1996, the band rose to international fame with their debut album, Hybrid Theory, which was certified Diamond by the RIAA in 2005 and multi-platinum in several other countries...
(as Hybrid Theory
Hybrid Theory
Hybrid Theory is the debut album by American rock band Linkin Park, released on October 24, 2000 through Warner Bros. Records. The album was a huge commercial success, having sold over 10 million units in the United States alone as of 2010 and peaking at number two on the Billboard 200 while also...
), Avenged Sevenfold
Avenged Sevenfold
Avenged Sevenfold is an American heavy metal band from Huntington Beach, California. Formed in 1999, the group consists of vocalist M. Shadows, lead guitarist Synyster Gates, rhythm guitarist Zacky Vengeance, bassist Johnny Christ....
, Hoobastank
Hoobastank
Hoobastank is an American rock band, best known for their 2004 hit "The Reason" and other hits "Crawling in the Dark" and "Running Away". They formed in 1994 in Agoura Hills, California, with singer Doug Robb, guitarist Dan Estrin, drummer Chris Hesse, and original bassist Markku Lappalainen. They...
(as Hoobustank), California Redemption
California Redemption
California Redemption is a hardcore punk band from Thousand Oaks, California, a part of the Nardcore community, and a "major player" in the Ventura County Music scene....
, and more.
Hoobastank
Hoobastank
Hoobastank is an American rock band, best known for their 2004 hit "The Reason" and other hits "Crawling in the Dark" and "Running Away". They formed in 1994 in Agoura Hills, California, with singer Doug Robb, guitarist Dan Estrin, drummer Chris Hesse, and original bassist Markku Lappalainen. They...
also included a prank call to Cobalt Cafe on their early release of Muffins EP
Muffins (album)
Muffins is a 1997 cassette tape by Hoobastank that is a very ska and funk themed release rather than their recognized post-grunge sound.-Track listing:-Personnel:*Doug Robb – Vocals*Dan Estrin – Guitar*Markku Lappalainen – Bass*Chris Hesse – Drums...
.
Early history
The Cobalt Cafe was founded by Dave Politi on January 17, 1991 - three days before the Gulf WarGulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
. The Cobalt was one of the first coffee houses that started in the sleepy San Fernando Valley
San Fernando Valley
The San Fernando Valley is an urbanized valley located in the Los Angeles metropolitan area of southern California, United States, defined by the dramatic mountains of the Transverse Ranges circling it...
and was fashioned after the same manner of coffee house that San Francisco is known for. The original location of the Cobalt was on Ventura Boulevard
Ventura Boulevard
Ventura Boulevard is one of the primary east–west thouroughfares in the San Fernando Valley, USA; as it was originally a part of the El Camino Real , Ventura Boulevard is one of the oldest routes in the San Fernando Valley. It was also U.S...
in Woodland Hills, California where it remained for three years. The style of the Cobalt then consisted of acoustic music
Acoustic music
Acoustic music comprises music that solely or primarily uses instruments which produce sound through entirely acoustic means, as opposed to electric or electronic means...
, weekly poetry readings, as well as an open mic night. Celebrities such as Mick Taylor
Mick Taylor
Michael Kevin "Mick" Taylor is an English musician, best known as a former member of John Mayall's Bluesbreakers and The Rolling Stones...
from the Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
, David Becker Tribune
David Becker Tribune
The David Becker Tribune is an American contemporary jazz band. The band is led by namesake David Becker, who is the guitarist and composer.-History:...
(World renown Jazz group) played there and Angelo
Angelo
Angelo is an Italian and Greek masculine given name meaning "angel", or "messenger". Angelo is also an Italian surname that has many variations: Angeli , Angela , De Angelis, D'Angelo, Angelini, Angelino , Angelina , Angelucci, Angeloni, Angeletti .Angelo as a given name may refer to:*Angelo...
from FishBone
Fishbone
Fishbone is a U.S. alternative rock band formed in 1979 in Los Angeles, California, which plays a fusion of ska, punk rock, funk, hard rock and soul. Critics have noted of the band: "Fishbone was one of the most distinctive and eclectic alternative rock bands of the late '80s...
read poetry. January 14, 1994 was the Grand Opening of the Cobalt at its current location in Canoga Park, just three days before the Northridge earthquake
Northridge earthquake
The Northridge earthquake was a massive earthquake that occurred on January 17, 1994, at 04:31 Pacific Standard Time in Reseda, a neighborhood in the city of Los Angeles, California, lasting for about 10–20 seconds...
.
Today
The Cobalt holds shows priced between $8 and $12 almost every night of the week and has an open mic / poetry reading night on Tuesdays hosted by Rick Lupert. Mondays host Keepin' It Real, a youth worship group for those of religious faith, and is non-denominational.The Cobalt Cafe has also become a regular tour stop for underground and up and coming touring artists of all genres, playing host to thousands of bands a year. The Cobalt has hosted bands on indie and major labels. Most all larger shows are promoted by either Two Hearts Concerts or Tough Guy Promotions.