Strike Twelve performs at The Vault in October 2013. (Vanessa Franko/Staff Photo)
With the news that Temecula’s all ages concert venue The Vault is closing at the end of the month, there will be a big hole in the Inland music scene.
Venues are hard enough to come by in the Inland Empire and those open to all ages are even more scarce. What makes The Vault even more special is that it is a place where the local scene thrived and it was born out of a community with talented young musicians who had nowhere to play.
Southwest Riverside County has been one of the most fertile areas for local music for the better part of the last decade. Inverse, Midnight Satellites, Illnoise, Fly By Night, 15 North, Sam Larsen, Lee Koch, Dark Haven, Strike Twelve, War Stories, The Infamous They, Service Interruption, The Coltranes, Indica Roots, On Being Human, Ana Kefr, Souljourners, Keenwild, My Last Revelation and Jupiter–not to mention Finch and Neon Trees–all have ties to the area and nearly all of them have performed at The Vault. (Apologies to anyone I missed–there’s so much talent coming out of there I can’t remember everyone anymore.)
The first time The Vault opened in 2007, it was filling a need in the community where teens and young adults were playing music and craving something to do. The protests from local music lovers in the wake of The Vault being shut down after not having the proper permits only a few months after opening were staggering.
Then, a dedicated team, led by James Messina, who had purchased the business, and promoter Ivan McClain, set to work to get the venue up and running with the proper permits.
RELATED: Look back at the shows at The Vault
I remember calling McClain, who has been the promoter of the venue since the beginning, about wanting to do a cover story for the Guide about the return of The Vault. When I arrived on that afternoon, I was floored by how many people had come out to tell me how important this venue was to local music. Even Ben Stewart (then of Conspiracy of Thought, now of SongHammer) had driven down from Riverside to talk to me about it.
Andrew W.K. performs at The Vault in Temecula on Oct. 18, 2013. (Vanessa Franko/Staff Photo)
As the scene grew, so did The Vault, attracting larger bands from elsewhere in the Inland Empire, including perennial favorites The Maxies, and ultimately from reaches far beyond Southern California.
When I was most recently at the venue in October for the Andrew W.K. solo show, I was admiring the posters on the wall from shows over the years.
Voodoo Glow Skulls headlined five years of Skaloween shows at The Vault. It has hosted Japanese punk band Peelander Z, The Ataris, Reel Big Fish and a parade of metal bands just to name a few.
McClain is planning to open a new venue in the Temecula Valley with a larger capacity that can cater to the 21 and older crowd as well as those of all ages. With the absence of The Vault, it will be even more sorely needed.
There are a few more chances to catch music at the venue, including a show with Zebrahead on Friday, Nov. 22 and Band Wars on Nov. 30. There will be a special “thank you” show, dubbed “The Death of the Vault,” on Friday, Nov. 29, with The Maxies, The Infamous They, Indica Roots, Expulsion, Illnoise and more.
Please share your memories of The Vault in the comments below. Did you ever play there? Catch a memorable show?