McCabe's Guitar Shop facts for kids
McCabe's Guitar Shop is a special place in Santa Monica, California, where you can find musical instruments and enjoy live music. It opened in 1958, started by Gerald L. McCabe, who was a well-known furniture designer. McCabe's is famous for its collection of acoustic and folk instruments. You can find guitars, banjos, mandolins, dulcimers, fiddles, ukuleles, and many other unique instruments there. Since 1969, McCabe's has also become a popular spot for folk concerts.
Experience a Concert at McCabe's
When you go to a concert at McCabe's, you'll find yourself in a cozy back room. It has simple folding chairs and its walls are covered with cool old guitars, banjos, and ukuleles. People often say it's a very "intimate" place, meaning you feel close to the performers.
Many famous musicians love to play here. The Los Angeles Times newspaper described McCabe's as a "bare-bones setting" that offers "the best guitar music." It's so special that it feels like the musicians are playing right in your living room! McCabe's is owned by Robert and Esperanza Riskin. Robert's mother was the famous actress Fay Wray.
This shop is busy during the day selling and fixing instruments. But at night, it turns into a world-class concert hall. The concert room can hold about 150 people, making every show feel very personal.
Who Has Played at McCabe's?
Many amazing musicians have performed at McCabe's over the years. The list includes some of the best folk and acoustic artists from around the world. Here are just some of the talented people who have graced the stage:
- Mose Allison
- Altan
- Dave Alvin
- The Aman Folk Orchestra
- Alistair Anderson
- Chet Atkins
- Ginger Baker
- Battlefield Band
- Beck
- Pierre Bensusan
- Krishna Bhatt
- The Blind Boys of Alabama
- Frank Black
- Norman Blake
- Blanche
- Michael Bloomfield
- Eric Bogle
- Boys of the Lough
- Paul Brady
- Jackson Browne
- Kevin Burke & Michael O'Domhnaill
- T Bone Burnett
- J. J. Cale
- John Cale
- Capercaillie
- Liz Carroll & John Doyle
- Lori Carson
- Martin Carthy
- Peter Case
- Exene Cervenka
- Alex Chilton
- Clannad
- Gene Clark
- Shawn Colvin
- Elizabeth Cotten
- Cowboy Junkies
- Marshall Crenshaw
- Evan Dando
- De Dannan
- John Densmore
- The Dillards
- John Doe
- Hamza El Din
- Steve Earle
- Joe Ely
- Fairport Convention
- Archie Fisher
- Black Francis
- Glenn Frey
- Bill Frisell
- Dick Gaughan
- Giant Sand
- Vince Gill
- Steve Gillette
- Jimmie Dale Gilmore
- Allen Ginsberg
- Arlo Guthrie
- Dirk Hamilton
- John Wesley Harding
- PJ Harvey
- Richie Havens
- John Hiatt
- Dan Hicks
- Chris Hillman
- Robyn Hitchcock
- Camper Van Beethoven
- John Lee Hooker
- Hot Tuna
- Andy Irvine
- Jefferson Starship
- Paul Kantner
- Bobby Kimmel
- Klezmorim
- Neil Innes
- The Incredible String Band
- I See Hawks In LA
- Bert Jansch
- Jorma Kaukonen
- Dolores Keane
- Paul Kelly
- Al Kooper
- Krysia Krystianne
- Timothy Leary
- David Lindley
- Mance Lipscomb
- Nils Lofgren
- Long Ryders
- Longbranch Pennywhistle
- Ewan MacColl & Peggy Seeger
- Taj Mahal
- Ray Manzarek
- Aimee Mann
- John Martyn
- J Mascis
- Mary Lee and Nancy
- Mary McCaslin
- The Del McCoury Band
- Joe & Antoinette McKenna
- Paula McMath
- James McMurtry
- Minutemen
- Joni Mitchell
- Mick Moloney
- Bob Mould
- Maria Muldaur
- Muzsikas
- Michael Nesmith
- Tracy Newman
- The Nields
- Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
- Mojo Nixon
- Laura Nyro
- Maura O’Connell
- Odetta
- Liam O’Flynn & Donal Lunny
- Herb Ohta
- Old Blind Dogs
- Carla Olson
- Van Dyke Parks
- Patrick Street
- Tom Paxton
- Pentangle
- Liz Phair
- Sam Phillips
- Utah Phillips
- Plimsouls
- Maddy Prior
- Kenny Rankin
- R.E.M.
- Jean Redpath
- Redwood
- John Renbourn
- Stan Ridgway
- Stan Rogers
- Roy Rogers
- Linda Ronstadt
- Tom Rush
- Rick Ruskin
- Martin Sexton
- Billy Joe Shaver
- Michelle Shocked
- Jane Siberry
- Silly Wizard
- Spinal Tap
- Jody Stecher
- Al Stewart
- Andy Stewart & Gerry O’Beirne
- Sun Ra
- Lyle Ritz
- John David Souther
- June Tabor
- Tannahill Weavers
- Jack Tempchin
- They Might Be Giants
- Richard Thompson
- Russ Tolman
- Train to Sligo
- Venice
- Tom Verlaine
- Loudon Wainwright III
- Tom Waits
- M. Ward
- The Watersons
- Doc Watson
- Lucinda Williams
- Robin Williamson
- Nancy Wilson
- Gabriel Yacoub
- J. D. Crowe & The New South
Music Recorded Live at McCabe's
Many artists have recorded live albums right at McCabe's. In the 1970s, a record company called Takoma Records had offices very close by. They built a recording studio and connected it to McCabe's concert room. This made it easy to record the live shows. These original recordings are now kept safe at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Here are some of the albums that were recorded live at McCabe's:
- Norman Blake: Live at McCabe's (1976)
- Mike Bloomfield: I'm With You Always (Recorded 1977)
- Byron Berline: Live at McCabe's (1978)
- Maria Muldaur: Gospel Nights (1980)
- Ted Hawkins: The Final Tour (1998)
- Townes Van Zandt: Live at McCabe's (Recorded 1995)
- Ralph Stanley: Live at McCabe's Guitar Shop 2-11-01
- Tom Paxton: Live at McCabe's Guitar Shop (Recorded 1991)
- Henry Rollins: Live at McCabe's (Recorded June 1990)
- Robin Williamson: Merry Band's Farewell Concert at McCabe's (Recorded 1979)
- Nancy Wilson (from Heart): Live at McCabe's Guitar Shop (1999)
- Freedy Johnston: Live at McCabe's Guitar Shop (1998)
- John Stewart: Deep in the Neon: Live at McCabe's (1991)
- Chris Smither: Chris Smither Live at McCabe's Guitar Shop 3/14/03
- David Hatfield: David Hatfield Live at McCabe's (2003)
- Lyle Ritz & Herb Ohta: A Night of Ukulele Jazz Live at McCabe's (Recorded 2000)
- Paul Siebel: Live at McCabe's (1981)
- Batdorf & Rodney: Live at McCabe's 1975
- Gene Clark & Carla Olson: Silhouetted In Light
Sometimes, recordings made by fans at McCabe's have become very popular. For example, some songs from a 1987 R.E.M. show were later officially released. Also, Bruce Springsteen once joined John Wesley Harding on stage to sing a song, and that performance later appeared on one of Harding's albums.
John Hiatt also played many songs from his famous album "Bring the Family" at McCabe's before he even recorded the album. The person who booked the shows at McCabe's, John Chelew, even produced that album!
