Deep End Live brings a new music vibe to Redondo Beach Pier – Daily Breeze

The South Bay has a new live music option with the opening of Deep End Live on the Redondo Beach Pier.

While a few private events have already been hosted at the venue, with more to come, Deep End Live won’t officially open until the middle of May, according to its partners, Joe P. Smith, Brent Reger and Daryl Swensson.

The hope of opening a new music venue — similar to joints like Brixton, Concerts By the Sea and Humphrey’s Underground, which created their own vibes over the decades — started around the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, Smith said.

“We had this dream, but with the uncertainty of COVID and everything that was going on in the world at the time, this was a huge nut to take on,” Smith said. “So we got cold feet a little bit, and we were kind of buried in building the Project Barley brand at the same time. So we didn’t want to divert from that.”

But when Saint Rocke in Hermosa Beach had early success when it reopened in early 2023, the partners thought, “there’s a spot for us.”

“I think we can kind of fit into a different niche versus what they were doing, and started looking at this place again, and it ended up coming back up for lease,” Smith said. “So we started talking about it and pulled the trigger.”

The location, 100 Fisherman’s Wharf, features two rooms: a 4,000-square-foot space, which holds 234 people, is currently open and operating, while an approximately 6,000-square-foot location holding 400, will open in the future, Smith said.

Reger said his band Barley, which was founded in 2010, had its first album release party at the smaller room and also played on the same bill with ’90s hitmakers Gin Blossoms and Everclear in the larger room.

Project Barley Brewery and Pizzeria opened in Lomita in 2019, and was followed by Project Barley Taps and Grill in Redondo Beach in 2021 and Project Barley Square in Torrance in 2023.

“I got involved in 2021 when I partnered with Project Barley to build Pizza Kraft in the adjacent space,” Smith said, “which included a pass-through to the Brewery to serve the patrons of Project Barley and the local community.”

Swensson and his Presence Productions have produced events like the New Year’s Eve Celebration at Samba in Redondo Beach where popular bands like Cubensis played.

Reger, who first came on as an adviser  but eventually became a partner in Deep End Live, said they have a goal of “saving music in the South Bay.”

When they took over the spot, Reger said, it was 95% ready to go, and many of the renovations done by the previous tenant were in place.

Some construction work had to be done, and they needed new sound and light systems and had to install a new a security system, among other improvements.

“You’re going to have security guards out front,” Smith said, “and we’re going to create a safe environment so people feel that way.”

In terms of the music, their goal is to “pursue the biggest national acts that we can possible get here,” Smith said.

“We will sprinkle in some tributes and we will still support local bands,” Smith added. “Opening acts will typically be local, smaller bands.”

There will be live music to entertain early in the evening, Smith said, followed by a nightclub vibe beginning at 11 p.m. with DJs until closing.