<\/p>\n
The South Bay has a new live music option with the opening of Deep End Live on the Redondo Beach Pier.<\/p>\n
While a few private events have already been hosted at the venue, with more to come, Deep End Live won\u2019t officially open until the middle of May, according to its partners, Joe P. Smith, Brent Reger and Daryl Swensson.<\/p>\n
The hope of opening a new music venue \u2014 similar to joints like Brixton, Concerts By the Sea and Humphrey\u2019s Underground, which created their own vibes over the decades \u2014 started around the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, Smith said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe 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,\u201d Smith said. \u201cSo 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\u2019t want to divert from that.\u201d<\/p>\n
But when Saint Rocke in Hermosa Beach had early success when it reopened in early 2023, the partners thought, \u201cthere\u2019s a spot for us.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI 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,\u201d Smith said. \u201cSo we started talking about it and pulled the trigger.\u201d<\/p>\n
The location, 100 Fisherman\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
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 \u201990s hitmakers Gin Blossoms and Everclear in the larger room.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cI got involved in 2021 when I partnered with Project Barley to build Pizza Kraft in the adjacent space,\u201d Smith said, \u201cwhich included a pass-through to the Brewery to serve the patrons of Project Barley and the local community.\u201d<\/p>\n
Swensson and his Presence Productions have produced events like the New Year\u2019s Eve Celebration at Samba in Redondo Beach where popular bands like Cubensis played.<\/p>\n
Reger, who first came on as an adviser\u00a0 but eventually became a partner in Deep End Live, said they have a goal of \u201csaving music in the South Bay.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re going to have security guards out front,\u201d Smith said, \u201cand we\u2019re going to create a safe environment so people feel that way.\u201d<\/p>\n
In terms of the music, their goal is to \u201cpursue the biggest national acts that we can possible get here,\u201d Smith said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will sprinkle in some tributes and we will still support local bands,\u201d Smith added. \u201cOpening acts will typically be local, smaller bands.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n\n
Local favorites like Tomorrows Bad Seeds will hit the stage, as it did on April 1.<\/p>\n
Lead singer Moises \u201cMoi\u201d Juarez said at the Wednesday event that Saint Rocke, which shut down in December<\/a>, \u201cheld its ground\u201d with a tough economy, but he has hopes for the Deep End Live.<\/p>\n \u201cThis seems like a promising venue,\u201d Juarez said. \u201cIt\u2019s going to hold more space in the bigger room which is cool.\u201d<\/p>\n The partners signed a 10-year lease in July, and \u201cwe\u2019re not taking this lightly,\u201d said Smith, adding they live locally and are \u201ccommunity guys.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThis is an important endeavor for us to become part of the fabric of the South Bay,\u201d Smith said.<\/p>\n