McCabe's Guitar Shop
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Musical instrument retail, live music venue |
| Founded | 1958 |
| Founder | Gerald L. McCabe |
| Headquarters | Santa Monica, California , United States |
| Products | Acoustic and folk instruments (guitars, banjos, mandolins, dulcimers, fiddles, ukuleles, psaltries, bouzoukis, sitars, ouds, percussion instruments) |
| Website | www |
McCabe's Guitar Shop operates as both a retailer of musical instruments and a live performance venue, situated on Pico Boulevard in Santa Monica, California. Established in 1958 by Gerald L. McCabe, originally a furniture designer, the business focuses primarily on acoustic and folk instruments, including guitars, banjos, mandolins, dulcimers, fiddles, ukuleles, psaltries, bouzoukis, sitars, ouds, and various traditional percussion instruments. Since 1969, McCabe's has gained recognition as a prominent location for folk music concerts.
Concerts at McCabe's
The concert space at McCabe's is characterized by a simple aesthetic; performances take place in a rear room decorated with an array of vintage string instruments. In 2008, Los Angeles Magazine listed McCabe's among the city’s premier cultural venues, noting its ability to compete effectively with larger establishments such as the Hollywood Bowl. According to the Los Angeles Times, the venue offers "an achingly intimate room" for top-tier guitar performances west of the 405 Freeway. With a capacity for approximately 150 attendees, McCabe's functions both as a retail outlet and a respected site for live music events.
The first concert at McCabe's was held in 1969 as a benefit organized by Mike Seeger to support Elizabeth Cotton’s travel costs following the cancellation of an engagement. The event featured artists including Bryndle, Karla Bonoff, Andrew Gold, Kenny Edwards, and an opening set by Jackson Browne. This concert inaugurated McCabe's dual identity as both a store and a live music venue.
Ownership later passed to Robert and Esperanza Riskin; Robert is the son of actress Fay Wray and screenwriter Robert Riskin. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Riskins retired in 2020. Presently, their daughter Nora McGraw and her husband Walt McGraw oversee operations. After a pandemic-induced pause, concerts recommenced in 2022.
Performers
Over the years, McCabe's has hosted an extensive roster of influential musicians across various genres, underscoring its significant role within the music industry and its broad market appeal. The venue’s distinguished lineup highlights its competitive stature in the live performance sector:
- Mose Allison
- Altan
- Dave Alvin
- Chet Atkins
- Ginger Baker
- Beck
- The Blind Boys of Alabama
- Frank Black
- Michael Bloomfield
- Paul Brady
- Jackson Browne
- T Bone Burnett
- J. J. Cale
- John Cale
- Capercaillie
- Lori Carson
- Martin Carthy
- Peter Case
- Clannad
- Shawn Colvin
- Cowboy Junkies
- Steve Earle
- Fairport Convention
- Vince Gill
- Arlo Guthrie
- PJ Harvey
- Richie Havens
- John Hiatt
- Dan Hicks
- Chris Hillman
- Jefferson Starship
- Neil Innes
- Bert Jansch
- Taj Mahal
- Ray Manzarek
- Aimee Mann
- Joni Mitchell
- Maria Muldaur
- Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
- Laura Nyro
- Maura O’Connell
- Old Blind Dogs
- Van Dyke Parks
- Tom Paxton
- Pentangle
- Liz Phair
- R.E.M.
- Linda Ronstadt
- Martin Sexton
- Michelle Shocked
- Spinal Tap
- Sun Ra
- June Tabor
- They Might Be Giants
- Richard Thompson
- Tom Waits
- Lucinda Williams
Live at McCabe's: Albums Captured Live at McCabe's
During the mid-1970s, Takoma Records, situated close to McCabe's, established a recording facility equipped with direct audio and video connections to McCabe's sound booth, enabling the capture of live performances. These original recordings now reside within the McCabe's Guitar Shop Collection, housed at the University of North Carolina's Southern Folklife Collection. A variety of musicians have issued live albums recorded at McCabe's, frequently using Takoma Studios from the mid-1970s through the early 1980s, including:
- 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, Takoma Records)
- Ted Hawkins: The Final Tour (1998)
- Townes Van Zandt: Live at McCabe's (1995)
- Ralph Stanley: Live at McCabe's Guitar Shop 2-11-01
- Tom Paxton: Live at McCabe's Guitar Shop (1991)
- Henry Rollins: Live at McCabe's (1990)
- Robin Williamson: Merry Band's Farewell Concert at McCabe's (1979)
- Nancy Wilson (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: Live at McCabe's Guitar Shop 3/14/03
- David Hatfield: Live at McCabe's (2003)
- Lyle Ritz & Herb Ohta: A Night of Ukulele Jazz Live at McCabe's (2000)
- Paul Siebel: Live at McCabe's (1981)
- Batdorf & Rodney: Live at McCabe's 1975
- Gene Clark & Carla Olson - Silhouetted In Light
In 1975, pianist George Winston recorded "Blues in G" during a session at McCabe's, which was later included as a bonus track on his debut album. A widely circulated bootleg exists from R.E.M.'s 1987 show, with some performances officially issued as B-sides.
A memorable moment includes Bruce Springsteen joining John Wesley Harding onstage for "Wreck on the Highway," featured on Harding’s release. Both audience and soundboard recordings are common, highlighted by a notable 1993 T Bone Burnett performance that included Maria McKee and renditions such as Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You."
John Hiatt used several concerts at McCabe’s to introduce songs from his critically acclaimed album Bring the Family. Produced by then-booker John Chelew and recorded over four days, this album became Hiatt’s most recognized work, exemplifying how McCabe’s has been instrumental in nurturing key artistic collaborations and advancing music industry ventures.
Gerald McCabe
Gerald McCabe, born in Long Beach, California in 1927, was the visionary entrepreneur who founded McCabe's Guitar Shop. After graduating from Long Beach Polytechnic High School, he served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He completed his undergraduate studies at UCLA and earned a master's degree from Cal State Long Beach.
In 1958, he launched McCabe's Guitar Shop, which became a prominent establishment both for musical instrument sales and as a folk music venue. In 1986, he sold the business to pursue a career in furniture design. Following an Alzheimer's disease diagnosis in 2004, he moved to Eugene, Oregon to be closer to family. He passed away in 2010 at age 82 due to cardiac arrest.
McCabe’s strategic leadership and entrepreneurial insight were key factors in developing a respected brand with enduring influence within the music retail sector.
Further reading
External links
- Official website of McCabe's
- Yelp page for McCabe's Guitar Shop
- KCRW feature: Celebrating 50 Years of McCabe's
- Bob Riskin Interview NAMM Oral History Program (2013)