(CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — San Francisco's Mezzanine, a highly successful dance club voted “Best New Club” in 2004 by SF Weekly and “Best Dance Club 2004” by the SF Weekly Reader’s Poll, hosting DJs and occasional live acts, including Fatboy Slim, the Chemical Brothers, Thievery Corporation, DJ Krush, The Crystal Method, Warped Tour, and many others, has undergone a transformation .
Mezzanine (at 444 Jessie Street behind the Mint) will not only be showcasing live and electronic music from all genres – rock, dance, hip hop, soul, jazz, salsa, world beat – but also multimedia art events, fashion shows, and video/film installations. As part of that pattern, Mezzanine is joining forces with the Bay Guardian and the local live music community to host California Homegrown, a concert series aimed at giving young, up-and-coming West Coast artists an opportunityv to showcase their talents in a newly established club.
The recent reconstruction of the 12,000 square foot, 1,000- person capacity space features state-of-the-art production facilities including an elevated permanent stage, a custom-built sound system for both electronic and live music, state-of -the-art lighting technologies, and upscale dressing rooms. For road weary tour personnel there are rainhead showers, private office facilities for tour management, but even more importantly, there’s one-level load-in, with bus and truck parking in the alley directly behind the club.
For the audience, there are five full-service bars, an indoor/outdoor smoking lounge, a 2,000 square foot cushioned dance floor, and four distinctively individualized mezzanine lounges, including a separate glass-enclosed space complete with its own DJ booth, and a new, discreetly positioned VIP area with intimate booths, bottle service, specialty cocktails, and a prime view of the goings-on below.
The club is a project of Martin Building Company, a design and development firm in San Francisco, led by the firm's owner and president, Patrick McNerney. The company’s long-term vision for the area behind the old Mint – itself about to be renovated and turned into a museum – is to develop it as a dynamic pedestrian plaza and arts-related community, combining living, entertainment and exhibition spaces with new bistros and cafes.
McNerney, who is transforming abandoned and decrepit buildings (along 5th and Jessie Streets) into a revitalized, happening neighborhood, has established – and some of Mezzanine’s proceeds will support – the Urban Preservation Foundation, a 501(3) non-profit dedicated to revitalizing the environment and culture of the Mid-Market district, from 5th Street on. UPF sponsors arts-related events in forms that include visual arts, film, fashion, and sound.
Opening week concerts included: DJ AM/Scissors for Lefty (June 3); Marcus Schultz, Gianni, R-Squared=Rooz+Rouzbeh (4);
DJ Phil B., DJ Andy Almighty (5); Martin Luther, Eric Roberson, Black Spade (7); Live 105 BFD Afterparty featuring Sleater-Kinney, Ash, The Bravery, Hot Hot Heat and Kaiser Chiefs (10); Saturday, SF Pride Kick-Off Customer Appreciation Night with Jamie J Sanchez and Luke Johnstone(11); the debut of The Covert Sessions – SF's Secret Music Series featuring the hottest live bands; tickets are free. On occasion, some of the biggest names in alternative and contemporary music will perform.
Upcoming shows include: Alphabet Soup featuring DJ Teeko and DJ Tom Thump (13);
The Star Sapphire Ball featuring Dave Schools, bass (Widespread Panic, Stockholm Syndrome), Eric McFadden, guitar (EMT, Stockholm Syndrome), Mighty Dave Pellicciaro, keys (The Axis Brothers), Paulo Baldi, drums (Cake, Les Claypool), Chris Haugen, guitar (Theressa Anderson), Wally Ingram, percussion (Sheryl Crow), DJ Motion Potion (18); Cidade Negra (23); Moving Units (24);
SF Pride 2005 Wayne G., Chris Cox, DJ Nikita (25);
California Homegrown Music Series (29).
For more information, go to www.mezzaninesf.com. – Jane Cohen and Bob Grossweiner