Spaceland was an alternative rock/indie rock nightclub in the Silver Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, that existed between 1995 and 2011. The club was formerly a popular disco to young locals called Dreams of LA. Spaceland's owner announced the end of the venue in late 2010, with the space continuing to operate under the new name The Satellite.
History The list of acts who have played Spaceland is quite long, ranging from veteran performers from the 1960s and 1970s like Arthur Lee and The Dictators to current major acts such as Supergrass, Jet, and The White Stripes. It was very important in establishing the Silver Lake scene.
Spaceland is considered "home" for many bands in the so-called Silver Lake "scene" over the years, including Silversun Pickups, 400 Blows, Pine Marten, Radar Bros., The 88, Biblical Proof of UFOs, Patrick Park, etc. The club features as the setting for the fictional band Munchausen By Proxy (lead singer Zooey Deschanel) in the 2008 Jim Carrey movie Yes Man. One of the final bands to play there is the New York Dolls, where they performed a rousing rendition of Bo Diddley's Pills. Photographer Kevin McCarty, in what is described as "advocacy criticism," featured the venue of the Spaceland in a series titled The Chameleon Club. A photo of the stage of the Spaceland, and other empty gay bars, appears in José Esteban Muñoz book Cruising Utopia.
Alternative comedian Neil Hamburger held a regular show at Spaceland the last Sunday of every month, inviting both mainstream (Tom Green, Tim and Eric, Paul F. Tompkins) and obscure acts to perform with him. The show continues at the venue under its new management.
After 17 years, Spaceland came to an end in late 2010 when owner Mitchell Frank decided to open a new space that would focus more on dance and electronic music. Frank's Spaceland Productions would continue to book shows at The Echo/Echoplex complex. Meanwhile, the space at 1717 Silverlake Blvd continued as an indie rock venue in 2011 under the name The Satellite, with shows being booked by former Spaceland booker Jennifer Tefft.
Spaceland recordings Spaceland Recordings occasionally published live albums recorded at the club.
Live albums The Drones - Live in Spaceland - February, 2007 White Rabbits - Live [In Spaceland - June 13, 2007] Liam Finn - Live in Spaceland - February 22, 2008 Self - Live @ Spaceland (Acoustic) - April, 2008 Darker My Love - Mondays in Spaceland, 2006
Notable performers
The 88 (Monday, July 22, 2002) The Abe Lincoln Story 400 Blows Air Traffic The Airborne Toxic Event Allegro Arcade Fire (Tuesday, December 7, 2004) Arctic Monkeys At the Drive-In Amy Winehouse Babyland (Monday, May 5, 2003) The Bangles Sept 2000 Beck Bell Gardens (Friday, March 26, 2010) Bad Poetry Minute Biblical Proof of UFOs (Thursday, June 20, 2002) Bigelf (Thursday, May 13, 2004) The Bravery The Brian Jonestown Massacre Burning Brides (Monday, February 28, 2005) The Business Machines (Thursday, April 8, 2004) Capsula Cake Cibo Matto The Clientele Creeper Lagoon Damo Suzuki and Mikael Karoli Death Cab for CutieDaniel Lanois The Decemberists Deftones Dinosaur Jr The Dismemberment Plan The Drones Elliott Smith Extra Fancy Fastball Ferdinand Fiction Company (Sept. 19, 2010) Fleet Foxes The Fling Fluorescein Fitz and the Tantrums (2009) Fojimoto (Wednesday, November 3, 2003) Foo Fighters Frank Black Fu Manchu Furry Things The Fuzztones George Ellias (Tuesday, June 24, 2009) Guided by Voices The Hi-Fives Hopewell Icebird JJ Paradise Players Club James (Saturday, June 6, 2008) John Fahey Julian Casablancas (Tuesday, November 3, 2009) Jurassic 5 KaitO The Killers Komeda Kryptonite Nixon Kittens for Christian (Thursday, April 8, 2004) Lady Gaga (Dive Bar Tour) Les Savy Fav Local Natives Lutefisk Mala Leche Malcolm Mooney Mark Ronson Miss Spiritual Tramp of 1948 Modest Mouse Mudhoney Nebula The Negro Problem Neutral Milk Hotel Of Montreal Orange Goblin (Thursday, May 13, 2004) Or, The Whale (Friday, May 28, 2010) Patrick Park (Monday, January 20, 2003) Pine Marten (Friday, May 23, 2003) Pavement Pleasure Forever (Friday, March 1, 2002) Popular Girl Possum Dixon ? and the Mysterians (August 29, 1998) Quasi R.L Burnside Radar Bros. (Friday, May 23, 2003) The Raveonettes The Red Aunts The Rentals Richard Sinclair (February 29, 2004 leap year!) Rilo Kiley Rivulets (Friday, May 23, 2003) Rocket from the Crypt The Rogers Sisters (Monday, January 20, 2003) Rubyfish Scarling. Self Seneca Hawk Shiner The Shins Six Volt Sunbeam The Thrills (Wednesday November 7, 2007) Shack (Tuesday, September 26, 2003) Silversun Pickups (Monday, July 22, 2002) Skeleteen Soviet (August, 2003) The Smiths Indeed Snow Patrol Spacehog The Spinto Band Stew (musician) Throwing Muses Totimoshi (Monday, May 5, 2003) Useless Keys V3 Velouria Visionaries VLA Ween Weezer The White Stripes Will Haven (Wednesday, July 23, 2003) Wondermints Yob (Wednesday, July 23, 2003) Zoobombs
See also The Echo
References
External links Spaceland official website Spaceland on MySpace 1995 debut show with Beck, Foo Fighters and Possum Dixon. Spaceland Turns 15: An Oral History Spaceland Interview with Mitchell Frank, regarding 1995 debut with Beck, Foo Fighters and Possum Dixon.