Coffee Gallery Backstage Stage to Be Resurrected at South Pasadena’s Eclectic Music Festival – Pasadena Weekendr

Bob Stane stands on the Coffee Gallery Backstage stage in its glory days [Michael Garcia/Contributor]

When Bob Stane closed his beloved Coffee Gallery Backstage in Altadena last spring after a 25-year run, colleagues organized a sale of the venerated 49-seat listening room’s contents. Everything from the lights and microphones to the tables, chairs and even the stage itself had to go.

Now, that stage will serve its purpose once again on April 27 as part of the Eclectic Music Festival.

Brad Colerick, a South Pasadena musician, is organizing a tribute to Stane and the Coffee Gallery Backstage at Mamma’s Brick Oven, where the venue’s original stage will be reassembled against the side wall to host performances by several artists who graced it over the years. A lighted gold star and wooden CGB sign from last year’s sale will also be present, and Colerick hopes to create a poster or backdrop evoking the Coffee Gallery Backstage’s distinctive plantation ambiance.

“I touched base with Bob and got his blessing for this,” Colerick said, according to an article in The SouthPasadenan.com. He considers Stane a mentor. “I’m calling it the ‘Mamma’s Backstage.’ Charles Nestle will be on the soundboard and hopefully dimming the lights in Bob Stane fashion.”

The dimming of the lights was a signature touch of Stane’s during shows at the Coffee Gallery Backstage. He was also known for personally greeting audience members at the door and delivering dry, witty introductions for the artists from his perch by the soundboard.

For a quarter century, the Coffee Gallery Backstage played a vital role in the greater Pasadena area’s acoustic music scene, showcasing both rising and established acts. Tucked away behind the Coffee Gallery cafe next to a neighborhood barbershop, the quirky but inviting space drew an eclectic mix of performers, from local singer-songwriters to touring Americana artists and music legends.

The club’s stage welcomed memorable nights from the likes of Phoebe Bridgers, John McEuen of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, former Byrd Chris Hillman, and many others over the years. It also provided a launch pad for artists on the verge of bigger success, such as Allison Russell, who performed there with the band Po’ Girl before her Grammy-nominated solo career took off.

“It’s going to be a really special day at Mamma’s celebrating the great times so many of us experienced at Bob’s venue,” Colerick said. “I’m thrilled to bring a bit of that Coffee Gallery Backstage magic to the Eclectic this year.”

The tribute performances at Mamma’s Brick Oven Pizza & Pasta, located at 1007 Fair Oaks Ave. in South Pasadena, will kick off at 4:15 p.m. with the harmonizing singer-songwriters of Powdercoat, followed by Ed Tree and Cynthia Brando at 5:15 p.m., Joel Rafael at 6:15 p.m., the trio JaKL at 7:15 p.m., and The Salty Suites at 8:15 p.m. Comedian and musician Owen Dara will serve as host.

In October, Colerick will celebrate the 15th anniversary of Wine & Song, a weekly songwriter series he launched in South Pasadena in 2009 and currently hosts at the Lost Parrot Café.

While the Coffee Gallery Backstage may be gone, the bonds and sense of community it fostered between artists and audiences remain.

For Colerick, celebrating that legacy and keeping its spirit alive, if only for an afternoon, promises to be a highlight of this year’s Eclectic Music Festival.

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