By Mandy Keller
By day, 6th Ave Studios is a quaint little building amidst the abandoned Fort Ord buildings, a short walk from the Cal State Monterey Bay campus. But by night, it erupts into a lively venue for all music lovers, from hardcore punk shows to DJ sets to karaoke nights.
What originated as a space for starting up businesses in the community has flourished into a hub for creatives of all kinds. What was originally thought as just a fun place to go to shows, the layers behind the purpose of the studio peel back after speaking with the studio’s owner, Peter Said.
Said is an entrepreneur looking to be a starting point for upcoming businesses and creative endeavors. “The purpose of what I’m doing here is primarily to provide an incubation space for the arts and entertainment,” said Said.
Said leased and remodeled the former military building in 2022. Then, in collaboration with Team SB Promotions, they put on their first Battle of the Bands on Jan. 1, 2024. The show was a success according to Said, with a lineup of local bands, including Squidbrain, The Dead Cassettes, Apricot Court, and Asilomar. “They just blew this place up,” Said said.
Mandy Keller|Bands that have played 6th Ave
The New Year’s show was a turning point for 6th Avenue Studios because it led Said and his team to workshop even more ideas for what the studio could become. After working out the legalities and investing in a high-end sound system, they have been hosting some popular underground bands in California.
Shows cost $7 with a student ID, compared to well over $30 for any other local venue. The space has a capacity of 130 people, as well as a parking lot behind the studio. Shows are held fairly regularly with events happening at least once every week. It varies between a club scene with a DJ, a rock show with live musicians and a monthly karaoke night.
Additionally, anyone is welcome to rent the space to bring any creative idea alive. The studio values family, honesty and integrity above all else according to Said and strives to create a safe space open to new ideas. “There are people coming through here with great ideas on a consistent basis,” Said added.
Bands can rent the space as a practice spot, photographers and videographers can rent the equipment and space for a shoot. There is also a spot on their website where livestreams of the shows are shared online to reach a larger audience. Anyone who wants to find local underground music that’s not on Spotify, 6th Ave is the place to look.
The shows that take place are only a part of what the studio has to offer, but the shows are what’s blowing up right now. They bring in a steady fanbase of people who love to discover new music, according to Said.
“This place speaks to people,” said Said, “and I love the fact that they’re here, a part of what’s going on and bringing that energy to the shows.”
Address: 4420 6th Avenue, Seaside, CAInstagram: 6th_ave_studios