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THE COCAINE is a close-knit family of musicians and artists. Simple.

We differ from other artist communities, however, in that we take up residence at a venue in Los Angeles, California’s Little Tokyo called 2nd Street Jazz, and every Saturday, we turn a little jazz club into a bomb-shelter for DIY musicians and artists who are weathered and nearly crushed by the Los Angeles scene.

Because The Cocaine is a family of sorts, and not a business, it relies on good hearts, good times, and good friends. We believe that art is a manner of expression, and we refuse to let artists be reduced to mere commodities. And in order to become part of the family, we need you to believe that you, too, are not just a number.

The Cocaine is not a club or a clique. It’s not a business venture. It’s not a way to become popular. If there’s anything we have come to believe by taking up shelter in a jazz club, it’s that the jazz ethic needs to be reborn in other genres of music. We need musicians to realize that it’s not how many heads you put in the crowd; it’s not how fast you can shred a fretboard; it’s not how many CDs you can sell; it’s not even getting more sets of ears to listen to what you’ve created. What counts is getting on stage and participating in the raw humanity and euphoric catharsis in artistic expression. What counts is getting that expression to connect artists with the audience.

What counts is the music, not the business.

So while the industry crumbles before our eyes, come and hang out with us. Refresh yourself with a drink. Refuel yourself with some grub.

And above all, let us help you remember why you fell in love with turning the volume up in the first place.