The Caravan — A San Jose Underground Music Institution

I was born and raised in San Jose, and my city and music were my life. I would always be in the streets, dancing, playing, going to shows whenever there was one. I loved it all. The problem was that San Jose didn't support the growth of local music. The scene was very underground and left alone. You could catch a show a couple of times a month, maybe three. There is a noticable lack of venues for the talent San Jose could be offering, and that lack of opportunity has fueled other issues as well.

I had moved to L.A. and came back to San Jose, excited to help foster the music scene. But I came home to find out all the bands I knew had broken up or moved on. All of the venues I knew of had shut down, and everyone I knew that played had other obligations or new dreams in mind. The underground scene in San Jose had, and still tends, to eat itself alive, as there has always been a cancer-like presence of jealousy and hate going on. To me, it seemed like the underground music scene was fading away. But I just had to dig a little deeper to find that it still had a pulse.

There were still people out there trying to keep it alive and a handful of venues that supported the local scene, and I'm dedicating this story to one in particular.

This is my story for the Caravan Dive Bar, one of the last establishments in our city where you can see local underground bands, as well as bands from abroad. Genres from all corners of the rock world come to play there — punk, hardcore, indie, metal, grind, thrash, alternative, rockabilly, psychobilly, surf, reggae rock, and just good old fashioned rock and roll. If I've missed any genre that played at The Caravan, let me describe it this way — it's basically any band looking for exposure or a chance to play for a live audience at no cost, which means any band can book a show.

The Caravan Dive Bar is located near the heart of Downtown San Jose on the corner of S. Almaden and San Fernando, a block south of the Blank Club, and just west of Chicago Pizza. It may seem a little sketchy to some at first being that it’s on the corner of two dead, barely lit streets, but this dive bar is nothing short of a good time — cheap cold drinks, a friendly atmosphere, and free live bands every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.

The fact that The Caravan is a bar means that you do have to be at least 21 to get in the place. That goes for your band as well. If you or your band mates don’t meet the age requirement, you won’t be able to play. It does sound pretty extreme especially if a band has members under 21, but just know it's only so the City won’t have any excuses to shut the place down. Aside from a few others, underage drinking is one of the main reasons San Jose’s past venues got shut down. But regardless of the age limit, the bar is always filled with an awesome and very diverse crowd of people, even more so on the nights they have bands.

Potentially, there can be up to nine bands per week, maybe more depending on the occasion. With that many bands and no cover charge, everybody wins! The bar gets full so a lot of drinks are being sold; bands get a chance to play and maybe sell a few tapes or CDs and the exposure they came for. Best of all, the people who showed up to support the bands or just came to have a drink can look forward to having a good time, which there always is at The Caravan.

Since the loss of popular San Jose venues such as The Cactus Club, Luna’s Mufflers, The Gas Lighter, The Cave, and Shady Acres, there are few venues if any for local bands to play in San Jose. The bar Johnny V's throws shows occasionally for local punk and hip-hop artists with a small cover charge at the door. Anyone willing enough to have shows in their homes are an alternative way that bands have been able to play in the past few years. The House of the Dead Rat, a house in West Side San Jose that allows shows, deserves recognition for their hospitality and dedication to this movement. Some local punks use every resource they have. They can be found throwing shows at restaurants, record stores, community centers, a warehouse, or anywhere else they can get a chance to play. But The Caravan is an institution, one of the last remaining of San Jose’s music scene.

So for The Caravan to open their doors for the underground rock scene like they have been means a lot to me and I am sure many others. It's like a breath of fresh air knowing there’s still a place I can go every week to see a show with my friends — a show where I don't have to worry about the neighbors calling the cops or anyone getting left out because of the cover charge. I have to give much love and respect to The Caravan, all the bartenders, bouncers, bands, and patrons making it all happen. Thank you. And a message to my community: we have to start showing more support for our local artists and bands. Go to shows, buy a CD or a t-shirt. Just telling a friend can be a huge support.

If we're ever going to make it as city, we have to come together. The only way we can make it is by helping each other come up. When that happens, it will benefit the community as a whole, and who knows? Maybe it will bring enough of us together to open some new all age venues. It’s all up to us, San Jose.