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Arts & Entertainment

Dixon Rock Studio Stages Concerts and Provides Alternative Teen Venue

Dixon Rock Studio is providing a venue for local musicians and teenagers who love to watch live music.

The joint was jumpin' last Friday evening at

About 50 teens from Dixon, Vacaville and as far away as Cordelia gathered at the studio to hang with friends and listen to bands that performed that night.

The music ranged, as described by its practitioners, from the heavy-industrial beats of metal, “hardcore,” and thrash to surprisingly melodic “progressive rock.”

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owner Octavio Portugal said he was glad to provide the venue for kids, “because they need a safe and friendly place to get together and enjoy their peers' music.”

Watching the teens “rockin' out,” Portugal said it has been worth all his efforts. In addition to installation of the sound system, re-wiring the former light industrial masonry building, adjusting the acoustics of the DRS performance space (installing three-inch-thick foam insulation tiles on the walls and ceiling), Portugal took the time to give a presentation to the Dixon Planning Commission in December 2009.

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The Commissioners heard him out at their regular December meeting. Neighbors had been contacted concerning the addition of a rock concert venue in their midst, but there were no objections. Members of the Family Christian Center next door asked that music not be performed during worship services –Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings. Portugal agreed to these conditions.

Based on his presentation, the Planning Commission then unanimously approved a “conditional use permit” for Dixon Rock Studio, and a change in zoning at its location from “light industrial” to “light commercial.”

Since then Portugal said there have been no complaints regarding musical rehearsals or performances at his venue. Walking away from DRS along North Adams Street during a concert, you'll notice the noise level drops virtually to nothing within 75 to 100 feet.

Portugal said he was first inspired to explore the possibility of opening his studio because his sons, members of the Dixon-based band Rock'N Angels, needed a stress-free place to rehearse. (Rock'N Angels have played such notable events as Dixon May Fair, and Grillin' and Chillin'.)

“They'd rehearse out in the garage and tried hard to keep the noise down, but there'd be calls to police, who'd come out and tell us we had to keep it down even more,” Portugal said.

In fact, Portugal says he talked over the idea of opening his own venue with Dixon Police officers, who tried to offer helpful suggestions when they would come out to his house in response to calls from neighbors.

Friday night, there were no complaints from the teens who filled the long, low-ceilinged DRS performance space about as wide as a two-car garage. The bands – Robot Romance, Your Second Chance, Wonderland Syndrome and Beyond The Cemetery – played crowd-pleasing (to judge by the number of kids out on the dance floor), mostly original tunes.

Aside from the tunes, the atmosphere was friendly and positive, with kids socializing, debating the merits of various musical genres and catching up on happenings at rival high schools between sets.

A smaller contingent of parents also turned out. Dixon parent Vanessa Parrish said she liked being able to drop in, shoot some video on her cell phone, “and basically see what my kids are up to, you know.”

Portugal said that he plans on expanding his concert schedule. Musicians interested in performing or rehearsing can call him during normal business hours. Dixon Rock Studio also sells amplifiers, drum kits, guitars, picks and more.

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