Uptown

Larry Trujillo, Zero Magazine’s Publisher and Editor-in-Chief, took on the club after its recent owners let it go. He sees a niche in the area that The Uptown could fulfill.
After waiting for the club to go through escrow, he and his team worked to get the nightclub remodeled and ready to rock. “Tonight is literally the first time I have seen it all put together. We have been working night and day, up until the last second,” said Trujillo of the reopening show, which featured San Francisco Bay Area indie rock locals Birdmonster, The Morning Benders, The Mumlers, and Poor Bailey.
Two newly remolded rooms upstairs in the club are now open to the public and feature black leather couches, balcony style views and semi-private seating nooks, full of plush pillows, possibly there to sneak a make-out session. As far as the ambiance, Trujillo likens The Uptown to its’ sister club, The Blank Club in San Jose, which Trujillo also owns and operates.
The Uptown was like a well divided household with a “kitchen” AKA the bar on one side, another adjacent room, “the family room” a decent sized stage, a surprisingly large “backyard” AKA the smoking area and an upstairs “master bedroom” AKA the lounge, with a smaller bar area.
San Francisco alternative radio station Live 105 (KITS 105.3FM) also presented the reopening. Music director Aaron Axelsen creator of the radio show Soundcheck, was at the event. Intent on discovering up-and-coming musicians, Soundcheck has a distinctive focus on SF Bay Area bands, and Axelsen came to the East Bay venue to support the nights undertaking, “I grew up in the East Bay going to places like Gilman,” said Axelsen.
Axelsen feels it’s important to support local venues especially in the East Bay were there isn’t a plethora of activities for kids to choose from. Axelsen has his finger on the pulse of virtually dozens of SF and beyond local bands including Minipop who played a studio session last Sunday on Soundcheck.
Axelsen feels clubs like The Uptown are vital for new music and hopes to see more clubs popping up all over the East Bay. “The East Bay club scene has been stagnant lately. Hopefully The Uptown can rekindle the flourishing underground warehouse venues that were happening before. I feel this venue harnesses that sprit. The Uptown has that serendipitous nature.”
The demand for music venues outside of San Francisco seems to outweigh the number of hot spots that do exist- making the reopening of The Uptown even more intriguing to residents of the East Bay.
Vincenzo P. Mantooth from San Leandro, had been to The Uptown before the reopening and was pleased with the changes. “They are much friendlier now. As far as customer service goes they seem more attentive,” said Mantooth.
As many of the opening nights attendees had not been to a show at The Uptown so for them this was a night of excitement and possibly new beginnings.
You might find yourself winding up at The Uptown in the near future, catching an indie band and finding that the local music scene does exists beyond the Bay Bridge.
The Uptown Nightclub is located at 1928 Telegraph Ave, Oakland. For more information on upcoming shows visit www.uptownnightclub.com.