Ian Hill
Record Staff Writer
Published Monday, Sep 11, 2006

Stockton -A local music landmark is set to reopen with a new musical philosophy.

The Blackwater Cafe, 912 N. Yosemite St., will offer acoustic-based music, jazz, blues and rock beginning Friday, owner Linda Frontz said. Under its previous owners, the Booth family, the 25-year-old storefront cafe had been the home of Stockton's punk scene, and it often hosted hardcore bands and some rock musicians.

The Booth family closed the cafe in January after struggling with finances and city regulations. Frontz, who wouldn't give her age, said the Blackwater's music has to fit its small size and location, which is adjacent to homes on North Stockton Street.

"We have to stay a little more eclectic," Frontz said. Performers for the cafe's first Weekend will include members of Stockton rockers New Clear Days and jazz groups the Arlyn Anderson Quartet and the Stockton Jazz Collective. Canadian comedy-folkster Mr. Plow will play the Blackwater Sept. 26.
 

"I love music - all kinds... I love to watch new musicians grow and develop a style," said Frontz, who lives near the Blackwater and has worked part-time at the cafe in the past. "Music defines emotion. It's kind of what brings color to life."

Some Blackwater shows will be organized by longtime Stockton promoter Middagh Goodwin, 39, who also schedules bands for the Stockton Empire Theatre on Pacific Avenue. Goodwin said the Blackwater's small 49-person capacity and neighborhood location makes it a good venue for "jazzy, acoustic mellow stuff," while the Empire's 300-person capacity better suits louder rock bands.

Other Stockton music fans and musicians agreed and praised Frontz for wanting to bring a variety of live music here.

"There's so much music out there. Why limit yourself? Why narrow your field to one specific thing when there's so much?" said Molly Magee, 23.

Brian Clark, 30, added that acoustic and jazz musicians could return the Blackwater back to its roots. He will be among the performers this Weekend at the cafe.

The Blackwater hosted folk musicians and had a bohemian coffeehouse atmosphere when Robert Heggen opened it in 1981. In 2003, the Booths became its fourth owners, holding punk shows that at times would pack the cafe with more than 100 people.

City officials ordered the Blackwater to stop hosting music in 2005 when they realized it did not have a permit for live entertainment. More than 880 local residents, music fans and musicians signed petitions urging city officials to back off, and the Booths eventually Were granted a permit limiting its capacity to 49.

Stockton's "Mohawk" Mike Gowan, 31, organized many of the Blackwater's punk concerts. He said the shows gave the cafe an identity that drew fans and customers.

"There's just something about a punk show - (the fans are) a family. I don't see that happening any other place," said former Blackwater patron Cyndi Maloney, 50, of Lodi.

If Frontz wants to be successful, she should work to develop her own identity for the cafe, Gowan said. He added that booking artists from different genres will help bring in a variety of music fans and support the business.

The Blackwater was one of three rock music venues to close in Stockton early this year, as the Bull 'n' Bear Pub and Sutter Street Cafe also shut down. There Were no venues that regularly hosted rock shows in Stockton this spring.

The Empire began hosting rock this summer, while the Amaraen Cafe on Pacific Avenue and Torino's on Sutter Street downtown now also feature live rock.

Contact reporter Ian Hill at (209) 943-8571 or ihill@recordnet.com. Visit his blog at online.recordnet.com/blogs/blogs.php.