
today
8:30 a.m. Audubon Society Field Trip See Event Description
read >8:30 a.m. Alzheimer’s Resource Center Volunteer Training See Event Description
read >9 a.m. Arcata Farmers' Market Arcata Plaza
read >9 a.m. Speakers' Symposium College of the Redwoods
read >9 a.m. Humboldt Botanical Gardens Foundation Speakers’ Symposium College of the Redwoods
read >9 a.m. Humboldt Botanical Gardens' Speakers' Symposium College of the Redwoods
read >9 a.m. Fall Rummage Sale Arcata United Methodist Church
read >9:30 a.m. AAUW Meeting See Event Description
read >9:30 a.m. Little River State Beach Restoration See Event Description
read >9:30 a.m. Sierra Club Headwaters Hike See Event Description
read >10 a.m. Lanphere Dunes Guided Walk See Event Description
read >10 a.m. 5th Annual Synergy Fair Arcata Community Center
read >10 a.m. Go Green and Boost Your Bottom Line Wharfinger Building
read >11 a.m. Sustaining Excellence and Enthusiasm in Health, Relationships and Work Carlo Theater (Dell'Arte)
read >noon KEET's Kids Club Morris Graves Museum of Art
read >1:30 p.m. Humboldt County Historical Society Humboldt County Library
read >2 p.m. Arcata Marsh Field Trip Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary Interpretive Center
read >4 p.m. Woodside Preschool’s 36th Wine and Ale Tasting Gala Adorni Recreation Center
read >4:30 p.m. Harvest Dinner and Bazaar Humboldt Grange
read >5 p.m. A Toast to Music Christ Episcopal Church
read >5:30 p.m. Elvis and the Hound Dogs + Stolen Taxi Trinidad Town Hall
read >6 p.m. The Tumbleweeds Chapala Cafe
read >6 p.m. Arts Alive! Various Locations
read >6 p.m. Day of the Dead Exhibition Ink People Center for the Arts
read >6 p.m. Bar None 10th Anniversary Eureka Labor Temple
read >6 p.m. Randy Spicer Piante Gallery
read >6 p.m. Gallery Open for Arts Alive! Four Paths Gallery and Studio
read >6:30 p.m. ShinBone (Blues R&B) Eureka Theater
read >7 p.m. Mike Craighead and Sari Baker Old Town Coffee & Chocolates
read >7 p.m. Harvest Concert Arcata Presbyterian Church
read >7 p.m. 2 Left Feet Dance Project Redwood Raks World Dance Studio
read >7:30 p.m. Joe & Me Cafe Mokka
read >7:30 p.m. Cyrano de Begerac Eureka High School Auditorium
read >7:30 p.m. Torch Song Summit Eureka Women's Club
read >7:30 p.m. Jeff DeMark and the LaPatinas Westhaven Center for the Arts
read >8 p.m. Stones in His Pockets Arcata Playhouse
read >8 p.m. Humboldt Bay Brass Band Fulkerson Recital Hall at HSU
read >9 p.m. Synergy Six Rivers Brewery
read >9 p.m. Arts Alive! with Akaboom Sound Pearl Lounge
read >9 p.m. Tempest WAVE @ blue lake casino
read >9 p.m. Back In The Daze Dance Party Central Station Cocktail Lounge
read >9 p.m. Swingin' Country Band (country) Bear River Casino
read >9 p.m. The Zygoats + Alder Camp (rock) The Lil' Red Lion
read >9 p.m. DJ Knutz (funk) Muddy's Hot Cup
read >10 p.m. Music by DJ Sidelines
read >10 p.m. DJ Icy Hot Aunty Mo's Lounge
read >10 p.m. These United States (indie folk) Humboldt Brews
read >11 p.m. Hellbound Glory The Alibi Lounge and Restaurant
read >previous columns
Feb. 19, 2009
Witness Recounts Stabbing
If Barbara Groom hadn't been craving a pint of Häagen ...
read >Feb. 12, 2009
Global Warming Win
Well, all of you sniggerers who like to put down ...
read >Feb. 5, 2009
Broadband Disconnect
When it comes to bringing our rural nooks and crannies ...
read >The Music Man
By Julianna Boggs
Squeezed between a barred-up Two Street Music and the typically dodgy Eureka Rescue Mission, stepping into the bustling and well-lit space of the Livella Studios grand opening party Friday night was a great relief. Dark and drizzling outside, the antechamber provided a burst of warmth and light, a collection of large, glossy paintings hanging from the walls as artist Christina Swingdler buzzed proudly around greeting newcomers at the door. Beyond this, a room with a white-clothed table sagged under the weight of free food and drink.
Complete with bread, cheese and gourmet nacho fixings, there's something to be said for providing good food. Entering a place on an empty stomach can be a harrowing experience, narrowing your perception of the event at hand to simply "with or without food" by which we then determine "good or bad." Once sated, however, an individual is at ease to look around and analyze his or her environment with more sophisticated criteria, such as the cleanliness of the bathroom or the ability of the establishment to provide affordable, high-quality sound production and studio space for rent by the hour, which Livella certainly does.
Sitting across from founder Jared Nivella in a wood-paneled sound booth built for vocalists, he excitedly describes some of the purposes the studio will serve. Music production, of course, but also commercial audio production, backline rental, a rotating gallery space up front and music lessons, especially for kids. As we talk, Nivella's older brother Michael listens in, smiling amiably from the door frame, and moments later Jared's 10-year-old nephew darts in to ask where the drumsticks are hidden; a secret which is not divulged. "The whole place is a family affair," he smiles.
Having lived in Humboldt County for 10 years, this is not Nivella's first experience running a studio. Beginning in Kneeland, Jared co-founded Smokey Ridge Productions with friend and fellow musician Denis Karlson in 1998. After a move to Eureka some years later left him with considerably less space, he founded E-Box studio in his bedroom, where he was able to produce his first album under the moniker Astroid Advocate. Another move and small apartment later, Nivella was offered the dingy space formerly known as the Two Street Music Studio. "It was really sterile, but we decided to go for it. The main thing that had to be fixed was the lighting, especially to set the mood and warm the space. We wanted this to be a place where people felt comfortable enough to create," Nivella says, pointing out the recessed track-lights illuminating the honey-colored, wood wall panels and forest green tapestries hung presumably to dampen the sound.
"Having this space is a real gift because it brings our services into the public, whereas before, the circumstances of our location made it all private," Nivella says, his brother solemnly nodding along. "It's so important to create and support each other," Nivella emphasizes, "especially as local musicians. We want to use this place to get to the next level together. Music's not a competition, it's a cause, and we have to take any opportunity we have to give. This place was like a gift to us, and now we're looking to give back by helping people through music." Jared pauses to exchange a satisfied look with Michael. "Cheesy, I know, but true."
Prospective customers and curious individuals are encouraged to drop by anytime Monday through Friday from 2 to 6 p.m. Appointments for rental can be made in person or by phone at 268-8781.


















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