Nearly a year and a half after shutting it's doors The Independent in SF is re-opened!
 |
| Con Brio @ the grand re-opening of The Independent 7/9/2021 photo by Nikki DeMartini |
Just hours before the Glass Animals show on March 12th, 2020 the intimate venue went dark in ordnance with California's shelter in place orders and CDC guidelines.
Following the CDC's lift on the mask mandate and California opening up 100% on June 15th, the 500 person capacity venue welcomed people to enjoy live music there once again on Friday July 9th with SF's own, Con Brio.
 |
| Con Brio @ the grand re-opening of The Independent 7/9/2021 photo by Nikki DeMartini |
 |
| Con Brio @ the grand re-opening of The Independent 7/9/2021 photo by Nikki DeMartini |
There is a COVID safety caveat: every attendee must show proof of being fully vaccinated or have a negative COVID test within 72 hours of show time. This new normal factor is disclosed on the ticket purchasing page of the Independent's website and helpful emails with instructions on how to verify vaccination or otherwise using the CLEAR app are also sent out before the show.
 |
| Con Brio @ the grand re-opening of The Independent 7/9/2021 photo by Nikki DeMartini |
The friendly Another Planet staff was very helpful, happily getting people in line vaccine verified as they waited to go into the show. Doors opened at 8:30 and the show scheduled to start at 9:00 with openers Secret Sidewalk. I was so excited to be back for a show at one of my favorite music venues in SF that one of the first people inside.
 |
| Con Brio @ the grand re-opening of The Independent 7/9/2021 photo by Nikki DeMartini |
The familiarity of the dim, indigo lighting and the stage embellished with idle instruments waiting to be played was comforting as the room slowly filled with people joyously waiting for the bands to play them. All of the staff at The Independent was familiar, too which was nice to see being that so many businesses are struggling since staff have relocated during quarantine. In addition to the CLEAR app verifications outside, there are a couple changes inside since the last time there were shows here: the bar is cashless and they no longer serve Lagunitas.
The grand re-opening show was sold-out and as further proof that somethings never change, even in a pandemic, the crowd steadily gathered and the music started about 15 minutes behind schedule.
Bag Raiders on February 28th, 2020 was the last show I saw (and reviewed) here before the lockdown. Coincidently, the openers at that show, Secret Sidewalk, also opened for Con Brio.
 |
| Con Brio @ the grand re-opening of The Independent 7/9/2021 photo by Nikki DeMartini |
As their instrumental, modern, experimental, funk filled the room so too did un-masked show goers. By the end of their 45 minute long set, I felt a little awkward being so close to so many people, so many strangers. Even though I knew everyone there was vaccinated or provided a negative COVID test, I chose to mask up while I was in the thick of it and it looked as though I might have been the only person there that night to make that choice.
 |
| Con Brio @ the grand re-opening of The Independent 7/9/2021 photo by Nikki DeMartini |
The headliners took the stage around 10:30 and the effervescent crowd continued dancing, smiling and cheering. Singer Ziek McCarter upped the energy ante, exuding positivity as he belted out songs but it was his smooth dance moves that brought the fire. Spinning, kicking and engaging with elated fans elevated the already high vibes in the room and brought everyone closer together, so to say.
Con Brio literally means with a liveliness or spirit and the band is and did exactly that. They did not take the grand re-opening show of the Indy lightly. There's no doubt about the fact that genuine fun was had by everyone from beginning to end.
 |
| Con Brio @ the grand re-opening of The Independent 7/9/2021 photo by Nikki DeMartini |
It was their first time playing at The Independent since 2015 and they played old stuff as well as new stuff with a good mix of some party starters and some slow grooves. There was plenty of appreciation for fans being there, for the working staff, for everyone making it through the ups and downs of 2020 and for The Independent for having them.
 |
| Con Brio @ the grand re-opening of The Independent 7/9/2021 photo by Nikki DeMartini |
 |
| Con Brio @ the grand re-opening of The Independent 7/9/2021 photo by Nikki DeMartini |
