Local musician Bryan Nichols, of the reggae band ZuhG, opened an independent music store in the Westfield Downtown Plaza on Nov. 13. The store only stocks local musicians’ albums, the work of other local artists and apparel.

Apparel includes styles by 215Grass, Calibis Clothes, Hippy Tree, Dome Apparel and independent craftspeople on consignment.

In The back of the store, which is named ZuhG Life after the band, serves as a space for music lessons.

“It just kind of happened” Nichols said. He had been booking live music for the mall when management offered him a space to open a music store.

“We’re Sacramento’s local music shop” said Aaron Hoberman, a roadie who also operates the store when Nichols can’t. “The store exists to get the Sac music scene where it should be.”

The enthusiastic and ever-friendly Hoberman is constantly looking for new artists and bands to fill the space with.

Jessie Brune, of the band Musical Charis, teaches guitar, piano and vocals as well as how to write songs and record them. She said the store is a “good location to teach.” She’s been a music teacher for two years working out of Beatnik Studios on 17th and Broadway.

Alexis Heints, age 9, takes guitar lessons from Brune. Her mother, Ole Heints said it’s a “friendly and nice environment,” for her daughter to learn.

Jesi Naomi is a local artist and musician who works at the BodyShop next to the FootLocker just a couple dozen feet from ZuhG. She displays her paintings in the store and has already sold one.

“I’d been looking for a place to show my art, and then ZuhG opened up right next door,” she said “It’s great. It’s what Sac needed, something local to get people together, to network and meet other artists and collaborate.”

Local truck driving instructor John Morris was browsing the store Thursday afternoon and said it reminded him of Berkeley. Morris said he was a roadie for Anthrax and Nightranger when they toured with Ozzy Osbourne in the ‘80s.

Debbie White from Debbie Does Dyes, who consigns her tie-dye shirts at ZuhG, said she likes the store and that everyone should come check it out.

Some of the local artists represented are Monophonics, Todd Morgan and the Emblems, Journal, ArdenPark, Random Abiladeze, Musical Charis, Secretions, Juana Blaze and ZuhG.

Nichols books the small venue in front of the store from 4 - 8 p.m. Fridays and 1 - 5 p.m. Saturdays. It’s a small covered open-air stage. The first gig a band plays is unpaid, with following shows being paid.

Local bands are encouraged to bring their CDs to the store to sell. ZuhG can be contacted at (916) 822-5185.

ZuhG Life is located next to the food court on the second level near Fifth and J streets. The mall is open from 10:30 a.m. - 8 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. Saturdays and 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Sundays.

ZuhG is Bryan Nichols on vocals and guitar, Matt Klee on drums, Jacob Gleason on saxophone, JR Halliday on lead guitar, Tommy G on percussion, Bianca Wright on vocals, Charlie Wheeler beatboxing and Jacob Jarzemkoski on bass. The band recently won a Sammie in the reggae/roots/jam category. JR helps manage the House of Hits, a local practice space.
 

Photos by Zephyr McIntyre