Time and time again local bands mention the lack of venues that would ideally allow the under-21 crowd to see their shows.

“There’s not really a venue [for us] to play [where all ages can go],” says Bryan, Call me Ishmael’s guitarist and singer.

Out of a plethora of venues, only three spring to mind when considering the under-21 crowd: Capitol Garage (1427 L St.), The Boardwalk (9426 Greenback Lane), and True Love Coffee House (2406 J St.). One of the three, the Boardwalk, caters to all ages only some of the time.

According to the Sacramento News & Review, the True Love Coffee House is the “Best under-21 live-music venue” in Sacramento for 2002. With events scheduled each night, weekends are usually dedicated to local music that are most often acoustic sets. The music starts at 9 or 10 p.m, If you don’t show up early your chance of catching a table at this living-room sized shop are slim to none.

The True Love Coffee House was also the only venue listed in Best of City Search Sacramento’s 2002 category: Best live music venue, which included all ages. It ranked fourth in the top 10.

The Capitol Garage and True Love Coffee House both serve beer to customers who are 21, while allowing the under-21 crowd to remain. These are the kinds of places Sacramento needs more of, places where people of all ages are not prevented from supporting the city’s local artists.

One 19-year-old Sac State student said he would go out and support local bands if there were more places he could see them. A couple of years ago he would have had no problem because Bojengles, an all ages powerhouse for local music, was still open.

Bojengles served alcohol for the over 21s and separated them from the under 21s with a glass wall that let everyone see the bands.

“Bojengles made Sac’s music scene what it is today,” Bryan said. That is saying a lot, considering Sacramento is said to have “taken over where Seattle left off,” in terms of local band development.

Time and again you hear the complaint that more young people are drinking and using drugs, yet nobody is willing to open up places where these young adults can go for an alternative. This goes for the people in bands that want to play and need the support, and for those with nothing else to do.

Under-21 venues allow younger people to sample local music in a live atmosphere. They also give patrons the opportunity to buy CDs during the shows. Local music events are even good for the younger crowd, as they spend their money on things like music, rather than cans of spray paint, alcohol or drugs.