Laguna's largest live music venue, "Ivan's House" opens tonight
Mozambique's startlingly different 2nd floor
You might say that Ivan Spiers is an instigator of “bigger” live music in Laguna Beach. While we’ve always had a handful of small venues serving up live bands, it was Spiers who introduced a sizable stage and seating for about 75 live music fans when he first opened Mozambique restaurant in 2005.
It seemed, though, that as soon as he opened this popular venue, Spiers began dreaming up a larger version.
After six long months in the making, that dream is a reality tonight when the much-anticipated “Ivan’z House” finally opens with its first live band at 9:00 p.m., Kids of Charlemagne, a Steely Dan Tribute. And oh my, this new renovation is so significant that you’re going to have difficulty remembering what the old version even looked like.
“Ivan’z House,” coined accordingly along Spiers’ partnership with Daryl Hall and “Daryl’s House” in Pawling, NY, now offers a magnificent stage and seating for more than 300 patrons.
This is now a ticketed live music venue, four nights a week
Live music at Ivan’z House is initially four nights a week, with plans for the fifth night (Wednesday) being added shortly.
Ivan’z House is no longer the Mozambique of old that charged a flat door fee. Think of this as our own city’s (somewhat cozier) House of Blues kind of evening. Advance ticket purchases are recommended and now available for all shows currently through early November, but you’re still able to walk up and get tickets at the door (if not already sold out).
There are typically two pricing options available for Reserved Table Seating and General Admission. As usual for live music shows, be sure to watch for “Aged 21+ and over” notations, too.
Ticket pricing at Ivan’z House currently ranges all over the board, from $7.18 in advance and $10 at door for Reggae Sundays to an average of $35 – $45 in advance for what I’d call “significant regional bands” that hail from all parts of California and neighboring states. Some “special event bands” will charge more.
It’s recommended that you arrive a couple hours in advance to enjoy dining at your table. (Mozambique still offers the largest menu in all of Laguna Beach.)
A sampling of the new music lineup through this weekend …
After tonight’s popular Kids of Charlemagne (Advance tickets here), Who’s Zeppelin, a truly compelling Led Zeppelin tribute, plays Saturday evening.
Jazz Brunch for all ages reinstates on Sunday afternoon from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. with the Tom Dante Quartet. Tickets are NOT sold for Jazz Brunch, but you can call in advance for a table reservation at (949) 715-7777.
And, the super-popular Reggae Sunday rolls back into play with The Rebel Rockers on Sunday evening at 7 p.m.
This Monday evening, July 8th, will host a rare appearance: Local favorites 133 Band will be doing a free show starting at 7 p.m.
Remember, too, that the downstairs piano lounge, The Durban Room, continues to host live music four nights a week, too. (My all-time favorite musician, Francois Dean, is resident on Sundays at 7 p.m. He’s unbelievable talent.)
Who knew the 2nd floor room was THAT big?
With the bar structure removed from the center of the 2nd floor plan, this is now one immense space.
The bar structure now sits on the northwest side of the 2nd floor, a swanky blend of bronzy gold and a gorgeous granite slab of aquamarine swirls from famed Paarl Mountain of South Africa.
With so much more open space now, the vast floor is devoted to high tops and lower 4-tops. Large TVs dot the landscape, too, providing rugby and soccer games in off hours.
While Spiers is still missing a large order of custom-made woven chairs (you can see a few samples in the photo, above), he said that everything else, from demolition through finishing touches, has moved along at a decent pace.
Spiers said that the biggest time-staller was what they found during the demolition. “No one had the original architectural plans from 25 years ago when it was Tortilla Flats, so as we opened up the walls and flooring, we kept finding surprises,” he explained.
“And we had to move all of the duct work around once we found our way to it,” he continued. “So, the demolition side of things lasted months instead of weeks.”
Soundpoofing all around…
Spiers also noted that the entire second level (walls and ceilings included) has been sound proofed, which took some creative solutionizing. “We blew in sound proofing material everywhere – up, down and in all the walls – and put in double pane windows throughout,” he said.
“One of the bigger tasks was figuring out how to create curved windows to accommodate the curves in the exterior brickwork,” he said.
Meanwhile, in other areas of Mozambique …
While demolition was underway on the second level, crews reshaped and branded the first-floor dining area and garden room into a much more colorful “Parrot Room.”
The team also added a new walkway addition on the second level to create a separate entrance for diners interested in rooftop dining. “Instead of stopping at the hostess stand on the second floor, they jut go straight up,” said Spiers.
Even the Mozambique “green room” for visiting bands has been massively updated. It offers dining table, couches, dressing room mirrors with full rows of vanity lights, and a fancy shower in the opulent restroom.
“It doesn’t matter how big or popular your band might be … we want our musicians to feel very comfortable,” said Spiers.
Expect Ivan’z House to be rocking …
I think Ivan Spiers has hit it out of the park with this one. I’ll be the first to congratulate this guy for not only changing the face of high-quality entertainment in this town, but for treating every band he books with immeasurable respect.
Be sure to check Spiers’ other live music venue, Skyloft, with live music six nights a week. Check Skyloft’s calendar here for Monday Night Karaoke and a variety of popular regional bands throughout each week. And, remember, too, you’ll find live acoustic music just below Skyloft at Spiers’ fourth restaurant concept in town, Bodega.
I thought the new Mozambique was to have national acts and seat 400 . There were some good shows over the summer ( Marc Seal ) Kid Charlemagne ( Steely Dan tribute ) Mykal Rose , Steel Pulse If Ivan is such a music guy why did he get rid of the booker he hired who was bringing in bigger acts like Ambrosia and working on bringing some great acts to Laguna ?? Daryl Hall came through the area over the summer,, he couldn’t get his business partner to come play a set ??
Seem like the same old stuff he had before except now he can seat more people for dinner ,,,, At least the Coach House in San Juan Capistrano brings great national acts ,, at a reasonable rate