The Teen Drama Music Venues
Imagine it’s Friday night. What are you doing?
If you’re Kelly Taylor, you’re sipping wine at the Peach Pit After Dark. If you’re Peyton Sawyer, you’re introducing a band at TRIC. And if you’re a TeenDramaWhore like me, perhaps you’re reminiscing about all the awesome artists you got to watch at the teen drama music venues.
No, not all of our shows had them, but after “Beverly Hills, 90210” set the stage (no pun intended), music venues did become somewhat of a teen drama trope.
Let’s take a look…
Beverly Hills, 90210
Peach Pit After Dark
In season 5 of “Beverly Hills, 90210,” Steve comes up with the idea of hosting raves after hours at The Peach Pit. The success of the event, along with capacity issues, leads Steve to convince Peach Pit proprietor Nat and investor Dylan to take over the going-out-of-business rug store next door and build out a full-fledged night club. And thus, the Peach Pit After Dark was born.
With a bar in the back, a stage up front, ample dance space in between and tables along the perimeter, the Peach Pit After Dark became an essential location for the rest of the series. Ownership of the venue and building changed hands a number of times among Steve’s dad Rush, Valerie, David, Noah, and, again, Dylan. In the last two seasons of the show, David even hosted a radio show from a booth inside the club.
While Ray was the most significant (and semi-fictional) artist to perform at the Peach Pit After Dark in its early days, a number of real-life acts graced the stage over the years that followed, ranging from The Flaming Lips to Christina Aguilera. Kara’s Flowers — Maroon 5 before it was Maroon 5 — performed there, as did Fergie as part of the group Wild Orchid. We were also treated to Monica, The Corrs, Luther Vandross, Barenaked Ladies, The Brian Setzer Orchestra, Duncan Sheik and many more acts across musical genres.
As for the Peach Pit After Dark’s location in real life, well, it only existed on the “Beverly Hills, 90210” soundstages in Van Nuys, California. If you drive by today (as I did back in 2009), you’ll recognize the brick building and the door that served as the make-believe club’s entrance.
Dawson’s Creek
Hell’s Kitchen
To be fair, Hell’s Kitchen was more of a bar-restaurant than a traditional music venue. The pub primarily serves as Joey’s place of employment in “Dawson’s Creek” season 6 and the occasional gathering spot for their friend group. But it was the site of two particularly memorable performances, both led by Audrey. In the first, while in the midst of a downward spiral due to an addiction to pills and booze, she goes absolutely wild (read: destructive) during a performance with her band Hell’s Belles. In the second, now sober, she delivers a haunting rendition of Zakk Wylde’s “Way Beyond Empty” solo.
Unlike the Peach Pit After Dark, Hell’s Kitchen became a real establishment after “Dawson’s Creek” finished shooting. It is located in downtown Wilmington, North Carolina, where the show filmed (and where I live), and is still open today. It’s a must-see location if you’re ever in town. Let me know — we’ll grab a drink!
The O.C.
The Bait Shop
The Bait Shop is introduced in season two of “The O.C.” as a night club located on the pier. Seth briefly works at the venue, managed at the time by Olivia Wilde’s Alex, and it becomes a nighttime hangout location for the gang, despite the characters still being in high school. Seth’s favorite band, Death Cab for Cutie, performs there, as do acts like The Killers and Modest Mouse. In one episode, Sandy himself takes the stage to serenade wife Kirsten.
At the time the series aired, The Bait Shop drew comparisons to the Peach Pit After Dark, with creator Josh Schwartz even (somewhat oddly) referring to Alex as the show’s “Nat.” But while The Bait Shop is also seen in season 3, the setting is abandoned in the show’s fourth and final season. Unfortunately, there’s no chance of seeing the venue today — the interior was a set built on the show’s Manhattan Beach, California, soundstages while the exterior was a since-demolished building on the Redondo Beach Pier.
One Tree Hill
TRIC
In the second season of “One Tree Hill,” which coincided with season 2 of “The O.C.,” Peyton pitches Karen on opening an all-ages club, though Karen’s Cafe has already hosted a few performances by this point. Just like the Peach Pit After Dark, the venue becomes a staple for the rest of the series, with ownership shared at various points between Karen and Deb. Peyton herself later rents out part of the building to serve as headquarters for her label, Red Bedroom Records.
A number of real-life performers played at TRIC, including Fall Out Boy, Kid Cudi, Jimmy Eat World, and Lupe Fiasco, but in the universe of the show, the venue also featured significant performances by Haley, Chris, Mia, and Alex. Part of the series finale revolves around TRIC’s 10th anniversary (don’t try to figure out the show’s timeline — you’ll just get a headache), with Gavin DeGraw performing “I Don’t Want To Be,” which, of course, also serves as the series’ theme song.
In real life, TRIC was an empty warehouse in Wilmington, and today it’s a can’t-miss destination for fans. Thanks to crowdfunding, part of the building serves as a museum of sorts for “One Tree Hill” and is open on select days for visits. The site has also hosted several events tied to “One Tree Hill” fan conventions.
So, what about “Gossip Girl” and “90210”? Neither show had a recurring music venue, even though both series often featured music performances. Lady Gaga, Florence + the Machine, and Cyndi Lauper are just three of the notable names to perform on the former, while the latter showcased Train, The All-American Rejects, Carly Rae Jepsen, and many in-character performances.
Now let’s again imagine it’s a Friday night. Which teen drama music venue are you at? Share in the comments below!
Want more teen drama music content? Check out these looks at the top musical guests, the teen drama theme songs, the teen drama soundtracks, the teen drama stars who are also singers, and the issue with teen drama replacement songs.