Today we’d like to introduce you to Ryan Dennis, Kellan Bellchamber, Joe Laughlin, and Jeffrey Dennis.
Hi Ryan, Kellan, Joe, and Jeffrey, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
In late 2018, Ryan Dennis and Joe Laughlin had the idea of starting a band. As they pitched their ideas back and forth, there was a clear understanding that there was passion and energy to create something more than just another music group.
Joe was already talking to longtime friend and older brother of Ryan, Jeffrey Dennis, about creating a business that not only runs but can put good in the world. At the same time, Ryan was talking to his High School bandmate, Luke Petersen, about ways to dive deeper into the music scene in San Diego. In a call for greater things among the four, Magnolco was birthed.
An art collective run by and for artists. We started to brainstorm ideas of how we could push positives into the community. How to help small artists, vendors, and bands find their way to their future fans. Our first unofficial crack at something of this nature was Luke & Ryan’s annual “Monster Mash”, Halloween show. It was the first time the four of us were in action working on something that had an essence of what we wanted to do moving forward.
A year passed with many high-set goals and ideas. We began working with the production collective, Lazerbird, to work on some sketches and ideas for shows. We were also acquainted with San Diego’s local music icon, Jerm Addams. A seasoned veteran of the early San Diego punk scene. (A figure who continues to help us to this day) As our groups started to find the groove we were looking for, the pandemic hit. Shutting down many of the events we had hoped to achieve.
At this time, Luke & Ryan had just graduated high school while Jeffrey and Joe were hitting headway with their studies. We took this strange time in the world to begin planning for what we could do after this mess. The world needed art, music, and love, more than any time before. The year 2020 was our year to motivate ourselves and prepare to spring into action as soon as the all-clear was called. So, we got ready for our first official show. The location was clear to us all. Double Peak Mountain in San Marcos.
Here, now in 2021, a lineup of all independent local bands set stage 1600 ft up to play one of the first shows in the San Diego underground scene since the lockdown. With vendors set up, a blaring PA system, and an unmatchable view, our collective had our first success connecting the audience with the incredible talent in San Diego. Hopefully giving some an experience they will never forget.
Riding on the excitement of the mountain, we continued to try, and push shows as much as we could. We next had one at the Harding center in Carlsbad. Then an art gallery showcase, accompanied by live music and local vendors at Backfence Society in Vista. It was at this event we felt we had truly hit our potential.
Josh Tremain from Lazerbird was in large part of the success of this event. He had approached us all with the proposal of setting up an art gallery at Backfence that would lead to a grand final of music and art, and creativity. For over a month, he and his team worked away at making the space at Backfence look otherworldly. At this same time, we approached as many bands and vendors as we possibly could. The end result was amazing.
It was our first event where not only those who frequent the Underground scene attended but regular people in the community came to enjoy the fun as well.
We thought, “This is it.” The bands have a crowd; the vendors are selling art. Everyone has a smile on their face. This is what the dream is. For all of us.
With a clear picture in mind, Magnolco pushed into 2022 with its head high. It was around this time as well; a new crucial member was added to the Magnolco lineup. With Luke Petersen exiting the collective in the Summer of 2021 to pursue passions in Portland, there was a vacancy for another contributing mind to add love and ideas to this project.
Through a music program hosted by the YMCA, Kellan Bellchamber is acquainted with Ryan in an effort to make a music group. it was not long after that he was rocking on full speed with the other three in trying to make the San Diego art scene alive.
The idea of a more hands-on approach to helping bands was discussed early on in the year. After a few brainstorming sessions, Magnolco’s next project was determined. A promotion was made for the North County band, Audrey & the Sound Gallery. Having worked with the group since 2019, they seemed like the right fit for an endeavor like this. Videos, merchandise, and banter were flowing to help promote one of San Diego’s best acts. The tagline “Who’s Audrey?” filled social media and street flyers throughout the county and in September of that year, we found out exactly who Audrey was.
Many more projects have been filling up the collective since then. We are always on the hunt to find more shows, more venues, and more undiscovered talent to put on our events. With high hopes for 2023 and our upcoming show at Palomar College, we hope to continue to spread love and joy around the county that holds so much significance in all of us. We have all met amazing people in our journey to where we are now and only want to use any headway, we have in helping all of those who have any desire to be creative in this world.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
This journey has had its fair share of mountains and joyrides.
Fortunately, in the art and music scene, almost everyone is a friendly face and spirit. We absolutely would not be where we are today without the community around us. There is always someone offering a helping hand or giving words of encouragement. It is really crazy how much love is in the atmosphere we are in.
This does not go without saying there haven’t been any bumps along the road. The biggest turbulence we have had is financial. We consist of four students who put any money we have towards this project with hopes of it getting off the ground. We have recently been able to turn a profit, which is very encouraging, though it has taken a lot to get to this point.
There have been many learning curves as well. The importance of who plays after one another. How to catch people’s eye when setting up a booth. How to grow on social media. How to stay in touch with all the people you meet. We have learned a lot, but we definitely have much more too as well. As we evolve and those issues do with us.
The biggest blow we have had as a collective was the passing of a very close friend of ours that contributed greatly to what we do. Though the four of us lead in our own ways, we run with a lot of help from our friends who are a second family to us. All of our hands-on and emotional support comes from people who have been around us since we began. Mitchell Schriedman was someone very close to us who always believed in what we were trying to do. He was the lead guitarist in our band, On the Menu, and wanted more than ever to make it to the big lights. He had his heart in the music and the scene we all interacted in. He was at every show we had and always made sure he was there.
In July of 2022, Mitch had an allergic reaction and suffered a heart attack he never recovered from. He was 20 years old, ready to take on the world and strum his guitar for the masses. It was very hard to move forward with everything we had going on when someone so crucial to not only our project but ourselves had moved on to another life.
We believe he is over us. We can feel him at our events and shows, and he lets us know when he likes what we have going on. We keep his rambunctious spirit within all of us and make sure to always have him in mind when doing any project we execute with the collective.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Magnolco is an art and music collective based out of North County.
A collective run by artists, for artists.
We host events consisting of live music, local artists, and vendors in an effort to showcase the talent and creativity that San Diego has to offer.
The majority of our events are in concert format, a stage of musicians with other creatives set up opposite the stage. Moving forward, art galleries and independent movie viewings are anticipated in the future.
Many of those who frequent our events enjoy the diversity at them. If you aren’t into the music, there is always a vendor or artist you can conversate with. At our own personal booth, we will always have an object that people can interact with. The two favorites have been the sound oscilloscope and our mini crt tv, usually running Space Jam or Bladerunner.
Along with the color of our events, we have drawn out fans for our signature double-stage setup. At many of our shows, as soon as one band finishes their set, another band will begin to play instantaneously on the second stage, keeping the energy of the night never coming to a halt.
Something we are proud of about Magnolco is that we have never had a bad experience or review from any band, talent, or showgoer. We have been able to connect artists better with an audience and create a space where creatives can express themselves freely and successfully.
What we would like readers to know about our collective is that we are open to working with anybody. Musicians, artists, filmer, anyone. For those reading who are not creatives, we invite you to one of our events to see what the minds of San Diego are making. We will always give our 100 percent in trying to help any artist achieve what they strive for. We strive for the audience to never feel dull. There is great energy at our events, and we invite all, young and old, to see what is going on in San Diego.
Risk-taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
We believe that this collective in itself is a risk. For every event we have, we pull together whatever money we got from our last paychecks to put towards an experience for people to have. To many, of how subjective art is, that is a big risk to take.
For us, experience outways security. The art that is around us may only exist in the time you walk by it or listen to it or feel it. It is better to not let it go to waste. It is worth every dollar and dime. Every minute and hour. Art is evidence that life has been lived. You can connect with that on a spiritual human level. You can’t with much of anything else. Sometimes you are happier running into the fire rather than away from it. We believe this is one of those cases.
We may be unsuccessful; we may be set back by most standards if we fail. We will always hold these experiences and accomplishments we have made now in the highest regard til our graves. You must make risks in life, or else you are not living. This collective is our risk in life, and we love it.
Pricing:
- Events are $5-$20 a ticket
Contact Info:
- Website: magnolco.com
- Instagram: @magnolco
- Youtube: Magnolco
Image Credits
Brian Pantoja
Austin Colette
Chase Manriki
Hanna Connet
