Vista’s lavender vortex

While at a desert music festival last November, Jarrod Heidt hooked up with some of the bands he’d book at his new Vista venture. “It was the third annual Borrego Mi Diego. It was like a mini-fest, with a lot of heavy-rock stoner psychedelic bands.”

Born and raised in Vista, Heidt, 22, and his brother Jordan, 25, have invested in a recording studio/venue in their hometown that will start hosting once-a-week multiband shows this weekend.

The Heidt brothers work for their father’s asphalt company by day while they get their music venture, Lavender House, off the ground.

Jordan Heidt says their new music space is where Slow White, Butterfly Gang (L.A.), and the Fly Traps (Orange County) can drop in and play with local bands such as Amerikan Bear, Loom, and Moonshine. “It’s a place for people to come out of the woodwork and play.”

They say they were inspired to launch Lavender House by Colin Tappe, who opened the Standards Records store (specializing in vinyl) in Vista three years ago. Jarrod says his independent, analog way of doing things has been an inspiration. “He definitely brought a music scene to life here.”

Their hope is for the recording studio to breathe life into their startup Lavender House Records, which so far has released an EP for Lucky Keith and an LP for Slow White.

“We have a 1974 eight-track Tascam analog mixer,” says Jarrod. “We can record analog or digital. I like to be able to mix the older with the newer. We want to keep getting new equipment.”

Jordan says being based in an industrial park is a good thing for staging live shows, all of which are all-ages. “The closest resident is a half-mile away. We ask for a $5 donation at the door for each show. It’s like a party at a recording studio.” He says he welcomes metal, punk, and psych bands... “but no hip-hop. That’s just not my style.”

The Heidt brothers hope their low-tech, grass-roots music house will dovetail with the momentum of Vista’s redeveloped downtown and burgeoning brewery scene. “Some people from the city asked us to help them with their Earth Day art festival,” says Jordan. “They told us they wanted it to be edgy this year. Last year all they had was quilts and shit.”

The Lavender House presents Roundabouts, Gantez, Que Oso, and Two Cheers on Saturday, February 14. Other shows this month include Amerikan Bear, Loom, Butterfly Gang, and Sycamore.