The evening cooled off just in time for Riverside's Farm House Collective to host its first sold-out show: a Penrose Records lineup featuring Pasadena-based Los Yesterdays with Vicky Tafoya and The Big Beat.
The revamped 1953 Farm House Motel, with its motel rooms designed like old red barns now housing food spots and shops around a modest 500-capacity stage, made for a laid-back but exciting setting for live music. Notably unique is the all-ages approach; families with kids mingled comfortably alongside devoted soul fans, creating a multi-generational vibe rarely found at music venues. Being Mother's Day weekend, plenty of mothers and grandmothers celebrated with a night out, adding to the warm community atmosphere.
Vicky Tafoya and The Big Beat were up first. Vicky belts out the blues with the best, punching you in the chest with each note. The Big Beat backed her with tight, classic R&B grooves that set the bar high for the night.
"I thought it was a beautiful venue," Tafoya said about the Farm House. "I feel like it really brings the community together, and the fact that it's all ages involves the kids. A really beautiful addition to Riverside!"
From left to right: A sold-out crowd packed the Farm House for a night of live music, Los Yesterdays, Vicky Tafoya and The Big Beat. (Ken Crawford)
Los Yesterdays know how to own a crowd. The sold-out audience sang along with vocalist Victor Benavides to every song. Los Yesterdays brought the dreamy Southern California soul with a real connection to listeners.
The show highlighted the link between Penrose and its parent label, Brooklyn-based Daptone Records. While Daptone made its name with East Coast soul artists like Sharon Jones, Charles Bradley, and Lee Fields (who's scheduled to play the Farm House on May 24), Penrose focuses on the growing SoCal soul scene.
By bringing these artists to a venue in Roth's hometown of Riverside, the native son creates a bridge between the music and its roots. The venue's lineup, put together with Desert Daze co-founder Phil Pirrone and Roth himself, promises more great shows mixing established and up-and-coming talent.
For vinyl enthusiasts looking to dig deeper into the Penrose Records catalog, visit their shop in the basement of the Life Arts Building at University and Lemon in Riverside, where you can browse their full collection of Southern California soul offerings and even catch occasional in-store performances.
What impressed most about the sold-out show was how smoothly the new venue handled the capacity crowd. From sound quality to sight lines, from food service to parking flow, the Farm House Collective proved it's ready for bigger things. The successful event suggests Riverside has found a promising new home for live music that can accommodate both intimate performances and larger draws while maintaining its family-friendly atmosphere.
For those looking to experience the next chapter in Riverside's soul revival, the Farm House Collective will host Moon Rock presents É Arenas with Big Fun and Mucho Gusto DJs on Friday, May 23, 2025, followed by Daptone/Penrose presents Lee Fields with The EmKays on Saturday, May 24.
More information: The Farm House Collective is located at 1393 University Ave. and is open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tickets and additional information is available at farmhousecollective.com.
