One of my favorite places in the world is Pappy and Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace in Pioneertown, CA. As a music lover and music journalist, I can’t get enough of this place. The first show I ever saw there was Conor Oberst in 2010. I remember when my friend Courtney was driving us up Pioneertown Road through the mountains and I was wondering where in the hell we were going. I also couldn’t believe that someone such as Conor Oberst would be playing in a place like this. But as I learned, this place has a special history. This place was built in 1946 by filmmakers who used it to film Westerns. It was also an outlaw biker bar, and then it was just this eccentric place where people of all kinds of backgrounds gathered. Since the new ownership, it’s been hosting such a diverse group of musical acts in indie-rock, country music, bluegrass, Americana, and even metal and punk bands have played here. The list of acts who have played Pappy and Harriet’s are from just about almost every genre of music imaginable. It’s always busy during the Coachella music festival and has hosted bands playing the festival shortly before, during, and in-between the 2 weekends of Coachella. Paul McCartney himself played here in 2016 in-between both weekends of the Desert Trip festival. Music sets all kinds of moods, but sometimes when certain types of bands play here, usually in the country or Americana genres of music, it provides an experience just on the atmosphere and the vibes. Having seen Paul McCartney and the Pixies play here as a music journalist, those shows also feel special and make it feel like no other music venue in the country. One thing I want to say if you plan on visiting Pioneertown and Pappy and Harriet’s - understand that Pioneertown is a place where people also live, and you’re basically walking through their back or front yards. Respect their property and their privacy. Also, be kind and respectful to the locals.
