The Cobalt Cafe is an all ages, non-alcoholic venue in Canoga Park, California that caters to local bands that range from punk to heavy metal to alternative. Some of the bands that got their start there include AFI, Jimmy Eat World, Less Than Jake, Incubus, Strung Out, Link 80, Linkin Park (as Hybrid Theory), Avenged Sevenfold, Hoobastank (as Hoobustank), California Redemption, and more. Hoobastank also included a prank call to Cobalt Cafe on their early release of Muffins EP.
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The Cobalt Cafe was founded by Dave Politi on January 17, 1991 - three days before the Gulf War. The Cobalt was one of the first coffee houses that started in the sleepy San Fernando Valley and was fashioned after the same manner of coffee house that San Francisco is known for. The original location of the Cobalt was on Ventura Boulevard in Woodland Hills, California where it remained for three years. The style of the Cobalt then consisted of acoustic music, weekly poetry readings, as well as an open mic night. Celebrities such as Mick Taylor from the Rolling Stones, David Becker Tribune (World renown Jazz group) played there and Angelo from FishBone read poetry. January 14, 1994 was the Grand Opening of the Cobalt at its current location in Canoga Park, just three days before the Northridge earthquake.
The Cobalt holds shows priced between $8 and $12 almost every night of the week and has an open mic / poetry reading night on Tuesdays hosted by Rick Lupert. Mondays host Keepin' It Real, a youth worship group for those of religious faith, and is non-denominational.
The Cobalt Cafe has also become a regular tour stop for underground and up and coming touring artists of all genres, playing host to thousands of bands a year. The Cobalt has hosted bands on indie and major labels. Most all larger shows are promoted by either Two Hearts Concerts or Tough Guy Promotions.