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About Us... Chasm Main Entry: Pronunciation: 'ka-zem' Function: noun Etymology: Latin chasma, from Greek; akin to Latin hiare to yawn - more at yawn Date: 1596 1. a yawning fissure or deep cleft in the earth's surface; gorge. 2. a breach or wide fissure in a wall or other structure. 3. a marked interruption of continuity; gap: a chasm in time. 4. a sundering breach in relations, as a divergence of opinions, beliefs, etc., between persons or groups. Truth...Spirit...Community... from these three words, The Kazem was conceived. What began as a community concert outreach endeavor for the local youth manifested into a multi facet music store, music lessons, venue, art gallery, film, and Production Company. In 2002 Ryan Colcord, co founder of The Kazem, was inspired to offer a concert venue for the local youth in his community called The Epidemic. With his musically influenced background and recovery from his troubled youth he strived to give back to the kids what he felt he had stolen from in regards to a better way of life and living. With no more than a visions and burden upon his heart to give back to the youth what he felt was lacking in the community, that is a safe place for artists to showcase and exhibit their gifts and talents in a safe environment, he sought a place where he could host and facilitate a concert event for local high school kid bands in a nearby church. With absolutely no advertising or marketing the response and need for a place for kids were evidenced by the concerts first attendance record of over 250 local youth. This led to another concert held in the same fashion and manner one month later with over 350 local youth and so on. With that the shows demanded bands from all over the U.S. to receive word of this awesome place to come out and play. The concerts became a weekly tradition with an average attendance of 400 kids. The philosophy was simple, keep it clean with absolutely no drugs and alcohols tolerated and simply let the kids be them while we give back to and love on the kids in our community. The venue was featured on the front page of theContra Costa Times and became a safe haven for kids of all ages to come out, watch their favorite local artists and do it in a safe environment unlike that which was being offered by the many other surrounding venues that had zero security and supervision. This led into a relationship with The Kazem's second co founder Joe Perez who shared a similar love and passion for the community but with more emphasis on the visual arts and indie style music. The two developed a relationship, shared the vision and passion which thereby expanded the concerts venue’s horizons to feature its first indie and art shows. As the discussions brewed, the love and passion grew all the more. The vision expanded to thoughts of coffee shops, fashion shows, film production and more. With Joe’s background in film production experience there became no boundary or limit to what this venue could and should eventually be. After a meaningful discussion with the Pastor with whom the shows were held the ideal arose that there seemed to be a chasm between the kids coming to the shows and the church; hence giving birth to the name The Kazem, being the phonetic version of the word. As time passed and the Epidemic was slowly converting to becoming The Kazem, Joe began playing music with the Kazems third and final co founder Robin Roberts. Robin had a passion for playing and teaching the guitar, ran a successful corporation and was currently running a music store and teaching music lessons. Many of the students he taught were learning to play guitar so they could have a chance to play this venue called The Epidemic. He later discovered that Joe and his partner Ryan were running these events and were in the process of expanding it to be more than just a concert venue. When Ryan, Joe and Robin got together they shared the same passion and desire to be more than just a concert venue. The desire was to be a place where artists from the community can come together learn the art of music by taking lessons and buying music equipment; local artists could showcase and share and exhibit their talent in a safe environment, kids from the community can come together be themselves and collaborate their thoughts and ideas in a community forum thus holding true to the Truth...Spirit...Community concept. Truth: Realizing that we are all the same type of living creatures divinely crafted, created and put together by One and the same creator. We all hurt, laugh, cry and experience pain. We all live and die so we ought to live together in peace and harmony during the short time we are here. Spirit: Realizing that there is more within the simple surface; we are all inspired we all have thoughts, feelings and intentions and the manner in which we express them ought to be good and true without harm, suffering or violence; The movement within oneself by which we express outwardly those things which exist within. Community: The body encompassing the souls of those who exist among us within a small radius. These are the people in our neighborhood, the people we live among each and every day. This is the vital essence of what keeps us alive and well, combining thse three elements together we strive to impact and change our community for the positive and for the better through network and collaboration of sharing thoughts, ideas and expressions.

CONTACT By phone at (925) 240-8887
E-mail us at: joe@thekazem.com , ryan@thekazem.com , robin@thakazem.com
Message the Kazem Art Gallery: http://www.myspace.com/mediumartshow
Message the Kazem Music Store: http://www.myspace.com/thekazemmusicstore