Lee Stock continues to Pound it out

Concert ReviewCommentary
Written By John Greenwood

LEE STOCK! A DIY celebration of bands local to the Bay Area of San Francisco and the brainchild of a very industrious and motivated character of said area by the name of Lee Austin Hoffman. The venue, another equally classic DIY character of the SF Bay Area, The Pound, which I had presumed had retired as a punk venue. The last I remembered of it was seeing The Adicts there in what must have been the mid-nineties. But I always adored this rough-and-ready dive venue, and it was much missed by me personally. I was thrilled to hear what Lee was putting together, and the thought of being back at The Pound once more was like the thought of meeting a long-lost bro after thirty or so years.

The Pound—Photo by John Greenwood

It is so-called “The Pound” because of its locality to the old San Francisco dog pound, so I am told. What will have changed? Will it be just as I remember it? I was doing a celebratory little dance in my head that this epic and much-cherished punk venue was back.

All thanks to Lee. He is one of the most dedicated, genuine, organized, selfless, and driven members of the Bay Area punk ranks I have ever seen. Just listening to his list of accomplishments and monthly schedule is enough to make your head spin before we even start to dig into Lee Stock.

Born in Florida and raised in Georgia, the limited punk scene there caused him to take a gamble, chase his dreams, and transplant to California. He did have an established business back home as a successful hairdresser, so he did have something to lose if things did not pan out for him. Thankfully, it worked out. How could it not with the man’s amount of energy and dedication? He has gone from strength to strength, and his band Elegant Trash debuted in front of thousands at Burning Man, as well as performing at legendary venues such as The Whisky in LA and another of my favorite SF venues, Bottom of the Hill.

Lee has also written, co-written, produced, or sung on over sixty albums of original music without ever doing a cover version, just since his inception of Elegant Trash in 2011.

However, his surprising tactics of springing up anywhere and everywhere in a van he bought for $100, redesigned, and kitted out himself with solar panels to run a PA and band equipment, and doing guerrilla-style live shows is something that makes this cat pretty unique. It’s true. Being frustrated at not being able to play live himself and go to live shows back in the pandemic years, and also being the type to find his way around any tiny problems like the strict government guidelines of a pandemic, he created his own solution. This fact alone speaks volumes about his self-belief and tenacity, which is difficult not to admire.

Wearing yet another Lee Hoffman hat as a promoter under the title of Bang the Bay, he puts on events at the much-loved Ivy Room venue twice per month. The van was not put into retirement after the pandemic and continues today as the star of its own show as Solar Van Saturdays, which fills out the other weeks that are left in his monthly promoting schedule. These events often occur at the beach in Berkeley, but because of the van being so self-sufficient, can be staged literally even in the remotest of areas.

The only restrictions are being in a neighborhood that is willing to deal with the noise for a couple of hours and what local bands are willing to show up on a Saturday afternoon. They can still go off and play a club somewhere in town later that night, and it’s probably a good warm-up for them. Hey, the Ramones used to rehearse their entire set before each event. Also, with Solar Van events taking place during the day, people can bring their families. And typical of Lee, he foots the costs himself and just asks people to contribute what they can to the tip jar. If you are still reading this, do you love this guy as much as I do yet? However, if this young man has inspired you with his giving and selflessness, you can support him remotely via his website www.bangthebay.com.

Forget Rambo and Rocky. Here is a true American hero just being the only thing he knows how to be. He continues to flourish with his hairdressing business specializing in punk and rock ’n’ roll called Hella Rad, forming an extensive client list and displaying his work at all manner of the area’s venues and stages.Did I mention he had a punk magazine also? Entitled Bang Magazine. I know what you are thinking, but it was punk rock, I assure you. Another of the list of achievements too expansive to fit into the space I’m allowed. There is just a lot to this person and his contributions to punkmanity, so restrictions dictate that I cut this feature into two separate parts. I will bring the rest of the report on Lee Stock very shortly. I just thought it appropriate to answer the question that would be forming in many minds, “Why is it called Lee Stock?” without introducing who Lee is first. As I wrap this article up, I have just discovered that Lee will be hosting Bang the Bay events at the legendary SF punk venue The Mabuhay Gardens every second Wednesday starting in January, which bodes well for yet another amazing chapter beginning to form in this illustrious career.

Lee’s Links 

  1. Home base Bang The Bay 

  2. Elegant Trash Music https://eleganttrash.bandcamp.com/

  3. Hair: https://www.facebook.com/hellaradhairsalon/

  4. Solar Van Saturdays  | Facebook

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John Greenwood
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