Credit: Seth Taube

San Francisco is well known for its eclectic culture and vibrant artistic spirit. Not only did the city inspire iconic songs like “The Dock of the Bay” and “Lights,” it also catapulted the careers of legends like Carlos Santana, Grateful Dead, and Creedence Clearwater Revival. However, the city’s music scene has inspired people to seek success beyond music, including financial legend Seth Taube.

At the North American level, Seth Taube is best known for his work as a philanthropist, entrepreneur, investor, and finance professional. However, those familiar with the San Francisco music scene may know him better for his musical talent and passion. Having started playing the violin 44 years ago, Taube has honed his skills throughout his life and developed a deep appreciation for music. This was one of his reasons for becoming a resident of the San Francisco area.

“Choosing San Francisco was a conscious decision to immerse yourself in a community that inspires passion, fosters growth and sets the stage for exceptional achievement,” said Taube. “The local music scene embodies a perfect blend of innovation, diversity and artistic energy that I just can’t get enough of.”

Anyone who knows Taube will immediately understand his fascination with San Francisco, as he often speaks about how music and technological innovation can help deal with some of the pressing existential threats humanity faces. By forming several multi-million dollar companies and providing capital to over 500 other companies, San Francisco’s tech scene also happened to align with Taube’s vision of a better future.

“San Francisco has always been a place where innovation and collaboration are at the heart of every endeavor, be it artistic or entrepreneurial, making it the perfect playground for someone like me,” Taube explains. “Moving here not only allowed me to meet and play with some of the most talented musicians I’ve ever met, but also the opportunity to mentor entrepreneurs who could change the world in the near future.”

Taube regularly collaborates with several chamber music and bluegrass groups, two genres he always admired as a child because they were compatible with his favorite instrument, the violin. As part of the local music community, Taube has also focused many of his philanthropic efforts on helping young musicians develop their talent.

Paul Kantner of Jefferson Airplane once said, “San Francisco is 49 square miles and surrounded by reality,” describing it as an oasis for those who seek to transcend the constraints of everyday life. Now, as uncertainty mounts by the hour, visionaries like Taube see it as a glimmer of hope and a catalyst for positive change.

“I firmly believe in the transformative power of music. Not only is it closer than ever to a universal language, but it also has the ability to touch hearts, evoke emotion and bring people together,” Taube concludes. “Music is about taking something relatively simple and making something incredible out of it, and that’s what philanthropy, entrepreneurship and life should be about. The people here understand that.”

The post Seth Taube’s San Francisco Story: Music, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation | Musical Devices appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

Steve Zwetsch combines improbable objects to create folk musical art. Five years ago Zwetsch came across a YouTube video of a guitar made from cigar boxes that was fascinated by the instrument.

As an autodidact, Zwetsch rose to the challenge and began to build the instrument in his cellar. Before the pandemic, he made five cigar box guitars a year, but after his bakery business was impacted by COVID-19, he made 14 guitars in six months.

Plum is able to resume a beloved hobby with the hope of profit.

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“What made me do it was the kind of music the guy was playing,” Zwetsch said. “He played an old blues song from the 1940s and I’m fascinated by that kind of music. Then I made one (cigar box guitar) and I could actually play it, that was exciting.”

THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX: This East Bay man is plucking his way through a pandemic creating guitars with improbable items to create folk art and music. pic.twitter.com/GnUzARu3TD

– ABC7 Melissa Pixcar (@ MelissaABC7) October 3, 2020

Zwetsch was unable to tease a normal size guitar due to a ligament injury on his left wrist. Since cigar box guitars are smaller, he can play the instrument with ease.

“Smaller body guitars are just easier to play, which is why a lot of people start with them,” said Zwetsch. “I can get all grades and don’t have to put as much pressure on my wrist.”

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Despite the coronavirus shutdown, the design of cigar box guitars has given Zwetsch an opportunity to think outside the box.

“I used a lot of different objects to build guitars,” said Zwetsch. “I made one out of a metal biscuit gift box. A pool shelf. I made one out of a bed pan. I used wine boxes. Anything that has a body that resonates with sound.”

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Zwetsch picks for items through flea markets, junkyards and his own garage to build the guitars.

“I like to call that the art of imperfection. It takes things that shouldn’t be together,” said Zwetsch. “A lot of the hardware I use is drawer pulls, knobs, and various things that I can find.”

He enjoys taking things that would otherwise end up in a landfill and “bringing them back to life”.

“These things are fun to do, and I do them more for art value than anything else,” said Zwetsch. “Then the fact that it has created more art with the music you can play with it is just phenomenal.”

Visit the Cigar Box Kitchen website for more information.

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The post ‘Artwork of imperfection’: San Francisco Bay Space man brings life to previous objects by creating musical devices appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.