Music sets fashion tone

Is there anything left to buy anymore?

Let’s rephrase that. Is there anything new left to buy anymore?

It’s kind of a stupid question considering that thousands of new products will flood shelves over the next year, but the over-saturation is starting to kill retailers as they struggle to capture the attention of an increasingly weary consumer.

“People are being fed up with being consumers. The only thing left to buy is people,” joked Dana Jazayeri, owner of Visual Subject Matter at the Lab in Costa Mesa. “If you look at the stores that are opening up, you see they are trying to incorporate something other than just selling product.”

It’s just not enough to push clothing anymore, so places like the Camp and the Lab are increasingly turning to cultural events to help bring people in the door. While the goal is to enhance the shopping experience, often the music and performance becomes the destination for visitors. Suddenly traditional shopping spaces become ad-hoc cultural centers, bringing together different sorts of people for no particular reason ? besides shopping of course.

This weekend, the Lab is welcoming two singer-songwriters passing through Costa Mesa on separate tours.

Sean Brooks, lead singer of post-indie jam group Minmae will perform an acoustic set tonight in the Lab’s Living Room common area.

Brooks will be followed by multi-instrumentalist Chase Frank, who offers listeners her “solo guitar orchestra” ? a project with original lyrics that she performs alone with a guitar, a double amplifier and a set of effects pedals.

The series, which will continue into next month with a show by Alec Bridges, is a way to enhance the retail experience and take a forward-looking approach to fashion. The move fits in well with Lab customers, who often consider themselves the vanguard of fashion. Their experience is enhanced, marketing director Monet Quick said, because they have the chance to check out developing musicians.

“We give up-and-coming bands a platform to get promoted in the community,” Quick said. “We’re here to help them out and give them something extra.”

Quick is also planning a campfire-style music event at the Camp, which is right across Bristol Street from the Lab. The Campfire Series will be held each month at the center’s miniature fire pit auditorium and include local acoustic singer-songwriters performing evening shows before a cozy fire pit. Local merchants will give out free cocoa and espresso drinks. Last month, Quick invited up-and-coming singer-songwriter Erick Macek to play a set at the launch of the Campfire Series.

“It was very artsy and laid back,” Macek said of the experience. “Definitely coffeehouse feel, but the area was outside. People were sipping their lattes and walking around. There’s something about that area that makes you want to just hang out.”

Macek said he sold more CDs at that show than at most other concerts he performs. While he might get less exposure there than opening for a big venue, he’s performing to a crowd that might be more receptive to new music, he said.

Both the Summer Music Series and the Campfire Series will continue through September. For information on performances, go to www.thecampsite.com and www.thelab.com. dpt-happscover09 TextVU1RQ6SKPerformances this weekend at the Camp and the Lab are meant to enhance the shopping experience.dpt.09-happs-2-BPhotoInfoAA1RQ71420060609j0k648nc(LA)Singer Chase Frank will perform a solo-acoustic show at the Lab tonight. dpt.09-happs-1-BPhotoInfoAA1RQ6GN20060609j0k63mnc(LA)Sean Brooks of Minmae will perform a solo-acoustic show at the Lab tonight as part of the Summer Music Series.