Joshua Tree’s Noise Floor music shop keeps equipment and lessons accessible, grand opening Saturday

Jesse Worstell and Kevin Zeiber had been playing in the band The Bad Habits (who back up the local Desert Chrome Pole Dancers) when Worstell asked him what he thought about starting a music shop that sold new and used equipment and also offered lessons, in which Zeiber immediately replied, “I’m in.” Worstell was already a year into teaching music, and for Zeiber, having a storefront to offer lessons was a longtime goal:

“It’s something I had wanted to do for a long, long time and this was just the perfect opportunity. Jesse told me he was looking for a space to teach lessons and I thought, “this is it, let’s go, let’s make it happen,” said Zeiber. 

While the Morongo Basin is known as a musical hotspot, its tourist-based economy and its resident’s often transient tendencies make consistent support for local musicians somewhat elusive. With arts programs often overlooked in the school system’s budget, there is likely a demographic of musically curious teens with no in-person teaching opportunities. Luckily, Zeiber is already part of the team at Groundwork Arts, who offers MUSD elementary students after school music programs, and hopes to bring more of these opportunities to the greater public. 

“I think if you’re not local to this area you maybe don’t realize how much music is actually staying right here, comes from here, stays here, lives here. So I think a lot of people look at Joshua tree and think there’s not enough population or it’s a tourist destination so it can’t really support something like this, where we really see the value of supporting the community that is here year-round, then also serving these tourists who come visit us when they get the inclination,” said Zeiber.

Worstell noted that while music venues and programs are in constant flux, the overabundance of hi-desert recording studios and their need for specialized equipment is becoming higher in demand.

“There’s a lot of music studios here too and that’s a community we wanna service as well. Like the pro musician that might need a cable or some sort of pro audio thing that they don’t wanna do the three hours round trip down to Guitar Center for. So there’s a swath of beginners and then also professional musicians. Our lessons right now are our busiest thing and the schedule is filling up really, really fast so there’s definitely a hunger for it,” said Worstell. 

The Noise Floor carries new equipment like guitars, amplifiers, drums, keyboards and all accessories, and does consignment for “previously loved” equipment which Worstell says keeps them very busy. Last April, they held their first “gear swap” where they offered a gathering space for locals to donate, trade, or sell gear they had grown out of. They’re likely to even carry a one-of-a-kind instrument here and there, like the fretless bass ukulele with rubber strings they’re currently selling.

The Noise Floor also offers light repairs but for heavier projects they recommend Tumbler Guitars in Yucca Valley (run by musician and professional luthier Pat Tumbler). Along with Stan’s Music, Zeiber says the three local music shops complement each other rather than compete. Though one element that may set them apart is their stage and PA in the main showroom where they will host live events.  

This Saturday, The Noise Floor Grand Opening will run all day from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. The celebration includes free guitar and drum group lessons, a songwriting clinic, a guitar set-up clinic including maintenance, with live performance by Tom Hadix, with food by Hot Dog Grrrl and non-alcoholic drinks by Best Day Brewing.

The event is free and open to the public.

The Noise Floor is located at 6416 Hallee Road, Suite A in Joshua Tree.