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Bay Area Music Community Shattered By Loss From Oakland Fire

OAKLAND (CBS SF) -- With a number of local musicians and DJs listed among the fatal victims and missing in the wake of the Oakland Ghost Ship fire, the Bay Area music community has been shaken to its core.

A musician who gave his name as Denny Joints brought his guitar to the makeshift memorial in Oakland Monday and played to release both anger and sadness.

"I'm singing for them because they're gone," said Joints.

Among the musical artists still missing in the Ghost Ship fire are electronic musician Joseph Matlock -- better known as Joey Casio -- talented sound engineer Barrett Clark and Chelsea Faith, an electronic musician known as Cherushii.

Cash Askew, a 22-year-old member of the dream-pop band Them Are Us Too, was confirmed dead over the weekend. Singer Nex Iuguolo was also confirmed dead.

Jodel Deoliveira, a local singer, came down Monday to pay her respects. She said the fire is a huge blow to the music community.

"For the music community, it's an incredible loss. For the art community it's a devastating loss," said Deoliveira. "It's a loss for all people, it's a loss for Oakland. It's a loss for art."

Continuing Coverage: Deadly Oakland Warehouse Fire

Music director at LIVE 105 Aaron Axelsen told KPIX 5 he used to plan those same kind of underground events himself.

"Think about it. There are hundreds of these parties that happen all the time really with no major repercussions. It's just a tragedy," said Axelsen.

Axelsen says the culture has been going on for decades without any major problems. But now, he hopes young promoters will think twice.

"It would be even more of a tragedy and an insult to the victims of this Oakland warehouse fire if they didn't," said Axelsen.

Joints said the Bay Area music community is resilient.

"It's just that half our f------ friends are f------ dead, and it's going to carry on like it always has," said Joints.

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