Basement show

{{Short description|Type of musical performance}} {{Refimprove|date=September 2020}} {{Use mdy dates|date=November 2019}} [[File:Walktheline 315.jpg|thumb|Walk The Line was a Syracuse, NY based hardcore punk band from 2003 to 2006. This picture was from a New Year's Eve basement show.]] A '''basement show''' is a musical performance, often of the [[punk rock]] or [[hardcore punk]] variety, that is held in the [[basement]] of a [[residential]] home, rather than at a traditional [[Music venue|venue]]. These are also sometimes referred to as '''house shows''' as they can happen anywhere in a residential house, not just in the basement.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kolic |first=Doug |date=2023-02-24 |title=Basement Show Goes Dark After Grandma Turns on Kettle Upstairs |url=https://thehardtimes.net/culture/basement-show-goes-dark-after-grandma-turns-on-kettle-upstairs/ |access-date=2023-02-24 |website=The Hard Times |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Underground World of Philly's Basement House Shows |url=https://www.34st.com/article/2023/02/house-show-basement-diy-indie-band-venue-scene-venus-twins |access-date=2023-02-24 |website=www.34st.com}}</ref>

==Background== [[File:Scrum Force at Kame House.jpg|thumb|Scrum Force performing at basement show venue Kame House in [[Pittsburgh]] in 2024]] Basement shows are normally held for a variety of reasons, including:<ref name="DeGroot">{{cite web |last1=DeGroot |first1=Joey |title=6 Reasons Why Basement Shows are Better Than Venue Shows |url=https://www.musictimes.com/articles/5591/20140419/six-reasons-why-basement-shows-are-better-than-venue-shows.htm |website=Music Times |date=April 19, 2014 |accessdate=2014-04-19}}</ref> * lack of a suitable venue in the area; * convenience and relative ease; * host can give much back to their local scene and community; * shows hold important symbolic value to the [[DIY ethic]] and [[Punk subculture|punk]]/[[Hardcore punk|hardcore]] culture; * shows completely avoid any sort of [[corporation|corporate]] [[sponsor (commercial)|sponsorship]]; it is therefore considered the [[antithesis]] of [[selling out]], and keeping the scene small and independent; * lastly, basements are more suitable for smaller bands, with an audience of fewer than 50 people.

Some bands have written songs about this, such as [[Deerhunter]]'s "Basement Scene" and "Theme Song for a New Brunswick Basement Show" by [[Lifetime (band)|Lifetime]].{{cn|date=September 2020}} Basement shows also build on the notion of music being more than just performance, but about the building and strengthening of community. By opening one's home to these performances where people come together to share their artwork/music, they open up a community-based cultural exchange.<ref name="DeGroot"/>

==See also== * [[Punk rock]] * [[Garage rock]] * [[House concert]]

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Basement Show}} [[Category:Punk]] [[Category:DIY culture]] [[Category:Underground culture]]