# Basement show

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Type of musical performance

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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](/source/Punk_rock) or [hardcore punk](/source/Hardcore_punk) variety, that is held in the [basement](/source/Basement) of a [residential](/source/Residential) home, rather than at a traditional [venue](/source/Music_venue). These are also sometimes referred to as **house shows** as they can happen anywhere in a residential house, not just in the basement.[1][2]

## Background

Scrum Force performing at basement show venue Kame House in [Pittsburgh](/source/Pittsburgh) in 2024

Basement shows are normally held for a variety of reasons, including:[3]

- 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](/source/DIY_ethic) and [punk](/source/Punk_subculture)/[hardcore](/source/Hardcore_punk) culture;

- shows completely avoid any sort of [corporate](/source/Corporation) [sponsorship](/source/Sponsor_(commercial)); it is therefore considered the [antithesis](/source/Antithesis) of [selling out](/source/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](/source/Deerhunter)'s "Basement Scene" and "Theme Song for a New Brunswick Basement Show" by [Lifetime](/source/Lifetime_(band)).[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] 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.[3]

## See also

- [Punk rock](/source/Punk_rock)

- [Garage rock](/source/Garage_rock)

- [House concert](/source/House_concert)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Kolic, Doug (February 24, 2023). ["Basement Show Goes Dark After Grandma Turns on Kettle Upstairs"](https://thehardtimes.net/culture/basement-show-goes-dark-after-grandma-turns-on-kettle-upstairs/). *The Hard Times*. Retrieved February 24, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["The Underground World of Philly's Basement House Shows"](https://www.34st.com/article/2023/02/house-show-basement-diy-indie-band-venue-scene-venus-twins). *www.34st.com*. Retrieved February 24, 2023.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-DeGroot_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-DeGroot_3-1) DeGroot, Joey (April 19, 2014). ["6 Reasons Why Basement Shows are Better Than Venue Shows"](https://www.musictimes.com/articles/5591/20140419/six-reasons-why-basement-shows-are-better-than-venue-shows.htm). *Music Times*. Retrieved April 19, 2014.

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