A basement show is a show, often of the punk rock or hardcore punk variety, that is held in the basement of a residential home, rather than at a traditional venue. These are also sometimes referred to as "house shows" as they can happen anywhere in a residential house, not just in the basement. Basement shows are normally held for a variety of reasons, including:
lack of a suitable venue in the area;
convenience and relative ease;
host can give much back to their local scene and community;
shows completely avoid any sort of corporatesponsorship; it is therefore considered the antithesis of selling out, and keeping the scene, small and independent; and
basements are more suitable for smaller bands, with an audience of fewer than 50 people.
Some bands have written songs about this, such as "It Sounds Better In The Basement" by The Devil Is Electric. 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 cultural exchange that is community based.
Yet, despite its symbolic value, basement shows have been declining steadily since the '80scitation needed. There are several reasons for this:
cities have become stricter with enforcing noise regulations and fire codes, making basement shows increasingly more difficult;
people are becoming less willing to hold them, as often, theft, and vandalism can occur in the house where the show is being held;
DIY and the origins of punk music and ethic are blurred by commodification and appropriation by mainstream music and culture
Nevertheless, basement shows still occur, often to stage local shows as get-together for the local kids, and for touring bands that cannot find other venues to play, although sometimes a house show is preferred.
