Erin Manion [left] soundchecks for her debut performance at The Deli, a living room house show venue located in the neighborhood surrounding Syracuse University. Musicians often use house show performances to gain confidence in their performing abilities and grow their local audience. Jack Harrington [right] fills in to play bass for Manion.

At The Ark, attendees socialize, drink, and dance to the basement show under their feet. Because house show venues are often too small for the audiences they draw in, spaces like kitchens, dining rooms, and backyards are delegated for socializing.

The audience in the basement of Coney Island shines their phones and sings along with the popular Syracuse University band NoNewFriends. The venue Coney Island has known several names throughout the years, changing names with each new house renter.

An upended couch blocks the front door of The Deli in an attempt to maximize standing space in the rest of the venue [left]. House show venues are close quarters, allowing for just a few feet between performers and the audience. At Coney Island, the only thing separating the crowd from the act are two solo cups, a can of PBR, and a mic stand [right].

From the crowd and the couch, the audience of The Deli listens to The Brazen Youth, a touring band from Connecticut. While a large part of house show performers are local musicians, venues sometimes book small touring bands.

Shallow Alcove and NoNewFriends perform the last songs of the night together at Coney Island. With two popular local bands on the same bill, the audience was not shy about dancing and singing along.

At The Deli, attendees hang hammocks on the porch and listen to the show pumping through the windows. Like any other concert, house shows are loud and sweaty. To cool down and get away from the noise, attendees usually seek backyards, driveways, and porches to chat, smoke, and shotgun.

Playing the role of a bouncer, Griffin Small sits at the entrance of The Deli to welcome attendees, assure they pay the entrance fee, and regulate the number of people in the house to prevent it from being dangerously overcrowded.

Bathed in purple and green light in the basement of The Hotbox, the audience listens to local band Trash perform. Hosting one to two shows a weekend, The Hotbox is the most active house show venue on campus.

The house show network of musicians often supports one another by playing in each others’ bands. During Erin Manion’s [center] first show, Dan Harris of Shallow Alcove plays guitar [right], and Jack Harrington of NoNewFriends plays bass [left].

House Show venues are more than a party for college students to listen to music. They provide a space for students to test their place in the music industry, to connect with likeminded people, and to enjoy low cost intimate music. Shallow Alcove performs live for the first time at Space Camp, one of the most beloved house show venues of our class.