Residences
House Shows
Davis Houses

A house show concert is orchestrated by locals and happens in a house, coincidentally enough. It is usually illegal because a noise permit is practically impossible to get in Davis but it is always fun. So when going to a house show it is always best to bring a few bucks to give to the bands who may be on tour and a few more bucks in case the hosts of the show get a noise violation. But house shows are always cheaper than seeing a band at a bar. House shows are the best place to find new music, as most bands start off their careers by playing house shows.

Besides the Davis Wiki Events Board there is also http://undietacos.org to find out about Davis house shows.

Davis has a long history of putting house shows. The Sacramento band Cake used to play in Davis all the time when they were starting. DJ Shadow used to spin records at House dance shows. At the Dam Haus Babes in Toyland, Outhud, Sexy Prison, and Casiotone for the Painfully Alone, as well as many other bands have played in the living room. At the Pirate Ship such touring acts as the Replacements, Violent Femmes, Meat Puppets, Camper Van Beethoven, and Jason Webley have played there over it 25-year history. Local bands like GnarToon, ChoadBot, and the Playboy Millionaires played there.

The legend of Davis house-shows has made it all the way around the world, and consequently, many people in the DIY music community have begun to think of Davis as one of the few exciting small town music scenes (such as Olympia, WA, or Missoula, MT). Live music performances in Davis living rooms have been chronicled on DVD's sold worldwide by Lightning Bolt and XBXRX. This legend of a happening Davis house-show scene has reached such critical mass that no less than one band per day emails me about playing here. Little do they know that we have no "real" venues for mid-week music other than the campus, which is rather limited-access. Here's hoping the city of Davis gets smart and provides an all-ages show-space like they did throughout the mid-90's with the 3rd & B teen center.

So that means it is a good idea to check out a house show because they are always entertaining. And if you want to be able to say "I knew them when" when a band gets famous then check 'em out at a house show.

Oh, and always try to BYOB.

Some houses that currently put on shows:

Former show houses:

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