If we’re being honest, Notre Dame is lacking an active music scene. Sure there’s Acousticafé, which is a lot of fun and allows people to showcase their talents. There are also plenty of singing groups, an orchestra, and, of course, the marching band. But the closest thing we have to an up-and-coming rock/indie/alternative scene are shows that Legends puts on every now and then. Now, I didn’t come to ND expecting to go to concerts every week. I knew that becoming a Domer meant dividing my time between studying, clubs, and hanging out with friends, with little time for concert-hopping. But, I also came here with a strong love of music. Does this not look like fun?
I’m a guitarist, drummer, and singer. I had hopes of finding some people to jam with once I got to campus. I even posted on my class’s Facebook page. Although I did get a few responses from fellow musicians, it’s a month into the school year now and I think we’ve all discovered that the workload is a bit more intense than we were expecting. I’m beginning to understand why there aren’t many student bands, although this could also be due to the fact that the majority of the student body doesn’t come from a rock music-playing background. Most people I’ve met had the experience of mandatory piano lessons or were band geeks/orch dorks since middle school. I, too, fall into this category. My only instrument was the cello throughout school, and only during my last two years of high school did I branch out to rock instruments.
So where can one go to experience live music without having to go all the way to Chicago? As it turns out, there are two (count ‘em) music venues that offer regular indie/alt/rock concerts at little to no cost.
The first, and most well known, is The Pool.
This is probably the most innovative music venue in the area. Bands play in an actual pool that was part of Central High School. The school has since been shut down and converted to apartments, but The Pool has remained. Bands play in the shallow end while the audience watches from the deep end and above on the deck. According to The Pool’s Facebook group, there are 1-3 shows per month. The Pool also hosts community activities like yoga and game night. Shows are technically free, but the venue runs entirely on donations.
Another music venue with potential is LangLab.
They don’t have any events coming up in the near future, but have promised on their website that they’ll get a calendar up soon. In the past, they’ve featured rising groups like Laura Cortese & the Dance Cards, Deerhoof and the Cloak Ox (Minnesota natives for the win!) LangLab also has an interesting set-up: it’s located in a 33,000 square foot warehouse. The music venue alone takes up 4,000 square feet, so there’s plenty of room for all your friends! Aside from concerts, LangLab hosts theatre and dance workshops.
Next time you’re looking for something fun to do off campus, check out the Pool or LangLab for some great, cheap, LIVE entertainment! Both venues host all-ages shows, so there’s no need to bring your fakes!
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Images: Main (provided by author), 1, 2 (provided by author), 3