Come A Little Closer

For as long as there has been music, there have been “house” shows (ways of bringing people together for an intimate musical performance). In more modern times, house shows have been a way for marginalized artists to reclaim space, gain autonomy, and have their voices heard in a more inclusive environment. In doing so, many vibrant communities and scenes have been built around a shared love for creative expression. Without the pressure of it being a traditional business/capitalist venture, people are given more freedom to explore and experiment without having to answer to authority. When these practices are co-opted, though, and commodified and repackaged by a corporation, how does that affect the resulting culture? If a community is built on fundamentally different ideals, how similar can they really look in practice? This film seeks to compare two different types of house shows – one facilitated by a corporate entity and one by an independent DIY space – to see what kinds of culture arise in each space. What types of people are drawn to each? What kind of prep goes into putting on each kind of show? What kind of music gets played? How do people behave? In examining these things, this film hopes to shed a light on the ways that capitalist pursuit influences the culture of show spaces.