Two box fans hang in a living room at 3846 Government St. on Wednesday night, cooling a crowd of 15 people while they watch Mannequin Men, a rock band from Chicago. This past month, 3846 Government St., a house that acts as a nontraditional venue for local and touring bands, had half as many shows booked as it does this month. With so many venues to book shows in Baton Rouge, houses might not seem like an ideal place to play. “Why not?” asked Brian Domingue, University alumnus and bassist for local rock outfit Justinbailey. He is the owner of the Government Street house. Domingue said most bars are booked two to three months in advance. Most house shows can be booked a month in advance but flexibility allows last minute booking. “I’d much rather play a house show with five people watching than a bar with five people watching,” he said. “House shows are just so much more intimate.” House shows have been around Baton Rouge for years, Domingue said, from Violet Street to Aster Street. In April of this year, Domingue started booking Sunday and Monday shows for touring bands that were finding it hard to find a place to come through and play on those days. Now, shows are being held any day of the week. “We’re booking more through word-of-mouth,” he said. Liz Earle, Spanish graduate student, and keyboardist for local band The Stellaphonics, said she has been going to house shows since high school. “[These shows] are just more fun,” she said. “It’s like you’re just practicing with your friends watching, and that’s very relaxing.” Danny Nixdorff, electrical engineering senior and saxophone player for The Stellaphonics, said house shows are dirty and raw and what do-it-yourself in the music scene is all about. “When you play a bigger show, you go on and play, and then you’re done,” he said. “There’s less interaction at a bar or venue.” Nixdorff said he’s excited about playing house shows because he never knows what band he is going to play with and whether one day that band will become famous. He said house shows also have a greater variety of bands playing. Seth Bohn, Mannequin Men drummer, said house shows are more relaxing but can end up being a party. Bohn and his band have played house shows across the country. “When people are at a house show, it’s a lot more close and friendly,” he said. “People come up to you and talk, instead of just kind of being at a venue.”
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