House shows, or DIY backyard concerts — although hidden — are a window into Ventura County’s vibrant youth music scene. Giving small-time bands and performers a chance to showcase their talent to an audience, house shows also provide residents with an intimate yet lively setting to listen to live music free of charge. 

May 15 saw yet another house show from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. featuring local youth bands and a diverse lineup of music. Attendees of the house show ranged from mainly youth to some adults, with many of them knowing band members themselves or tagging along with friends. 

For the musicians who took the stage at the house show, each spoke passionately about their musical journeys of being in bands and had the opportunity to showcase their talents and the benefits of participating. 

Ruby Price ‘27, a member of Lucy and a student at Foothill Technology High School (Foothill Tech), has been playing music since the seventh grade and has been in her current band for almost two years. 

“My favorite part of performing is definitely just getting up there and being able to perform in front of people … It’s really helped boost my ability to speak in public,” Price said.

Kirra Anderson ‘28, a Ventura High School (VHS) student playing in the bands Vinyl Rome and Hear Her Cries, has been playing music since she was nine years old. She has been a part of Vinyl Rome since the start of her music journey, but has also recently formed the new band, Hear Her Cries, debuting the night of the house show.

“I love the energy … everyone dancing together and connecting on one song, it’s so cool,” Anderson said.

Vera Garcia, a performer who also helped organize the event, played in three out of the six bands at the house show. Along with Anderson, Garcia is in Vinyl Rome and Hear Her Cries, as well as Purely Gray. Garcia has been playing music for “god knows how long,” and clearly has a knack for performing and musical talent.

“I love being in front of people, expressing myself in a way that feels true … It’s a place where it’s socially acceptable to dance like no one’s watching,” Garcia said.

Jason “Bishop” Fleagane ‘27, another student at Foothill Tech and band member of Splinter and The Clones, has been playing music for about three years. He has been in The Clones for almost two years and Splinter for one year.

“My favorite part of performing is being able to do things you’d normally do with friends on stage in front of a lot of people. It feels really sincere,” Fleagane said.

It’s clear that each band performing and every single audience member is extremely passionate about musical craft and live shows. Especially in the age of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the rise of AI music, keeping these intimate and personal performances alive is ever more important.

When speaking on the topic of the importance of local shows, Kell Kingsmith ‘26, a student at VHS and an attendee of the house show, said, “Local shows are an amazing way to show up for your community, to see people you know perform and to interact with musicians much more than you would at a big concert.”

House shows are one of the best ways to preserve authentic live music and performance, and although they may seem underground or difficult to find, there are many ways to find these shows and support local bands, especially through social media. These shows are small enough that talking one-on-one with the performers is as easy as talking to an old friend. These connections can ultimately lead to invites and garner more support for small-time artists.

Even if you want to branch out from the crowd and start or get involved with a band of your own, Fleagane said, “Just know it’s not that hard to find people. If you want to form a band, you very much can.”

A common misconception and worry among people when it comes to house shows is that there isn’t a diverse selection of genres you can see performed, but on the contrary, there is so much to choose from and explore. “It’s not all reggae or hardcore … there’s rock, indie rock, pop and even 1940s-inspired classics. There’s so much music,” Garcia said, expressing the sentiment that there’s something for everyone.

The next time you attend a house show, you might leave with a new friend, a new taste in music or a new favorite song. Don’t be afraid to explore different types of music and form connections with other like-minded people, especially at these events.