Springfield, MO – On an otherwise quiet Saturday night, the sound of music can be heard from a nearby home. Windows rattle, speakers blare, and cheering voices emerge from the otherwise ordinary house. Inside, waves of eager fans crowd the floor as independent musicians from across the region share their music with new ears. This is the vision that Kodie and her roommates turned into a reality in 2022, fostering a brand-new community founded on feminism and queer inclusivity.
Kodie, along with the help of their two roommates, opened their doors as Rock Bottom for the first time in 2022. Since then, they’ve hosted countless hardcore bands from the greater Springfield area and beyond in the space of their own basement.
“I’ve always loved DIY,” Kodie shares, referring to the independent start-up or “DIY” music community. “I’ve been a part of helping other DIY houses run before and I was ready to open my own.”
In its relatively recent lifespan, Rock Bottom has already hosted around fifteen shows, with local and visiting artists performing in the venue.
One visitor, Zoe, described the environment as “energetic and passionate,” a sentiment that can be felt throughout the audience, “The bands rocked… they almost always do,” she said. “You can always see how happy they are to perform, which makes it that much better.” Many musicians cross multiple state lines to perform at new locations, and are delighted to have an enthusiastic audience.
“The music was really good!” remembered another patron by the name of Maizie. “Transparence played a cover of Heart Tattoo at one of the shows I went to, and that was really fun! I love supporting local musicians and listening to new music. Even if it isn’t the type of music I usually listen to, I still really enjoy seeing what they do!” The venue is primarily frequented by hardcore, emo, and shoegaze bands, though no hard genre restrictions are in place.
Despite the success, however, running a successful DIY venue is hard work. “Show prep usually involves cleaning, making sure we have all the equipment we need, [and] buying anything we’ll need,” Kodie says. Despite the effort put in, some guests still treat the environment with disrespect. “[The] biggest problem has been just getting people to understand and follow rules,” remarks Kodie.
The venue has no set price requirement, but visitors are encouraged to donate what they can. Much of the donation money goes directly into new equipment, such as a newly-acquired P.A. system.
Maizie recently had the opportunity to speak with Kodie as well during one of her visits. “She was super nice and made me and my friends feel very welcome,” Maizie said. “She made sure we knew we could come back any time.”
