By Everett Clark
REXBURG — Rexburg is a small town, which is great if you like the quiet. Being so close to nature offers many peaceful advantages, but for all the people who want to participate in art and culture, it may be difficult to know where to look. Aside from two movie theaters, performances at the Romance Theater, and events hosted by the university, there aren’t many obvious places to see shows.
I sat down with local band Blame the Deacon for an interview about the live music scene here in Rexburg. All four band members, Easton, Jarrett, Allan, and Noah, have lived in or around Rexburg for a few years. They’ve played over 50 shows in the area, making them experts when it comes to this stuff.
They let me know that although the venues in Rexburg are few, that doesn’t mean the music scene doesn’t offer great times. The Basement has historically been the dominant local venue for live music but recently closed. Owner Carly Paul says the lease expired and all of the sound staff moved to Salt Lake City, so it was time to close.
The other spot, The Venue 101, is located at 28 Carlson Ave in Rexburg. It’s got a website which informs the public about events and schedules. Those interested can attend the weekly HAVANA Night on Fridays, or see a live musician perform on Saturday nights. The best way to stay up to date, however, is through their Instagram @venue101rexburg.
These spots are the most consistent for anyone looking for live shows, but Blame the Deacon say the variety depends on the time of year. “It ebbs and flows depending on how many students are in Rexburg who are interested in music,” the band said. “If there’s a band that can play, they’ll do a show.”
It seems that local bands have to get creative about when and where they play. Blame the Deacon has performed at Porter Park for the yearly Pride Festival, in random apartment complexes, and sometimes right inside SuperLame Vintage, a used clothing store on 2nd East. “They don’t have a big space, so they’ll just push all the clothes off to the side for bands to play,” say Blame the Deacon, “but it’s a really fun place to go if a band happens to be playing there.”
The best way to find live music is to follow local bands on social media to find out when and where they’re playing. I’ve found that there aren’t many regular schedules.
Going to thrift stores or the Claire Boyle Skate Park can be good places to connect with people who are interested in live music. SuperLame, Thrifted Lennons, and other local vintage or thrift stores are frequented by people who are interested in art and culture and who may even know when the next up-and-coming band is playing their next set.
New bands pop up all the time, including Blame the Deacon, who started making music together 3 years ago. Due to the transient student population, sometimes bands have to take time off while members are out of state with internships or other things. But don’t be fooled by Rexburg’s small-town peacefulness. There’s bound to be some good live music playing right under your nose—you just have to know where to look.
