Article and Interview by Kenzie Trikouros
Step into the underground music scene of New Brunswick, New Jersey, where the air is heavy with anticipation. Nestled in the heart of the College Ave campus is The Crypt – one of the many basement show venues in the area. The Crypt house is home to six Rutgers students: Bhuvan Dave, Josh Skoudis, Calum Binnie, Patrick Heeb, Brett Benson, and Deys. I had the chance to sit down with my friends Bhuvan and Patrick to talk about The Crypt and what it takes to be one of the most popular DIY venues in the area.
Origin Story
The Crypt’s roots go back to when Bhuvan, Josh, and Calum moved to the Busch campus of Rutgers University and realized there wasn’t much of a basement show or music scene there. The basement shows are typically on the College Avenue or Cook Douglass campuses.
“There was nothing to do other than go to Josh’s performances every other week,” Bhuvan said.
Josh with his band performed at various venues on College Ave. Going to these performances inspired Bhuvan, Calum, and Josh to start a basement show venue of their own.
“We decided to live off-campus specifically to have a basement show house,” Bhuvan added, “We got the house June first and threw our first show June third.”
The first show in 2022 had an attendance of around 40 people. Today, there are well over 300 at each show.
Bhuvan said, “That summer we didn’t have a name, we were just inviting people to come to the house for good music and a show.”
The Crypt was one of the first names on a mega list of venue name ideas.
“We were like ‘No that’s too easy…’ it was too ‘college’ and 2012 movie,” Bhuvan said.
“We found a bunch of artwork from a show called ‘Tales from the Crypt’ and used that for flyers. That art fit our vibe perfectly,” he added.
There are two ways to get into the basement for the show. Outside is the most popular choice: a cellar door with a tunnel to the basement.
Bhuvan told me, “The weird cellar door from the backyard to the basement helps make this place what it is.”
The basement is not the only place to go during the shows. The living room and kitchen turn into a lounge area. The backyard is decorated with lights and tables where Crypt-goers can play games or just hang out.
“Our environment is very inviting,” Patrick added, “It is not just music-based.”
The Scene
The basement show community in New Brunswick dates back to the 80s. My Chemical Romance and Thursday are two of the many bands that got their start here. The pictures I’ve seen of MCR playing in a New Brunswick basement in the early 2000s look like they could have been taken at a show last weekend.
“[Gerard Arthur Way] doesn’t look too much different than my friends- just sweaty in a basement,” Patrick commented.
In 2014, Macaulay Culkin, the actor from “Home Alone”, played with his band, Pizza Underground, in New Brunswick.
Philadelphia and New York City are both home to basement show scenes, but they’re nothing like New Brunswick’s. With strict sound ordinances in those cities, it can be hard to pull off the type of show The Crypt does. The party scene at Rutgers can feel dominated by frat parties or going to the bars. The Crypt offers a space for people who don’t enjoy those environments as much.
“Frats are more exclusive and we try to be as inclusive as possible,” Bhuvan said.
Bhuvan went through the recruitment process for a few fraternities before starting The Crypt. None of the frats felt like a good fit. College is a time to socialize and find your place, and at a bigger school like Rutgers, it can become a challenge.
“A big part of this place is helping people adjust socially to college and the college experience,” Patrick said, “As opposed to the stereotypical frat party, [The Crypt] is a little more forgiving.”
The Crypt invites those who are respectful to come to the shows, with a set standard that the same respect will be given back. “No phobes,” is written on every flyer.
Patrick added, “Every type of identity is here and mingling. People can discuss their daily life in school or outside of school. It is an easy way to make friends.”
Patrick found his friends through this scene. He and Josh have been friends for years, even before college.
One day, Patrick got a text from Josh saying, “Hey man, come check out my house! I’m starting a venue.”
“And From Summer 2022 onwards. I had a consistent friend group. I never once had a thought that the people I would meet here would become some of my closest friends,” Patrick said.
The Crypt attracts people in the indie/alt crowd who appreciate independent music and different styles. Bhuvan told me about a time when a group of frat guys wanted to get into the show. They were coming back from an event with their ties undone and shirts untucked.
He said, “We were a little hesitant [to let them in], and five minutes later they were downstairs in the basement moshing with everyone, having a great time.”
“Two different types of people moshing right next to each other… it is a very fulfilling thing to see,” Patrick added.
Crypt-goers are typically college-aged, but sometimes the older crowd shows up too.
“When I catch someone older at the door, I love to see that,” Patrick said, “Even my dad keeps pestering me to come, I show him videos of me playing or of my friends and he says, ‘I gotta meet these people.’”
The generations who ran basement show venues before The Crypt like to see how it has changed and what the scene is like now.
The Alexander Library has archives full of Rutgers and New Brunswick history. There are multiple boxes full of basement show history.
I ran into Bhuvan in the library one day and he invited me to look at the archives with him – boxes and boxes of old flyers and articles about bands. It was so cool to see what the scene used to be like.
Bhuvan said, “Looking at that archive makes me realize I am a part of something bigger.”
There was no way to put “DM for addy” in the caption of an Instagram post or on a flyer. They had to go about it differently.
“Back in the day, you would hand them flyers or put them up. Today we ask people to DM us for the address, back then they would put their landline phone number,” Bhuvan said, “Imagine just ‘What’s the address?’ A hundred times a day.”
If someone owned a venue and a band wanted to perform there, they would mail a CD with their songs on it – not a Spotify link. The New Brunswick basement show scene has a history, and someday The Crypt will be a piece of it.
Prep and Execution
Before preparing the house, they need bands on the bill. Half of the bands performing ask to play at The Crypt while the other half are invited to play there. There are a few regularly scheduled groups at The Crypt like Public Access, Crown Euphoria, and Necto.
“Usually, we decide if a band comes back or not if their setup was easy, if they were nice, and if they were friendly to everybody. If they played well…” Patrick said.
The Crypt’s Instagram is flooded with DMs from bands who want to play.
“What a problem to have right? Too many bands want to perform here,” Bhuvan joked.
Patrick added, “I’ll take that problem.”
A variety of bands come through The Crypt.
“We want to give everyone a different flavor. We will have screamo and funk, or indie rock,” Patrick said.
People will also come up to Bhuvan when he’s out on campus and ask if their band can perform there.
“Hard to distinguish if people are being genuine because I’m Bhuvan or because I’m the ‘Crypt guy,’ it’s a little weird sometimes,” Bhuvan said.
Once the bands are selected, the real prep can start. The housemates work together and help each other out regardless of designated roles. Josh and Patrick work in the basement on sound, while Bhuvan and Calum are buying 800 plastic cups, trash bags, mio, and mixers. They all clean the house to make sure everything is ready.
Other action items before the show include commissioning for a flyer and hiring staff. The staff are usually friends of the housemates.
Regardless of whether they live in the house or not, people are always willing to help out.
“Deys doesn’t always help out, but if he is here he will help out. No one is sitting around,” Bhuvan said, “In fact, if there is a guest who is coming to hang out we ask them to help a little bit. It’s a group effort especially right before the show.”
Final preparations include getting the outdoor lights ready and greeting the bands when they arrive. This is the calm before the storm.
The Show
Bhuvan said, “It’s really stressful during the show.”
The show moves quickly. Patrick described The Crypt as a machine with many moving gears.
“When everyone is having fun – well, we still have our share of fun – we are in the background making sure somebody is okay or that the bands are sounding as good as they possibly can,” Patrick added.
Pieces of paper with the housemates’ phone numbers for any issues or emergencies are placed in all of the bathrooms. They also include their Venmo handles for any donations.
The energy in the basement is contagious. Everyone is dancing, smiling, and nodding their heads to the beat. Outside, indie music plays with the sounds of laughter and conversation.
The Crypt has hosted over 30 shows so far and will have over 40 in its history by the end of the semester.
“I love this place and I love the work that it requires,” Patrick said.
What’s next for The Crypt?
The Crypt has its last show planned for mid-May before all five housemates move out. The love and compassion for this venue is evident in the way everyone cherishes its presence and contributes to its flourishing.
Patrick said, “In 40 to 50 years we will reflect on our college days and The Crypt will be a sharp memory of the past for so many people.”
There will still be shows at the house, but not under The Crypt’s name.
Bhuvan, Calum, and Josh are graduating and hope to take the lessons learned from the house into their future.
“When you chase a dream and you put the work in, you achieve it. This started as a passion project and turned into a full-on business,” Bhuvan said, “This is better than any of us could have ever imagined.”
Patrick is a rising senior and won’t be running a venue at his house.
“I plan to help out some friends next year starting their own basement show venue,” he said.
Bhuvan went to the Rutgers Career Fair with “CEO and owner of The Crypt” on his resume.
“I was getting more questions about The Crypt than I was about my computer science major,” Bhuvan said.
Patrick feels that being a part of The Crypt motivated him to want his own club or venue in the future; he can even write “booking agent” on his resume. Patrick is also in a band called Crown Euphoria.
Bhuvan said people sometimes come up to him to say, “Thank you for doing this,” after the show. That adds to the feeling of success and pride that comes with putting together a lucrative event.
Patrick closed with, “It feels great. I like that feeling a lot and I want to transfer that feeling into the later aspects of my life.”
The Crypt may be closing its doors, but its legacy as a beacon of originality and friendship in the basement show scene shines on. Thank you to The Crypt for many shows and memories, and to Bhuvan and Patrick for chatting with me!
Photos and words by Kenzie Trikouros. Additional photos by Dan Bainbridge
If reposting, please credit @kenzcat3.jpeg and @almostfamouszine.
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