On Sept. 19, Hellbank, a local DIY venue, threw a house show for students, locals and creatives involved in Binghamton’s music and arts scene. It served as a farewell to Raven Celtys, a Binghamton local and vocalist of The Raven known for organizing DIY and benefit shows.

The lineup consisted of several student and local bands, including Boyband, The Raven, Superweapon 44 and the shackz.

“House shows are always pretty inspiring,” said Nick Picciano, Superweapon 44’s bassist. “I’ve had a few shows at my house, so I’m familiar with the concept of trusting 100 or so of your closest strangers with your personal abode. It’s strangely collaborative. Seeing the passion in the people who go out of their way to come to shows that aren’t just conveniently in the middle of downtown makes me want to be able to do cool stuff for them.”

Unlike a typical venue, the atmosphere of the house show was a warm and welcoming, in contrast with the loud music. Upon arrival, attendees gathered around the venue, chatting with friends while waiting for the show to begin. Fairy lights, posters and personal decorations adorned all surfaces.

Jackie Iannuzzi, drummer of the shackz, discussed the camaraderie stemming from Binghamton’s music scene.

“Pretty instantaneously, I started making connections with people who I am proud to call life long friends, who gave me a sense of purpose and inspiration,” Iannuzzi wrote to Pipe Dream. “It made me realize that even in a town that seems so unthought of, like Binghamton, there is a very dedicated, loving and exceptionally talented community always willing to bring-up others.”

Broadly performing alternative rock music, the shackz kicked off the night with a high-energy set. The duo, which officially formed in May 2024, performed a selection of original tracks. Attendees were pressed shoulder to shoulder, slipping through the hallways and kitchen to get a better view of the stage.

Boyband then pulled the crowd in with their heavy drum sound accompanied by intense but electric lighting, paving the way for the highlight of the show — The Raven. The band said goodbye to the Binghamton music scene as they connected with the crowd, dancing and jumping along with the audience. The Raven performed multiple covers, including “Break Stuff,” by Limp Bizkit.

Celtys commented on how house shows create a space for people to feel connected with one another.

“House shows and live punk rock brings an intimacy of being human, sweaty, alive and free in the body,” Celtys wrote in an email. “It’s not always perfect because, well we’re human and we get pissed off but that’s why being in a band and getting to dance and mosh is the very outlet needed.”

Whether it was The Raven’s alternative-nu sound or the shackz’s grunge-pop vibe, every band brought their own unique energy that pumped up the audience.

Cole Wager, drummer of Superweapon 44, shared how the culture of house shows welcomes new listeners.

“Nothing feeds my passion for making music more than seeing people I’ve never met before crowd surfing, moshing and headbanging to my drumming,” Wager wrote in an email. “The live feedback and heartwarming comments after a show make all the work even more worth it.”