Punk rock might never die, but venues sometimes do.
The underground punk music scene in Chicago and the surrounding area is alive and well. It has been since the 1970s, but for one underground venue, the Waiting Room, things have turned belly up.
The Waiting Room is a house/basement venue in Naperville, Illinois that has been the home to many shows since its opening in January 2018. Literally “underground,” the Waiting Room’s show floor is in the basement of a cozy house located next to the historic district of Naperville. Owner Elliott Dombrowski said, “It’s existed to allow me to give touring bands, and my friends’ bands, places to play, but it’s also been a place to give brand new, up and coming bands a foot in the door.”
“I’m pretty sure the first show there was meant to be a one off, but it ended up becoming a very special place with a legacy that I don’t think anyone could’ve foreseen,” said Mitch Stout, known in the community for his involvement in bands such as Normalcy, Bad Jokes and California Killers.
Devon Kay & the Solutions played their song “A Message to Every Venue” at the final show as a tribute to The Waiting Room.
While The Waiting Room closed in October, The Waiting Room Productions, the group that organizes shows there, is moving on to bigger, better things.
“The Waiting Room is closing down in favor of The 105, a new venue right in the middle of downtown Naperville,” said Dombrowski. “The 105 allows me to offer (bands) even more — studio time, rehearsal spaces, along with an Audiotree-esque project in the works.”
While only open for less than two years, The Waiting Room averaged two shows each month, according to their Facebook page, and made a large impact on members of the punk rock community. Dombrowski said, “I think what made it special was the community that grew around the venue.”
The Waiting Room was known for its regulars who, according to Stout, “would always turn out to the venue every weekend, regardless of who was playing.”
“It was a place for kids to come and be away from their lives and problems for a few hours and see bands, support their friends’ bands and be around a community that was there for them,” said Dombrowski.
Alex Crook, known for his punk projects Bad Planning and Good&Gone, was also an avid attendee and performer at the underground venue.
“When (Dombrowski) opened up his basement into becoming a music venue, he would keep that door open all night,” said Crook. “I’ve created endeavors and projects with people I met there and can honestly say that I got to know some of my best friends there.”
The final show at The Waiting Room was Oct. 25.
“Nothing will replace The Waiting Room, but The 105 has already been adopted as the next chapter of the punk scene that The Waiting Room started,” said Crook.
