Craft coffee and rappers

Not many people would expect death metal and rap concerts to be held at a coffee shop, but that is exactly what happens at the Eleventh House.

Eleventh House is a coffee house and growing live music venue located at 116 N. 3rd St., Lafayette. They focus on making craft coffee and cultivating a safe all-ages space for youth to enjoy live music.

“We also emphasize that everything on the menu should have a vegan and vegetarian option,” employee Justin Perry said. “That way, anyone who wants to come out has the ability to have anything we offer.”

Eleventh House used to operate out of The Spot Tavern and recently opened its own location on November 11.

“When I found out we were moving outside the Spot Tavern, I jokingly said, ‘You should let me throw shows,’ to the owner Gianna, and she said yes. I’ve been running with it until she tells me to stop or until it gets out of hand,” Perry said.

His love for live music inspired him to host shows at the coffee house. Perry grew up going to local basement shows around Lafayette including the Doom Room, a local heavy-metal venue.

“It really made me just feel like a part of something bigger. I wanted to bring a tidbit of that here, especially for all ages because most of the places here that throw shows are bars,” he said. “That automatically limits who can show up, but I think music should be accessible to everyone and be for everyone.”

Since their first show in January, Eleventh House has begun collaborating with the Doom Room as a secondary venue location.

“I went to the Doom Room a lot from 2017 to 2019. It was sketchy in the best way. It had a dirt floor, but a lot of charm to it. It resonated with me because of how weird it was,” he said.

Perry is the lead associate booking bands for shows.

“We are open to all genres. I’m game for anything and everything that people want to hear,” he said.

The popularity of bands at the venue varies. Recently Perry contacted more known bands like Tigers Jaw, which scored indie rock hits in the 2000s, and Joyce Manor, a pop-punk band with a sound reminiscent of My Chemical Romance.

Perry’s goal is to make a venue accessible to as many people as possible. That includes all ages, people with dietary restrictions and those sensitive to flashing lights.

“There is an organization called DIY based out of Ohio,” Perry said. “It’s something I’m trying to establish here since they emphasize photosensitivity. Some people have epilepsy or are sensitive to light, and concert-goers deserve a warning if a show may not be safe for them.”

Perry said it is especially important to offer a safe space for young people to enjoy concerts.

“When I was in high school, I was dealing with depression and other mental illnesses. It felt nice going to a show every weekend with a crowd that didn’t care who I was, who just wanted to have a good time,” Perry said. “There’s nothing like screaming songs that you hold so dearly with a bunch of strangers.”

Michael O’Hara, 29, is a music artist from Fort Wayne, Indiana. On Saturday, he performed at Eleventh House as a rapper for his solo project M. O., and as a drummer for his band Green Leaves and a solo project titled John Penman.

“Performing at an all-ages venue is super important to us. There are not a lot of all-ages venues out there,” O’Hara said.

“I think it’s important for young people to have a space where they can let out safely,” he said. “Everyone has different things going on in their lives. Shows can be a big release of negative emotions for people.”

For O’Hara, shows were a place where he could let loose as a teenager and relieve stress. He said outlets like this help people manage their lives. His favorite feature of small venues like Eleventh House is how intimate the relationship between acts and an audience can be.

“You’re not separated from the crowd by a barricade that is 10 feet away,” he said.

This is apparent at the Eleventh House, where O’Hara was able to dance through the crowd during his set.

“I’ve had a lot of small interactions with people after a performance that said they really enjoyed themselves or they were experiencing their first show. It’s awesome they feel the need to praise a performance and to be their first show is an amazing privilege.”

Perry’s goal for the Eleventh House as a venue is to keep expanding and to book bigger touring acts. He said he has big plans for the summer and to watch out for announcements soon.

Fliers and information about future concerts, which usually take place on Fridays and Saturdays, are available on Instagram @ELEVENTHHOUSE.COFFEE.