basement band

plural basement bands

1. entertainmentAn amateur or independent musical group that practices, writes, and plays in a residential basement; similar to garage bands, these groups are usually just starting out or working entirely independently (DIY) without commercial backing.

   Trohman then enlisted Stump, a basement-band vet whose tastes ran more Big Bill Broonzy than Big Black.

   2007, Joe Bosso, “Radioactive - FALL OUT BOY were 2005'S OTTEST NEW ACT, BUT 2“ FOLLOW-UPS ARE HELL. PATRICK STUMP, JOE TROHMAN AND PETE WENTZ TELL HOW THEY'LL SURVIVE THE DREADED SOPHOMORE SLUMP WITH THEIR LATEST RELEASE, INFINITY ON HIGH”, in Guitar World

   3 more examples

   Greenday, Hole, Nine Inch Nails, Nirvana and Dr. Gidja's Second Nature. Whether the group be a multi-platinum group, or just a local high school basement band, alternative music definitely has a large following in the 1990's.

   1995, Nicole Kemp and Christine Ritland, Roosevelt High School (Des Moines, IA), “Alternative Music”, in Roughrider

   “Talkin Loud” is pretty awesome, with rad spooky guitars that are somehow garage-y in a ‘60s suburban basement band way and in a ‘80s post-JESUS & MARY CHAIN destruction way...

   2006 November 29, Layla Gibbon, “SUBMARINE RACES - “Wire Taps” EP”, in Maximum Rocknroll 282

   Eric Nies has been gigging since the ’60s, when he started learning songs off AM radio for his brother’s basement band.

   2026, Unattributed, “Doctor Magkneetoe”, in Resorts World Catskills