Saturday, Oct. 18, marked the first collaboration between KXDU and the local music venue Rug Room. 

Beginning at 7 p.m., guests paid $5 cash or $8 via Venmo for entry. Activities like painting, a bonfire and cornhole, set up by Rug Room residents, allowed for all guests to enjoy a full experience, whether they were listening to the music or spending time with friends.

The theme was “Indie Sleaze” and both the music and the fashion matched the vibes perfectly.

Rug Room, located on South Franklin St., welcomed guests through the backyard of the house. The garage, where the music took place, was decorated with rugs covering the walls and floor. 

The music space was created by students who are residents of the home, including Andrew Bachrodt. Rug Room was created when one of his roommates expressed frustration with a venue canceling at the last minute which led them to realize a space for live music is overdue at DU. 

“We had all of our guests ready to come and everything was prepared so we were like why don’t we just do it in the garage,” Bachrodt said. 

Their first makeshift venue turned out to be a success and from there Rug Room was born. 

“A lot of DU bands need a place to play and we could be the people that start it,” said Bachrodt.

Major Motion Picture (MMP) opened the night with alternative rock music. Songs like “Detroit” and “Slugger” brought high energy to the room causing everyone to jump. 

“This has got to be one of my favorite DIY venues I’ve ever been to,” lead singer Lucky said. 

The band utilized the intimate space to enhance their performance, stepping into the crowd at certain moments. MMP heavily interacted with the crowd throughout the set, instructing people to wave their hands, jump, repeat phrases and even got everyone low to the ground at one point. 

Up next was The Sweet Reliefs, shifting the tone to a more indie sound. They also had the audience captivated with people singing songs back to them.

They covered the popular song “Kilby Girl” by The Backseat Lovers, which had everyone in the room dancing and singing the lyrics. They offered a unique spin on the classic, mainly with the addition of a saxophone, differing vocals and a stage presence that created a joyful energy throughout the room. 

To close the night, The End All offered a jazz sound keeping the audience captivated. The saxophone made another appearance and kept everyone dancing. They ended the night on a high note by highlighting music from their new album titled “New Moon, Light Pollution,” which came out on all platforms in August. 

Each group had a unique style, allowing the music of the night to vary from alternative rock to jazz emphasizing the DIY nature and purpose of the Rug Room — to bring all people together.

“There’s no other place at DU that actually does something like this,” Bachrodt said. 

He noted that the group wants to continue offering music for everyone to enjoy, like Latin nights and square dancing events. 

The Rug Room’s next event is Oct. 31 where attendees are expected to dress in costume for Halloween.