Rot Spot with The Reys
What is Rot Spot?
Somewhere, in a seemingly normal Bloomington basement, a group of friends had an idea. They wanted to provide a sober space for the locals to kick it and lose themselves in music. They created a place of comradery, good vibes, and killer tunes. Rot Spot, previously called “The Reys House,” was born.
Local (and touring) musicians gathered at Rot Spot on April 26, 2024 to make noise and have a great time. College kids on a study break from finals, and music fans of all walks had their lives changed in that basement. I would know, I was one of them. Listening to Mourning Star, The Reys, Echoes Answer, and out of state sensation Clementine, everyone in that basement went crazy. The energy was unmatched. Thanks to The Reys, I’m sure Rot Spot will soon be one of the most popular DIY venues in the area.
If you are looking for local shows to attend, I highly recommend attending a show at Rot Spot. Shows at Rot Spot are advertised on their instagram page in a DM for address manner. Here is a link to their instagram!
Rot Spot Lineup Board
Rot Spot Venue Sign featuring Clementine
Rot Spot Footage
The Reys performing live Friday April 26, 2024
The Reys: Playing Live at Rot Spot
Who are The Reys? Where did they come from?
Their story is great, and I would love to tell it myself, but they tell it better:
“In high school, me and Nate were in this songwriting class. Our teacher quit his job out of nowhere, and we were left with a substitute that let us play in the back with no supervision. We used to play Rec League soccer as kids so we hit it off pretty well… sooner or later he invited me to play some music at his mom’s house. She made us tacos. It was great. I introduced my friend Jake (who I’d seen win our talent show for playing drums) to Nate after a couple practices, and we decided to try playing an open mic at a bar, in the middle of nowhere. Before our the show we got some Burger King, and we realized we needed a name, so we used Burger King in Spanish (hamburguesa de reys) and just kept the Reys lol. We just enjoyed playing and that was our schtick. After high school, I started attending IU where I, eventually, met Connor while playing guitar under a tree outside my dorm. He was the only person to recognize my Modern Baseball t-shirt, and he was added to the band not long after. I started attending all the local shows in Bloomington I could, and I was finally able to score us a show. It was literally everything we’ve ever wanted, so we’ve been keeping that momentum up as much as we can.”
- Zach
What is their sound?
The Reys have such a uniquely melancholic sound, not unlike the great midwest emo bands that have come before them. Their lyrics are full of raw emotion, discussing fears of the future, dissatisfaction with the self, and loss. While autobiographical in nature, their music is intensely relatable. It fills its listeners with the knowledge that someone out there knows what it is like to hurt, making the listener feel less alone. Somehow their music leaves me feeling hopeful, and I can’t wait to see where they go!
The Reys are a self proclaimed Midwest Emo band, and their sound fits that moniker. I recommend their music to anyone who enjoys Modern Baseball’s Sports album, The Hotelier, The World Is A Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid To Die, Guardin, and Sorority Noise.
Follow their Instagram here!
