Portions of Rapid City's music scene have gone underground in past months - specifically, to the stage in the basement below Romans Lounge at the Imperial Inn downtown.

The manager of the venue, Vincent Barrios, said gigs have been booked there for more than a year, and there is a show about every other week.

"If someone wants to set up a show, all they have to do is contact us to put together a contract," Barrios said. "We don't allow alcohol in the actual venue, but there is a bar upstairs where people can go if they are over 21."

The space can hold up to 275 people and Barrios said it gets pretty packed for some of the shows.

"The promoter is in charge of the admission prices," Barrios said. "We help with the marquee and we post flyers around here. Bands provide their own security, but we still monitor it to make sure that no one under 21 drinks. The shows are for people 18 and up - depending on the show. Sometimes they allow 16 and up. That's up to the promoter and the bands."

The availability of the Imperial has been the answer for many promoters and bands since Venue 8, another downtown location, closed. For local promoter Jason Schaefer, the change of venue has added to his responsibilities, but the extra work has not caused a change of heart.

"Since Venue 8 closed, it has just become a little bit more work from me to put together a show," Schaefer said. "There's a lot more setup; sometimes I have to do sound and after it's over, I have to do all of the cleanup."

Despite the extra work, Schaefer said it doesn't matter to him where he has to go, because he is dedicated to booking and working shows in the area.

"I just need to do it," he said. "I have a big passion for music. I like a lot of different kinds of music and I like to show people that there's other stuff out there besides what's in the mainstream."

Schaefer said he also likes to book the underground shows at the Imperial because the DIY - do it yourself - bands he often books are an example of how a band can be involved in the music industry without making it big.

"You can do it all on your own. You can record your own album, make your own CDs, start your own record label - all of it," Schaefer said. "The DIY bands book their own tours. A lot of times they'll make their own merchandise, too. They'll make their own T-shirts, patches - anything they can to get their name on something to promote their music."

For Schaefer, the appeal of the Imperial isn't just its availability and willingness to allow underground bands in. He also enjoys the space.

"I like the space. It's got that big bar upstairs and that helps bring in the 21-plus crowd," Schaefer said. "But there's no alcohol downstairs, so the younger kids can come to the shows, too. Really, the only thing I don't like about it is that I have to carry my equipment downstairs."

The night of a show, there are often two bands from out of town and two local groups. Each band sets up its equipment, plays for 20 to 30 minutes and then takes its equipment down after the set. Schaefer said that usually means about a 15-minute break between sets.

The type of music at the venue varies "big time," according to Schaefer. But he said most of the acts could be categorized as punk or hardcore. The defining characteristic of the music is the fact that it is considered underground and that the bands are DIY.

The crowd also varies as much as the music, according to Schaefer.

"The people coming to shows vary a lot," Schaefer said. "There are a few crossover people that come to all different types of shows, but for the most part, the type of music dictates which crowd usually comes."

But if the bands are underground and unknown, how does anyone know what type of music it is?

"Most of the time the kids can tell what type of music it will be by who's promoting the show," Schaefer said. "And the promoters try to give some kind of description of the music on the fliers."

The methods of promoting the shows are often underground, too, according to Schaefer.

"It's either word of mouth or fliers hung up around town. Sometimes people find out about it from MySpace," he said.

Schaefer said the shows normally start round 7 p.m. and prices range from $6 to $12.

Topher Moore is the bass player for local group Sonic Future, and he last played at the Imperial on July 4. Moore said he likes performing at the Imperial better than some of the other performance spaces in town.

"It's cozy but big, and it has a stage, so it was designed for bands to play in. Some of the other spaces around town you're on the same level as the audience, and it just isn't as good," he said.

For more information on the Imperial, call Barrios at 343-5501.

For more information on Jason Schaefer's shows, go to http://www.myspace.com/kefpproductions.

Contact Crystal Hohenthaner at 394-8423 or crystal.hohenthaner@rapidcityjournal.com.