Dawghouse Skis Off Into Their Last Run
- Lauren Juillerat
- 14 minutes ago
- 4 min read
By Caydie Tampac
Photos by Ellyn Pillers
Wrapped up in puffer jackets and knitted beanies and warmed by the raw sounds of local bands, Reno’s music scene gathered in the cozy backyard known as Dawghouse for the last time.
Since its first show on July 13, 2024, Dawghouse has become an adored staple in Reno’s music scene for house venues, having run six shows at their home. The venue owners, Yaneli Pascual-Cruz and Kelly Mader, have given back to the community they love and opened their backyard to foster a friendly atmosphere for anyone playing or listening to live music.
During their humble beginnings, they were apprehensive about hosting shows in a residential neighborhood. In one show, however, their next-door neighbor was filming from his yard.
“It turned out that he was also in a band,” Mader revealed, “He was excited about it and stoked to see that the local art and music scene was thriving here in Reno.”
The high-spirited house venue went out with a bang with their final show. On Nov. 22, Dawghouse collaborated with Biggest Little Bands and their last run shined as bright as snow with the ski-themed shred fest.
The diverse line-up of Serendipity, Solar Flora, Suhns and Honey Plant sent the audience on a journey of sounds from raw and gritty to soulful and groovy. Bands and fans alike layered themselves in their cosiest coats, hats and mittens against the autumn chill, the crowd basking in the toasty warmth of music.
Dawghouse was the place for boosting novice musicians and enlivening the music scene.
“We’ve had bands of all kinds of experience levels and stages in their careers come and play,” Mader said, “It’s really cool to be able to give some sort of platform to all artists.”
Dawghouse’s last run also invited talented local vendors: chic thrift finds from Doll House and The Compound Vintage, stylish homemade beaded jewelry from Mia Bobia Beads, spellbinding handcrafted art from Earthling Emma Lee and Starla Maclellan and tasty sweet treats from Compound Coffee and Beloved Cookie Jar.
Dawghouse cherishes the creativity that their small community exudes and hopes to highlight their expertise and artistry through their events.
Pascual-Cruz shared, “There’s a remarkable community around us. Involving myself was the best decision I've ever made.”
All the proceeds that Dawghouse raised from their shows were donated directly to various nonprofit organizations in Reno. Their philanthropy emphasizes benefitting the local community rather than nation-wide charities.
“Our goal has always been to create tangible impact locally in our community rather than benefitting national organizations that already have ample corporate support,” Mader said. “This city is home for us, and monetary donations can really go a long way when supporting smaller organizations.”
As such, it wouldn’t be a Dawghouse event without giving back to the community. Through ticket sales and donations, they raised $1,062.40 for the Trauma Intervention Program of Northern Nevada (TIP). The local organization aids victims who have endured traumatic events through their trained volunteers to give assistance.
As to why Dawghouse has closed its doors, Pascual-Cruz and Mader always intended for Dawghouse to be a ‘silly little side quest’. While they will always have love for the project, it has reached its natural conclusion as they’ve moved out of the house and onto new chapters and ambitions.
“This passion project of ours grew into something much bigger than we initially anticipated - getting to connect with our community in such a meaningful way was an absolute blast. ” Pascual-Cruz shared.
Dawghouse looks back on their fond memories as the venue grew and evolved, surrounded by gifted musicians, artistic vendors and support from so many. Their last show was just what they had pictured.
Going forward, Pascual-Cruz and Mader encourage others to transform their home into a DIY music venue. As intimidating and complicated as organizing events may appear, anyone can do it with passion and determination.
“All we had was a plain dirt lot, but we built a DIY stage out of wooden pallets and recruited our friends to help us paint it,” Mader explained. “You don’t need much to get started.”
Even though their music venue has closed its doors, Pascual-Cruz and Mader will continue to support the creative scene in Reno as they can as they embark on new journeys.
You can find Honey Plant, Serendipity, Solar Flora, and SUHNS on Spotify and Apple Music.
Article Edited by Malory Shaw.
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