Loud and elaborate.

That’s how the people over at PiΣΣ House (PiΣΣ pronounced “Piss”) like it. This Anti-Frat is the work of Van Werner and Ray Holmes, also known as the group RVD. This duo turned their otherwise unsuspecting home into a hot venue for local EDM artists to mix and perform. As Werner described to me in a pre-show interview, “…it takes a village…” when it comes to setting up and hosting a house show at PiΣΣ House, recruiting friends, roommates, friends of roommates, and partners to help. They transform their living room and dining area into a dance floor, and their kitchen becomes the DJ and lighting booth. The top of the kitchen cabinets and fridge double as space for lighting and smoke machines, with sophisticated lighting lining the walls of the living room. To the left and right side of the kitchen island are two massive speakers reaching almost from floor to ceiling, facing the audience of PiΣΣ House-goers. Once you walk through the back door, you’re transported into the world of PiΣΣ. A world that presents a pallet of underground, club-vibes with fratty flavors, without the toxicity that revolves around Greek life. 

The nature of PiΣΣ House is simple. Have fun, dance to energetic music, and most importantly, be loud. Their goal is to provide an alternative to those who want to enjoy the House Show scene in Corvallis, while also promoting local EDM artists, such as those who performed at the “New Year, Same PiΣΣ” show on January 11th where the PiΣΣ team worked together to create an exciting, energetic atmosphere. Holmes, working the lights at the event, created a unique visual experience to compliment the music played throughout each DJs set. Holmes said, “…it started out like a dream almost…” as the group “…wanted to turn that living room into a club-like atmosphere.” Starting out with cheap lighting from Amazon, Holmes had aspirations for more. Since February 2024, Holmes has worked to upgrade the visual experience, equipping PiΣΣ House with DMX lighting, a type of light with a digital signal that Holmes controls by using an open-source lighting control program called QLC+. while Werner has focused on improving the quality of sound. Starting with two JBL Partybox speakers, like Holmes, Werner wanted more as it’s “…all about the rumble…” (Werner). Using expertise from family within the music industry and FaceBook Marketplace, Werner has since upgraded to using two giant tower speakers. At “New Year, Same PiΣΣ”, the sound waves were so intense that I could feel them pass through me, over me, and below me as I jumped and danced the night away. The duo’s continued investment into improving their set-up is well worth it for both the audience’s experience and the caliber of the production. 

When attending “New Year, Same PiΣΣ, the lighting truly helped me lose myself to the music. The hypnotic visuals* allowed me to escape any train of thought, and focus on the rhythm and atmospheric vibrations. The night started out with a set from local EDM artist Blush, opening the night with a more house-influenced mix to ease the audience into the sets of Val James and RVD. Blush and Val James gave fantastic performances, their sets getting more energetic as the night went on; their unique mixing styles seamlessly leading to the show’s peak. RVD came to finish the show on a high note, with Werner on the board and Holmes controlling the visual effects. The duo created an audio and visual experience like no other. Two personal highlights of the night was when Werner sampled a TikTok and Cameo video by TikToker Isaac h.p. as a part of RVD’s set. Werner finished off the show with a total shift in genre into rock music, which included “Chop Suey!” by System of a Down. The transition from EDM to Rock created a complete shift in the audience’s environment, causing an impromptu mosh pit and ending the night on an energetic note.  

Though the environment feels club-esque due to the quality they’ve strived for, PiΣΣ House is classified as a house show venue for a reason. Because, afterall, when you attend a PiΣΣ House Show or any house show for that matter, you’re in someone’s home. For the organizers, when reflecting on the large crowds they’ve attracted with their shows, it’s odd to think about the amount of people that’ve been in there at one time, not to mention how stressful those crowds were. Some organizers commented that they’ve had lines down the block for their shows back in Fall Term of 2024 and couldn’t meet that level of demand. As important as it is to have the time of your life, it’s also important to be respectful. As an audience member, you’re not just partying, you’re a guest in someone’s home. I found that to be a rather odd and interesting dynamic, as I watched other audience members lose themselves throughout the night. Just hours before, it was a normal townhouse with a comfortable living room and accommodating kitchen. But that night the kitchen and empty living room turned into a wild, unpredictably exhilarating atmosphere, filled with an audience drawn in by the Corvallis House Show scene and culture.  

Overall, the night was one to remember. That night I learned that these guys definitely know what they’re doing, with their expertise leading them to opportunities such as working with PRAx, as well as Fraternities inside and outside of OSU. “New Year, Same PiΣΣ” not only started 2025 off with a bang, but it challenged the otherwise melancholy tone of Winter term. 

So what’s coming up next for PiΣΣ House? For the past two terms, PiΣΣ House has tried to host a show during the first week of the term. If you’re interested in attending a PiΣΣ House Show this Spring, be on the lookout for announcements for a show happening around April 5th. If you’re interested in other events related to the work associated with Van Werner and Jay Holmes, they will be working at PRAX on a show happening around week four or five of Spring Term.

As a first time attendee, you may face these questions:

KBVR: Is it loud?

A: If I haven’t made this obvious by now, yes. It’s very loud, but for me that was part of the charm of PiΣΣ. If you are sensitive to high volume, I suggest bringing some ear plugs. If you have sound sensitivity, or have a condition such as hyperacusis, it may be an environment you’d want to avoid. 

KBVR: Are there lots of lights, lasers, and smoke?
A: The usage of bright lights, lasers, and smoke machines are very prevalent throughout the show. Overall, it can be an overstimulating environment to some. If you are epileptic, I do not recommend attending. If you have sensitivity to bright flashing light, be cautious when attending PiΣΣ House and consider bringing a pair of sunglasses. 

KBVR: Is it hot?
A: Yes. People are dancing and having fun! But with a lot of dancing people packed into a finite space comes the effect of an increase in environmental temperature. If you’re trying to stay cool or just need to get a breath of fresh air, you’d probably get away with stepping outside into the backyard to take a quick break.

KBVR: How important is it to stay hydrated?
A: It’s extremely important! So important in fact that PiΣΣ encourages audiences to bring water/Gatorade to stay hydrated. I made the mistake of not bringing any water. Take it from me, it was tough.

KBVR: What do I need to get in at the door?
A: Great question! PiΣΣ House has an 18+ policy requiring state IDs. Usually, the age range PiΣΣ House is comfortable letting in is from 18 to 25. In addition there is a five dollar entry fee. They take cash and venmo.

KBVR: If I am over the age of 21, am I allowed to bring alcohol into a PiΣΣ House event?
A: PiΣΣ House does not allow any alcoholic containers. Specifically, no beer, liquor, or other alcoholic containers. Additionally, there is no alcohol available at these events. If you are over the age of 21 and decide to participate in the consumption of alcohol before entering, it’s important to know your limit. PiΣΣ House organizers have to deal with audience members under the influence, which takes away from being able to provide an awesome experience for everyone. So please, be responsible. 

KBVR: What should I wear?
A: Going back to the previous answer to the question of “is it hot”, dress light. Don’t show up with multiple layers. Anticipate that you will be interacting with a lot of body heat from others and your physical activity. Personally, I recommend wearing your best “going out” fit because it’s more fun that way. 

KBVR: How can I get into contact with PiΣΣ House?
A: Whether it’s finding out when their next event is to contacting them about performing, the best way to get into contact with someone from PiΣΣ House is to follow their Instagram account. Their instagram handle is @pisshouseosu. Or, you can always try talking to PiΣΣ House organizers after the show. 

KBVR: Is PiΣΣ House a fraternity?
A: A common misconception to those who never heard of it, PiΣΣ House is not a fraternity. In fact, the reason for the Frat-influence was due to an inside joke between the PiΣΣ group. I can appreciate their use of symbolism in the subtle, playful mocking of Greek life culture, from the PiΣΣ flag and PiΣΣ-branded art hanging on the walls to the poster of John Blushi from the National Lampoon’s 1978 film “Animal House” next to the back door. There is no “list” to get into PiΣΣ; anyone can get in. Especially the “geeds” (those who aren’t associated with Greek life)!

*DISCLAIMER: Lighting at times felt disorienting. If you are sensitive to bright, flashing lights, PiΣΣ House recommends the usage of sunglasses.