DeKALB | The east side of DeKalb is reestablishing itself as a music scene, beginning with recent changes at Otto’s.

The club, at 118 E. Lincoln Highway, has retooled its schedule and focus, with the goal of bringing better bands to the area.

Changes have come as a result of experienced talent buyer Brian Peterson of MP Shows. Peterson recently brought in high-profile acts Mustard Plug and Lucero. Punk-rock band Against Me! performed Thursday.

Otto’s owner Stan Doty said he saw what The House Cafe’s booking manager John Ugolini was doing in the way of booking shows, prompting him to collaborate with Peterson. Doty had heard Ugolini was working with MP Shows, which he knew because of the company’s work with the Abbey Pub in Chicago.

“It ties us in more with Chicago, doing those low-level band shows,” Doty said. “We want to take on a bigger aspect [of the music scene].”

Otto’s has expanded its line-up on weekends and has moved toward using its stage in the basement, called The Underground, to showcase developing bands.

“There’s nothing more exciting than being with a band while they take off,” Doty said. “I so miss being out here and being in touch with those bands just starting out and playing their first shows.”

More bands, improved morale

Instead of showcasing two or three bands on the main stage and one downstairs, Otto’s has recently featured larger bills, combining several different types of music on some nights.

“Now, us doing six or 10 bands a night appeals to me,” Doty said.

The staff at Otto’s also has a renewed sense of pride.

“A lot of people that work here really care and their strengths are coming to the surface,” said Otto’s office manager Jessica Quinn. “It seems like people have stepped up.”

Making a better overall music scene is important to Doty, who is always poised for an extensive conversation about music.

“You need three or four places in town where bands can play,” Doty said.

Monday band joist

One weekday feature at Otto’s gaining in popularity is the band joust on Monday nights. Multiple bands face off against each other in a head-to-head, double-elimination tournament.

“Band joust is another way to build relationships with local bands,” Quinn said.

The band joust finals will take place April 30 and allow participants to play on the main stage and be recorded. The winner will most likely receive a main-stage show, Quinn said.

Tonight’s band joust will feature the Aquaholics squaring off against Winner Takes All for the wild card in the tournament.

“MP [Shows] has fit right in with us, doing what I want to do, giving lots a bands a place to play,” Doty said. “We are doing a lot more shows. Weekdays are much more active and the market seems to be bearing it.”

A downtown partnership

Doty has also been collaborating with Ugolini, of The House Cafe, 263 E. Lincoln Highway.

“They are not as much competition because we are all ages and they are 21 and over,” Ugolini said. “But for DeKalb to grow as a destination, we need two venues. If he’s successful, then I’m successful by proxy.”

Doty said that in addition to co-producing shows with Ugolini’s Kickstand Productions at The House Cafe, they also have collaborated with Peterson on shows at the Egyptian Theatre, 135 N. Second St.

Otto’s has featured some 18-and-over shows upstairs while serving liquor in The Underground in the past, but has not seen a large 18- to 20-year-old turnout for those shows. The concept is not largely in the works for the future, either.

“We are going to cut back on that a lot,” Doty said.