Until recently, there haven’t been avenues for local bands to get their material heard by the public. That is, if you ask local metal band Dysception.

The band, which is made up of NIU students, will perform a show with the band ASA at 8 p.m. Wednesday at Otto’s Niteclub, 118 E. Lincoln Highway.

The gig represents new opportunities for bands in DeKalb because local venues aren’t always receptive to bands playing original material, said Dysception drummer Tim Caravia.

“We get the Starbusters [at 930 Pappas Drive] shows, and they require us to do a certain amount of covers,” he said. “We do 10 of our original songs in the mix of maybe 15 to 20 covers.”

Dysception covers bands such as Disturbed, Deftones, Drowning Pool and System of a Down.

The band cites influences ranging from modern alternative metal bands to metal founders like Black Sabbath and Metallica.

“What we’re trying to do is go into Starbusters, and try to get a crowd, but change them over into liking our originals rather than going to see us for covers,” Caravia said.

Otto’s co-owner Duff Rice said many bars stick with cover bands because that’s what keeps the students coming.

“That’s because that’s been the only thing offered to them for so long,” he said.

Rice said some venues also may not have the time and resources to research bands, so they’ll tend to stay with what’s popular.

The pressure to conform to the popular music mold is a source of frustration to Caravia.

“We like to experiment,” he said. “But for some reason, it’s just built into our heads that it’s got to sound good enough for everybody else, and you hate that. You’re like, ‘No, let’s just do it our way.’ You fight it off, but that’s where the mainstream comes in for us.”

ASA guitarist Chris May said ASA keeps its sound diversified, naming influences including the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Mr. Bungle, Clutch and Slayer.

“You’ve just got to steer your priorities,” he said. “A lot of things I read from bands that I respect, they always say to never compromise what you enjoy doing. If you keep doing it, someone’s going to catch on to the fact that you’re enjoying doing that.”

Older music recently has found its way into May’s rotation, such as Supertramp, earlier Elton John and Kansas.

“I wonder if anyone’s ever going to start writing songs like that again,” he said.

With the fierce competition in the Chicago music scene, Dysception has had to seek out-of-state venues to book their shows.

“We’ve got two shows booked in Michigan just because we say we’re Chicago alternative metal, and they’re really big on that,” he said. “But you come back home, and nobody really cares about you.”

May agreed that with the two 18-and-older shows being approved at Otto’s recently, local music could benefit.

“A lot of people that are under 21, that are 16 and 17, they don’t go to college, they live in this town,” May said. “And they have nothing to do.”

Caravia agreed.

“I’d love to do an all-ages show,” he said. “The only thing we have available is the campus stuff.”

The Dysception/ASA show starts at 8 p.m. Wednesday. Admission is $3, and there will be a raffle for a free tattoo at Ronin Tattoo Studio Inc., 1161B Farnsworth Ave., Aurora. Raffle tickets cost $2 each or three for $5. For more information about the show, call Otto’s at 758-2715.