A room consisting of six old couches, spray painted banners and salvaged carpet duct taped to support beams, and the concrete floor is the setting for some of Joplin’s hardest death metal concerts.

Tom Walters is the owner of the building that houses Feebletown Skate Park and Club Cesspool, Joplin’s newest venue for heavy metal music. The old, red-brick warehouse is located at 1039 Joplin St., directly across the street from the Shriners. Rows of small glass windows line the sides of the building and large garage doors open to allow passers-by to watch extreme sports fans show off their tricks.

The vision for Club Cesspool was conceived by Gene Herbert, music promoter and DJ for the club, when BTB, the old skatepark, moved from under the Seventh Street bridge to its new location.

Walters put on several concerts at that location, but was limited in his endeavor by a subpar sound system and noise complaints from the neighbors.

Since May, Herbert and Matt McNally, freshman undecided major, have hosted The Cesspool radio show every Sunday night on Rock 105.3. The show features a variety of heavy metal music.

“I wanted to call the show ‘Songs From the Sewer,'” Herbert said, “but Johnny ‘The Rat’ suggested the name ‘The Cesspool.'”

After the skatepark moved in April 2003, Herbert approached Walters about opening a heavy metal club in the building.

Herbert did much of the work himself.

“It took a month to build,” he said, “I smashed down a room that was in the way, built part of the stage, dumpster dived for the carpet and hooked up the electric.”

The grand opening was July 11 and featured Three Headed Moses, Forever Shadows and the Teflon Dons. The club regularly averages 100 people per concert, but has entertained as many as 200.

Herbert also allows the bands to use his professional grade sound system for the concerts and gives away Cesspool T-shirts at every concert.

One feature that sets The Cesspool apart from other area clubs is its all-ages policy.

“We’ve had toddlers come here with their parents,” Herbert said. “It’s for any age group because there’s no smoking, alcohol, nudity or fighting.”

Catering to his young crowd, Herbert does what he can to keep costs down.

“I try to keep shows really cheap, $2-$3,” he said. “I usually get the bands to play for free pizza and bottled water.”

Most bands accept Herbert’s offer because of the chance to play on a 40-by-20-foot stage.

“Bands have said they feel like they’re in a movie because they’ve never played on a stage this big or on a system this big.”

Herbert books bands that he enjoys, but said any band can rent the club for the night to put on a show.

On Dec. 6-7, Club Cesspool will host Metalfest, featuring Pyaemia from Holland, Spawn of Possession from Sweden and Chunsa from Chicago, as well as a host of area metal bands like Dark is the Day, Strength of Conviction and PeaceChurch.

For Herbert, the success of The Cesspool is a dream come true.

“When I was younger, we used to do noise fests in our basements, and we had bands play all day,” he said.

“I think it’s a really good way to promote underground music, not bands that write songs for money.”

The club’s next concert is Saturday and will feature Brutally Frank, Overdogs, Missing the Point and 20 Trenched.