Places to play in the Boston area merit another article entirely (or perhaps a simple perusal of our sister publication). One bar-club worth mentioning due to its free-market booking policies is Somerville’s P.A.’S LOUNGE, right by Union Square. Basically, you better get people through the door if you want to get paid. The result of this judicious mentality is a constant stream of bands, including Boston psych-gems like Major Stars and Headband. And our own Satellite Lot will be dropping by there in late March . . .
Dear Western Massachusetts, thank you for being a haven to freak-folkers and noise-makers across New England. Try Northampton’s IRON HORSE for native Massachusetts groups like Apollo Sunshine, Winterpills, and our esteemed Portland exports, Spouse. For a more subterranean evening, THE FLYWHEEL ARTS COLLECTIVE in Easthampton provides an endless stream of folk, thrash, punk, and indie rock to entertain and educate.
Does your musical taste frighten small children and practicing Christians? Then Bucksport’s THE CAVE is for you, with a reputation for treating musicians like human beings and providing a great sound system for the most demanding of hardcore metal bands.
MJ’S TAVERN in Brunswick has two things going for it: a relaxed atmosphere and a town full of people dying for live music. Portland favorites Citadel and The Baltic Sea recently rocked the Maine Street bar and reported an “ego-less” evening of rock devoid of hipster posturing.
Portland’s pure-of-heart emcee SayLove has good things to say about a benefit show up in Gardiner for the JOHNSON HALLOPERA HOUSE, which is in serious need of renovation to get the historic building up to arts-entertainment snuff. Seems like Gardiner is a good meeting point for sprouting hip-hop performers in Augusta (Lil’ Dynomite), Portland (SayLove, A-Frame), and Waterville (Uncommon Courtesy). Johnson Hall looks like it’s more interested in The Wicked Good Band and similarly tame acts for older folks, but maybe a couple more shows of truth-telling hip hop will change their mind.
Now go play
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Ian Paige: ianpaige@gmail.com
