En MASSe. THE PARTICIPATORY NATURE OF NEW ENGLAND
Thanks for picking up Compass #56! Whether you’re scanning the rag for the first time or this is a routine reading sesh, you should know that you’re crawling around in a boundless web of culture spun by countless participants, just by virtue of being in New England. That’s how it works here and we are proud to be part of it. Our mission statement: To foster an innovative, compelling, and interconnected music, art, and film community in greater Boston and beyond through grassroots, inclusive, participatory culture. Arguably, the indispensable word in that mouthful is PARTICIPATORY. It’s not only the crux of our organization, as we work to publish the Boston Compass newspaper, run the Boston Hassle websize, and present nearly a dozen shows a month with the Boston Hassle show booking concern, it’s been the key to the success of the entire New England arts scene. We are all volunteers, with no budget or compensation. None! We began as individuals, gained momentum as a collective, and continue to answer our calling, now as a full-blown autonomous non-
profit organization. This is the natural evolution of participatory culture. Although your mind may already run wild at the mere utterance, the breadth of activities that hunker under the umbrella of this fancy phrase are, at least with regard to the Hassle, even more vast than you might imagine. Allow me to parade an array of scenarios before you. If you show this paper to your friend, you are participating. If you widely distribute this paper, or other flyers, you are participating. If you throw shows, draw, play in a band, make art, compile a zine, or volunteer your time to furthering the arts in any capacity, you are participating. By HAVING IDEAS you are participating. Those who contribute $2 a month to our Patron 21 reader-support platform, even if they never leave their apartment? They, too, are participating in keeping this organic organism alive. In fact, if you’re reading this right now, you are participating. The trickle-down effect of even the most mellow involvement in a scene such as ours can’t be underestimated. It’s simply invaluable. Celebrate the wonders of participatory culture and get busy with yourself. - Sam Potrykus
ART BLAST..........................................................PAGE 2
Skools r back—learning opportunities for 1 and all! Woah, photo shows.
BOSTON HASSLE BRIEF...................................PAGE 3
LAIR, Beth Israel, I’d M Thfft Able, YDLIMIER050, Degreaser & More!
SHOWS........................................................PAGES 4—5 NEUMF 2014, Boston En Masse, Felix Kubin (Germany), Apache Dropout (IN)
THE TARDY EAGLE............................................PAGE 6 Guided Meditation, Comedy Showz, Historical Play, Disappointment
FILM FLAM.........................................................PAGE 7 Travel the World: Films in NYC, LA, Germany, Montréal, Japan, China
COMICS..............................................................PAGE 8
Zoárd’s Puncs, some salacious shrimps and scary monsters
The Boston Compass is produced by the Boston Hassle Email us at ThatBostonCompass@gmail.com Visit us online at BostonHassle.com
PATRICK BRYANT: SLOUCHING TOWARD SOMERVILLE CD So, Somerville sports a print newspaper especially for elderly residents. Each week the paper prints a page of reader complaints culled from a telephone answering machine. PATRICK BRYANT of WMBR then re-enacts these ultralocal concerns over lounge instrumentals on his radio show. Learn about dogs and their business, traffic regulations, yuppies and Canadians, trash in yards, what to do with boobs, which bars are gay, how to wear pants, park etiquette, and other burning political issues made small. Just released on the spectacular local label Teenbeat (sending great sounds to your ears since 1984). Get it at Weirdo. - Angela Sawyer FLUNK SCHOOL, JOIN FILM FLAM School’s back in session and it can be, as our friend Ferris points out, “a little childish and stupid.” So pretend you have a stomachache, lick your hands, and call in sick. You: a dedicated person who loves movies as much as candy and wants to write about them for the Hassle. Us: the Hassle. We’ll help make your dreams come true. More than 100 films play Boston monthly and you can help make sure that people see as many of them as possible. Interested? Email us at BostonHassleFilm@gmail.com and we’ll get back to you in no time. - Ari Shvartsman “IAN” BY IAN: GIVIN’ YOU ALL THE FEELS What is it about wobbly words of longing spun wispily over a pounding, melodic-ass rock band that causes the spine to melt into sweet pools of lardjuice? Us muggles may never know, but IAN understands the magic. A pop trio til death, the band emanates a deeply heartfelt ethereal material the likes of which you mighta found when sneaking downstairs to watch MTV2 at 4 AM before your parents could catch ya, ca. 1996. ‘Cept crookeder, sadder, tenser, cathartic-er. They got a new tape named “IAN” out on JP publishing haus of repute, BUFU records. Also eyyunn.bandcamp.com. Get it and start feelin’ like you miss somebody. - Zach Peckham 4TH ANNUAL HARBORARTS FESTIVAL Head to Eastie for an aesthetic feastie! Experience the Boston skyline in all its glory while soaking up some local culture for FREE on Saturday, 9/20 from 12pm-12am thanks to HarborARTS! We’re talkin local artists/artisans pop-up shops, street art, live music, DJs, street theatre and local food aplenty. The fest aims to promote awareness of climate change by bringing in some pros in the know to share their wisdom and clear up any queries you may have. All within walking distance of the Maverick T station on the Blue line. Interested in helping make it all happen? Check out HarborArts.org/Festival for info on volunteering. - CEEK
RIDE THE SNAKE 5 YEAR SHOW, NEW SPACE UNEARTHED Boston Hassle is co-throwing the 5th YEAR ANNIVERSARY SHOW for impeccable local label and friends RIDE THE SNAKE RECORDS Saturday 9/20! In doing so we are simultaneously excavating a new All Ages show space located conveniently right beside Stony Brook Station in JP. This celebration of local outpouring will be fueled by RTS greats such as Phantom Rides, Life Partners, Saralee, Foul Swoops (from DC), Halfsour, Reports and CUFFS! If you don’t know what’s up with top jangle pop and strange punk change in Boston, well, pal, now you shall. 6pm ALL AGES $5-10 sliding scale suggested donation. - Sam Potrykus
Fresh local label MIN A’
S WORLD arrives
Accelerating fruits have proverbially been wont to prompt discourse and promote awareness of that which is awesome (see: Newton, Gallagher) and fittingly so, Boston booking staple FAST APPLE nestles into its birthright with the launch of label/distro MINA’S WORLD. This nascent entity has already plopped out a killer tape by fuzzpunks SICK THOUGHTS, with an LP by BUTTERCUP on deck. Also to materialize will be a straight up zine clearinghouse with the likes of BRIAN CONNOLLY in the docket. Some out-of-this-world oddities are set to emanate from this down to earth diy op--keep yr eyes peeled. facebox.com/MinasWorld - Anthony Richards
FEEDING TUBE RECORDS’ RELOCATION FEEDING TUBE RECORDS, a name of high renown, obtainer of one of the finer collections of obscure and experimental LPs, books, tapes and CDs in the whole USA is moving from its 90 King Street space in Northampton. After 4 marvelous years and shrimpinati shows untold, the brick and mortar side of the operation is relocating to the Brushworks Arts and HASSLE PRESENTS NEW ENGLAND UNDERGROUND MUSIC FEST Industry Building in nearby Florence (ETA sometime in November). Performances are slated to continue, most likely on the lower side of the volume. Label operations will proliferate as usual, so make sure to NEUMF.com frequent FeedingTubeRecords.com! - Matt Robidoux
6:00 Black Beach (MA) 6:20 Brown Lasers (MA) 6:40 Gracie Jackson (MA) 7:00 Soft Eyes (NH) 8:00 Worn Leather (CT) 8:20 Lair (MA) 8:40 World Domination (MA) 9:00 Video Nasties (ME)
9:20 Mincemeat or Tenspeed (RI) 9:50 Los Condenados (MA) 10:20 Jerome (RI) 10:50 The Lentils (VT) 11:20 NE Pats (MA/ME) 11:50 Minibeast (RI/MA)
3:00 W00DY (MA) 3:20 Jesus Vio (MA) 3:40 Bong Wish (MA) 4:00 Gay Shapes (MA) 4:20 Grape Room (VT) 4:40 Rick Rude (NH/ME) 5:00 Curse Purse (MA) 5:20 Phemale (CT) 5:40 Grizzler (MA) 6:00 Suicide Magnets (RI) 6:20 Neutral Fixation (MA) 6:40 Phantom Rides (MA)
7:00 Florida = Death (CT) 7:20 Moron (MA) 7:40 Jon Eriksen (CT) 8:00 Belarisk (RI) 8:20 High Spirits (ME) 8:40 Rob Noyes (MA) 9:00 Glitter Pen (VT) 9:30 I’D M Theftable (ME) 10:00 Unicorn Hard-On (RI) 10:30 Gary War (MA) 11:00 Timeghost (RI) 11:30 Sunburned Hand of the Man (MA) 12:00 Black Pus (RI)