What We’re All About: BRAIN Arts Org Official Mandate This project has been going, in one form of another, for over 10 years. It all began simply enough, just throwing shows for lack of stuff to do around here. I personally was inspired by a few individuals putting together interesting shows and thought hey, there could be more. The mission started there, to unite as many interesting individuals and collectives as possible, from Greater Boston, New England and beyond, to vitalize the cultural movement. It quickly became an obsession. We started our own newspaper. We expanded our website. We started doing 5, 10, 15 shows a month. We expanded further, to cover art and film. We became a nonprofit. Our goal is to have our own space, a community center, a permanent haven for all of these wonderful activities going on around us. But what else can we do? How about reaching a little further towards a better world. To that end, we give you our official org mandate: BRAIN Arts Organization currently carries out three main programs: the Boston Compass newspaper, the Boston Hassle website, and Boston
Hassle shows. BRAIN ARTS is a local, volunteerrun, music and arts nonprofit organization that aims to foster an independent music, art, and film community in the greater Boston area through meetings, events and publications. Our commitment to an inclusive grassroots community means that we must actively work to amplify the voices of and make our spaces comfortable and accessible for marginalized individuals in dominant culture including but not limited to women, people of color, LGBTQIA+, disabled folks, etc. We actively oppose all forms of discrimination and oppression and continuously work to keep our spaces free of them by holding those in our spaces accountable for their behavior. Recognizing the constant change in social politics and culture it is our goal to continuously educate ourselves, our audience, and the artists we work with to help create and maintain these safer spaces. If you want to be part of the movement please reach out, we would love to meet you. Either way, have fun, be good to each other and thanks for picking up the rag.
HASSLE ART.............................................................PAGE 2 Science Meets Art, Toy Camera Festival, Art you can touch, and Kinetic Sculptures in Salem!
HASSLE BRIEF & PURE IMPACT......................PAGE 3
Lewis M, The Channels, Human Bodies, Homeblitz, Spray Paint, Loke Rahbek & Puce Mary D and PI’s Guide to Boston
HERE BE THE SHOWS....................................PAGE 4-5 Record release, ZuZu show, punks at the elks,
Brattleboro has a very groovy arts scene, fostered by our siblingsin-arms The Future Collective. This is their annual festival and, just like we do with Hasslefest, they pack in the sickest artists/musicians that they can muster, local luminaries and recent developments alike. Check that FB-Event page if you don’t believe me. So, borrow your parents car, book a cheap bus ticket, just be sure not to miss this radical fest just a few hours drive into the beautiful woods of New England. -James Moore
We are celebrating our 68th issue by launching “IT’S OUT!” a new, monthly issue release party and Compass fundraiser! Work from local artists Jae Wood, Angelica Aguilera and Eric (Eab) Baldelli. Live music by Kal Marks (solo) and Judy Chong. An encore areascreening of Home Grown Shorts (curated by Rene Dongo). Free food and drink courtesy of Trader Joe’s. All MC’ed by the one and only Angela Sawyer of Weirdo Records fame. 9/5 8PM @Boston HI Hostel All Ages FREE $5-10 donation appreciated. -Richard Ochs
rock melee
THE TARDY EAGLE...............................................PAGE 6 BoSToN CoMeDY, A Snack Review, DOG BREEDS, y maaaaaaaaaaas
FILM FLAM................................................................PAGE 7 Local shorts, plus everyone
film from
preservation, and daring heists, Satyajit Ray to Cher Horowitz!
COMICS......................................................................PAGE 8 Spankin new tion! Plus, find
leader places
and artist feature for hanging and street
secart.
STRANDBEESTS
THE LONG NOD
Sunday 9/20 @Camb. Comm. Ctr.
Future Fest Four in Brattleboro, VT – Sept. 3-6
Hassle Garage
Sam Potrykus
BLACK MARKET
Back to school? Nah, back to black. (Market). Yes, the bimonthly Black Market is back! Come to the Cambridge Community Center (5 Callender St., off Western) to support local vendors and pick up the very best in Boston vintage, records, art, zines, crafts and so much more. The Black Market is a great way to involve yourself in the community, get to know folks and add to your sick record collection (you’ll remember to get a player, someday, maybe). So what are you waiting for? Set aside some time on 9/20 to find some treasures. -Emma Diamond
freebie, Mid East
THE DREAM MACHINES OF THEO JANSEN For years, Theo Jansen’s Strandbeests have roamed the Dutch seaside, making us dream of our ancient origins and the strange, miraculous creatures that inhabit this world with us and within us. Part sculpture and part performance, found at the intersection of art and science, the Strandbeests are self-propelled creatures that wander beaches and fields and, as of August 28th, Boston City Hall. The Strandbeests will be finding their first major American home @Peabody Essex Museum from 9/19 – 1/3 for an exhibition featuring the sculptures, movement demonstrations, sketches and a hall of Strandbeest “fossils”. -Emma Diamond
The Channels - Disposable Camera Bass-forward 3-piece The Channels wah-wah their way into our hearts with the newly-minted, prepared-guitar masterpiece Disposable Camera. Don your best headphones and let this smooth noise funk thump right through your braincase like a rampaging alien mastadon. Yo! Why is my nose bleeding? That’d be Mr Fede’s ill mixology, almost like being at a show...oh yeah...they should be back from tour by now so you can pick up a physical at one of their live performances. Recommended for fans of Arab on Radar, shoegaze, noise-rock, genre, genre, blah. -James Moore
It’s September. For those of you who are either long since out of school, never went or just couldn’t stand going home for break, it’s time to say goodbye to the serenity of Boston’s Summer, as we welcome back old friends and say hello to new ones. This one’s for you newbies. We hope that you take in all the area has to offer, from the parks that Frederick Law Olmsted planned 150 years ago, to our beloved movie theaters like the Coolidge and Brattle. You may travel in packs around Allston with people you don’t really know, searching for a place to call your own in this new, unfamiliar territory. Don’t worry though, it’s a rite of passage. You’ll want to party, of course and we encourage that. But if you’re an undergrad, or just arriving onto the scene, we at the Compass want to instill a few words of advice:
1: explore greater boston!
This is not your hometown, no. But it could be. Explore the greatness of Greater Boston and learn about all it has to offer. Even if you don’t stick around, explore and find your niche.
2: be respectful of each other!
It’s one thing to meet someone at a party, hit it off, and enjoy each other’s company. It’s another thing to start your night with the wrong expectations of people around you. Please, make sure you understand the meaning of consent. Yes means yes. No means no. Nobody deserves to feel uncomfortable. Be vigilant. Be aware of your surroundings. If you see someone doing something uncool, intervene. Keep each other safe. Know your limits. Boston, Cambridge, Brookline and Somerville. While they’re not exactly playgrounds, they offer a lot. The home to bands such as Pixies, Joan Baez, The Freeze, Gang Green, Donna Summer, Converge, The Proletariat, Mission of Burma, Toxic Narcotic, New Edition, The Showcase Showdown, Dinosaur Jr and Sebadoh [W. Mass], and more recently local favorites such as Fat History Month, Pile, and Krill.
Not just a documentary my friends, it’s a whole freakin’ movement now! Just a few days ago Hampton Beach (NH) got their own quiet weekend of equal-opportunity torso freedom (we hope it was quiet) and we think that’s nice...like in Nice, on the Mediterranean Sea. French folks don’t freak out when they see a booby. What are we, 12? Come on America...the Puritans are all long dead! We have a chance to lead the way here, and all we have to do is be chill. -James Moore
Last thing: Go check out the Bill Russell statue by City Hall. It’s incredible.
-Ethan Long