Do You Lack Direction? There’s An Instrument For That We source a resource. Actually, this here monthly rag provides many resources, ones that are still being realized in our 6th year. It was created as an events listing, but it’s more of a complete cultural resource now; not just listing events from music, art, and film communities here, but also reporting on news and issues that affect the culture at large. We brought back horoscopes, we’re debuting missed connections this month... you get the idea. But beyond the content we offer, there is another way we can act as a resource for the independent artist - through volunteerism. Although we talk about it often, especially since getting our 501 (c) (3) status, volunteerism has never really been thought of in the same way (FREE and FOR YOU) as the news and events listings are. Volunteerism is known to be the way the paper is produced and distributed, and we try to be very clear that NO ONE makes money in our organization, but I realize now that as a result of that transparency, volunteerism is more often
700 Black Beach 720 World Cup 740 JOSS 800 Cave Bears 820 Listening Woman 840 Gauche
900 Urochromes 920 Home Blitz 950 (New England) Patriots 1010 Free Pizza 1040 Downtown Boys
1110 Whip Appeal 1130 PC Worship
1200 Sitting Adult 1230 Homeworld
600 Dent 620 The Channels 640 Mini Dresses 700 Unguent 725 Cloud Becomes Your Hand 755 Dreamcrusher
825 Battle Trance 855 Unicorn Hard On 925 Pile 1025 Screaming Females 1145 Via App (18+) 1230 Container (18+)
3 Lesser Knowns 320 Curse Purse 340 Los Condenados 400 Pucker Up 420 Jake Tobin 440 Sadist 500 ONJ 525 Dan Melchior 550 Palberta 620 -1
630 Obnox 700 Heathen Shame 720 Ben Hersey 740 Guerilla Toss 810 Serengeti 840 Ono 920 Tyondai Braxton 1000 Flipper 1145 Pure Matrix (18+) 1230 Terrence Dixon (18+)
considered a BURDEN than an OPPORTUNITY. Yet it’s an incredible resource--a wealth of resources, even-- for artists near and far to take advantage of. Just 3 hidden wonders of volunteerism: Freedom, Experience, and Flexibility. Freedom to do a good thing, without the burden or responsibility of making money, or needing money to do it, is literally invaluable. Speaking of which... Experience. Invaluable experience. The opportunities to volunteer with our organization are nearly inexhaustible and all of which provide experience that is difficult to get anywhere else. Lastly, the flexibility of it all; Unlike an internship or JOB, you can volunteer in any capacity your time allows. Get on board, and get off any time you want, with skills and experiences that will carry you far away from here. Do some good in this perverted world. Take advantage of the myriad opportunities a started-from-scratch, entirely volunteer-run, and multifaceted org like ours can provide. If you lack direction, use the compass to find your way--it could point you towards the path you’ve been looking for. - Sam Potrykus
Boston Hassle Fest 7 IS NIGH! Nov. 5-7 @ Elks Lodge, Out of the Blue, Brighton Music Hall It’s time for our biggest gathering of the year, Boston’s Underground Music Fest, Boston Hassle Fest 7. HF7 is bound to inspire and empower us all in one way or another, with bands like FLIPPER, TYONDAI BRAXTON, SCREAMING FEMALES, PILE, ONJ and TERRENCE DIXON on the bill. A true celebration of the worldwide independent music and arts freak scene, BRAIN Arts Official Nonprofit Collective Fellowship is proud to present a diverse lineup of 50+ artists this year for your visual and aural pleasure. Check out the full lineup below and consider what it took to make this happen - mad volunteers and support from people in the community like YOU. So, good job.
HASSLE ARTS..........................................................................PAGE 2 A durational performance, the first of two feminist shows, Curator talks, etc. HASSLE BRIEFS.......................................................................PAGE 3 Wolf Eyes, Brittle Brian, La Misma, Taxidermist, Atlantic Thrills, Dreamcrusher, Free Pizza interview HERE BE THE SHOWS........................................................PAGE 4-5 Surf fueled psych punk, Hassle Fest 7 PLUS En Masse, also ethereal space popping, and groovy experimental noise TARDY EAGLE...........................................................................PAGE 6 Best gravies, How to stay motivated during the cold, Shows to laugh at, etc. FILM FLAM...............................................................................PAGE 7 Troma’s Lloyd Kaufman comes to town, the Boston Jewish Film Festival, Grrl Haus Cinema, & more! COMICS & OTHER FUN.........................................................PAGE 8 NOTHING MATTRESS returns, brings familiar friends. DEBUTS: Alaina’s Horoscopes and Missed Concertnections
The Papercut Zine Library is OPEN: NEW LOCATION @ 10 Ward St, Somerville So you’ve gone to workshops and developed your own zine, but that only scratched an itch. Now you just can’t get enough--you want to see what else is out there. The PAPERCUT ZINE LIBRARY has opened in its new location for all your comparative, competitive, and just-plainboredom-inspired reading needs. The Papercut Library is open on Sundays from 2pm-7pm. Celebrate the library’s new home with them on the 1st, and drop by any Sunday after that to get your zine fix. --E.D. Leap Before You Look: Black Mountain College 1933-1957 @ the ICA Long before Europeans ever reached Massachusetts, cities nestled into hills and roads spanned the wilderness. Three major native nations - the Mohegans, the Mohicans, and the Wampanoag, were thriving here. The first couple Thanksgivings would have been an extremely bad scene without them: imagine clutches of frozen, joyless puritans growing progressively bonier before eventually withering away. That may not be the dominant narrative these days, but hopefully you cringe when you reflect on the elementary school spin on the topic. Especially during this time of year, consider how native people have factored into your personal history, and visit the Massachusetts Center for Native American Awareness at mcnaa.org. -E.D. Get Your History Right: Native American Heritage Month Long before Europeans ever reached Massachusetts, cities nestled into hills and roads spanned the wilderness. Three major native nations - the Mohegans, the Mohicans, and the Wampanoag, were thriving here. The first couple Thanksgivings would have been an extremely bad scene without them: imagine clutches of frozen, joyless puritans growing progressively bonier before eventually withering away. That may not be the dominant narrative these days, but hopefully you cringe when you reflect on the elementary school spin on the topic. Especially during this time of year, consider how native people have factored into your personal history, and visit the Massachusetts Center for Native American Awareness at mcnaa.org. -Peter Steele Boston En Masse RETURNS @ Middle East Upstairs & Great Scott Nov. 18-20 Allston, Back Bay, Cambridge, Dorchester, East Boston, Framingham, and hoods G-Z, now is the time to come together! Follow the man from Mass Ave, Jason Trefts of Illegally Blind fame, to a meeting of the minds Nov. 18 + 20 at the Mideast Up and Nov. 19 at Great Scott. Featuring artists from every corner of Boston’s musical mosaic, Trefts says “the goal of Boston En Masse is to bring people together to celebrate a few of the many talented artists that often play shows locally and, hopefully, to also introduce people to new bands and friends.” The event features hometown heroes Guerilla Toss, IAN, Mal Devisa, and so many more bands you’ll want to become besties with! --Harry B
THE LONG NOD
Earlier this month the Pru displayed “ART HUB” which one of the city’s hardest-working drummers, TJ Horn, proclaimed a “big middle finger” to working artists. He asked the question: “Which part?” Don’t listen when they talk about Boston becoming a world-class city: it isn’t. At least not right now. It has the potential, but until those doing the heavy lifting to make this city great can afford to live here, the “world-class” designation is out of reach. The cost of living in Boston is too high; most young adults in the city will tell you this. We shouldn’t be surprised by stories of overcrowded apartment buildings when officials are unable or unwilling to provide some sort of viable alternative. While the city has been working with colleges and universities in the area to plan towards the future, with on-campus housing as a key goal, it needs to be stressed that the main housing crises in Boston isn’t about attracting new residents with higher-quality student housing, it’s the affordability of the housing that already exists. Working artists new to the area quickly figure out that the city hasn’t given them many options. Of course, the many artists with day jobs understand that even getting paid a decent wage is a struggle in this city. How ironic that while baby boomers, with the kids out of the house, move into the city to be closer to culture and the arts, they’re pushing out the very people who would be enriching that experience. The Boston Redevelopment Authority has created affordable artist spaces, but gaining access to one is easier said than done. A vetting process “to ensure that only artists occupy artist spaces” necessitates an application with samples of art the interested party has produced, “3 letters of recommendation from artists and/or arts professionals,” and proof that the applicant has had “formal training in the arts,” all of which are submitted to a review by committee. While there are artists out there who do take classes and obtain degrees, there are others who see the entire process as a financial gamble beyond their reach. To require “evidence that the artist has presented his/her work in exhibition, performance, readings or comparable public program” further limits the aspirations of those artists who are not already firmly established within “the industry”. In addition to a lack of affordable housing for working artists, this city has also seen a decline in the number of spaces in which art can be experienced in all its various forms, including theater, music, and the visual arts. Without the general public’s support, the few artists that do have spaces in which to live and work won’t be able to afford rent anymore. It’s not enough anymore to say that neighborhoods need accessible all-ages venues. Now, more than ever, there must be a push to find those able to buy and operate units with the purpose of housing art and artists, or we risk losing some of the most vitally important resources Boston has. Want to find out more and speak your mind on these issues? On November 19, the Boston Institute for Nonprofit Journalism will be hosting a community discussion, “The Crisis in the Creative Professions,” at the Community Church of Boston in Copley. The forum is open to the public.