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The return of underground music in Allston

The Dig reports on a new DIY spot.

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Speaking as somebody who spent my twenties and early thirties going to punk and hardcore shows in Allston basements, advertising your existence in the Dig seems like a surefire way to get shut down by the cops and evicted.

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n/t

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Joe Sly's ears are burning.

I'll always remember the time I paid $10 to see Ramshackle Glory in a basement on Greylock in Allston. The cops showed up halfway through the opener, I didn't get to see Ramshackle Glory, and within a month the city had finished shutting down every house venue in Allston. Of course, college students' collective memory turns over every four years on the dot. The venues always come back.

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Rip Keegs

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There are tons of empty little bars in Boston and surrounding. Scope one out that isn't making any money and is accessable. Put together a hodge-podge pa to get started and book it! I was doing three pretty much at the same time in the early 2000's. You just have to look around you and be resourceful with what you've got.

peace peace

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I like your idea and glad that it worked for you "back in the day". However, as I rack my brain, I can't really think of many empty little bars. Sadly, most of them have been bought up or just faded away.

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There was once an unlikely venue that popped up in the back of a middle eastern restaurant. Salem has an awesome spot at a sushi restaurant. The sleepy Greek American Social Club in Somerville hosts shows. There's no lack of possibilities, just the magic conditions that get people to start swarming a particular place.

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at least they haven't sent a mean letter to the mayor on the back of one of their flyers, like the x-haus on Mission Hill did circa 2002/2003

The letter read, "Hey mayor mumbles, go fuck yourself" - Boston ISD was at the address by the end of the week, the venue was immediately shut down, and the property might have been condemned. Not the brightest moment in the annals of boston diy punk history.

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"Punks in, norms out"

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But why in god's name would you want to publicly advertise an illegal venue?

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I'm hopeful -- not necessarily expecting -- that as more and more "legitimate" venues closes, there will be a resurgence of DIY spots. These were abundant until a few years back and are few and far between, and honestly underground music in Boston will probably need to go further underground so it doesn't disappear altogether.

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For local bands and fans, cheap and accessible basement venues are the best places to get your feet wet.

Would recommend a plumber and a good sump pump at the very least.

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Not trying to be a downer but though I think we need more of these, how smart is this given the Covid / let’s ignore it / poor ventilation in these places? A good way to get shut down or worse - like that crappy roast beef place in the Allston basement.

We need more small venues with low cost covers. I wish some of the coffee shops would stay open later in general but even doing a 9 PM show at Pavement or food court of 88 would rock. Granted you still need crowd limits but a good place to start.

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