Brand new immigrant.

[two-stabs.livejournal.com]

Me'n my mates landed in Somerville a couple days ago. I need a heads up on the music scene... local record stores, labels, places to gig and rehearse? Also -- I left two bands behind me when I moved, and am dying to continue creating. Any closet theory geeks out there who want to rock like Dave Grohl?

Jordan

p.s. thx!

Comments

[othniel77.livejournal.com]

Hello, and welcome!
I'm a promoter in the local scene, so I figured I'd point you to a few resources.

Local Music discussion:
http://www.thenoiseboard.com

Great place to recruit bandmates:
http://boston.craigslist.org
(Click on the "musicians" section).

Places to gig - for bands just starting out: O'Briens in Allston, PA's Lounge and The Skybar in Somerville.

For bands that have a following, or have been playing out at least 18 months: The Middle East, TT the Bears (in Cambridge).

They are all good places to see a show for $5-12, on average.

5 local bands worth checking out (various genres):

Lilac Ambush - http://www.lilacambush.com
Saturn Effect - http://www.saturneffectmusic.com
New Fire - http://www.newfireband.com
Malice in Leatherland - http://www.sinsanctuary.com/mil
One of Us - http://www.oneofusband.com

There are tons more, of course.

And, if you're so inclined, I am hosting a darker alternative music showcase ("Dark Sky") on Thursday, 11/18, at The Skybar (http://www.skybar.us) featuring the bands Hypersolid, Down to Zero, and Project Sphere.

[two-stabs.livejournal.com]

I just left Abbeyvain (http://abbeyvain.com/), which sounds like it might have fit into your showcase. Mind if I stop by on thursday? I was wanting to check out the Skybar anyway. I'll be wearing a Charles Manson silk-screened shirt and respond to the name of Jordan. :P

I also did a good bit of engineering work in Maryland (live sound) and don't want my skills to fade. Do you know if the Skybar is hiring?

[othniel77.livejournal.com]

The Skybar already has a full-time soundguy, Joe Feloni, so I believe they are all set on that front, but I bet there are alot of clubs looking for people.

Yes, please stop by on Thursday. Our doors open at 8:00; I'll be the dark-haired girl running around, working the crowd and announcing the bands. Alot of people who attend my "Dark Sky" are musicians; I'd be happy to introduce you to people.

---Anderson Mar
Othniel77@yahoo.com

[two-stabs.livejournal.com]

Way cool. see ya there.

I checked out the Abbeyvain site...

[othniel77.livejournal.com]

Good stuff! Definitely the caliber of band I put on my "Dark Sky" bills - you were right.

So, did you move to the Boston area to be involved in the local music scene specifically? There are alot of great opportunities, as many genres are thriving. Boston has more musicians per capita than even NYC (I suspect alot of this is due to Berklee being here). arianasilver has also just moved up from Maryland as well - mass exodus to Mass. going on, perhaps? ;)

Re: I checked out the Abbeyvain site...

[two-stabs.livejournal.com]

I did, in fact, move up here specifically to be involved in the local music scene. As of yesterday I got my first drum student, and hopefully soon I'll have 4 or 5 (8? 11?) to help me with the rent. I've met a whole rack of Berklee students who I'll be playing with, but more than anything else I'm trying to cull a rack of dedicated musicians who want to really get into it and break onto the scene.

As far as exodus is concerned, I know two hands worth of people that moved up here who I know in the same relative span of time as I did - which is strange, but, also welcome. It certainly makes adjusting easier.

Have you heard of Kyuss?

Re: I checked out the Abbeyvain site...

[othniel77.livejournal.com]

I'm originally from Upstate NY (Rochester) and I've found that 30% of the music scene is also from Rochester, oddly - including 2 members of the band that I manage, Lilac Ambush (small world!)

Like I said, The Noise Board and craigslist are great places to meet fellow musicians, and I'll be happy to introduce you to some people at Dark Sky as well.

I moved here because there was a good scene, but also to take a job which pays 3x what I made in the radio industry. Been here since '01, and loving it! I go to so many shows it's not funny!