How Boston’s local music scene can bounce back in 2021
This year destroyed live music. While fans and bands rallied with epic enthusiasm for thousands of live streams, venue after venue shuttered — around Boston, rock castle Once Ballroom, jazz bar Les Zygomates, indie club Great Scott, dive supreme the Cantab, Union Square’s Bull McCabe’s and Thunder Road, and more closed in the last 12 months.
Help might be on the way: Part of the federal COVID-19 relief package, the Save Our Stages Act earmarked $15 billion in aid for live venues, independent movie theaters and cultural institutions.
But how much of that will actually go to, say, the Lizard Lounge? The Henley Row Allstars aren’t waiting to find out. A Boston indie rock supergroup featuring members of OldJack, Eddie Japan, the Rationales and more released New Year’s Eve single “The Show Will Go On” aimed at supporting the Lizard and its struggling staff. Money raised from the ragged rock tune and accompanying video (check henleyrow.bandcamp.com and the Henley Row Facebook page for details) will go to the Cambridge club and other rock ’n’ roll haunts.
For 2021 to rebound, the music scene needs more than cash (although cash and lots of it is great). It needs an unprecedented rush of passion. Its greatest champions need to know that we’ll be at every event shouting and clapping and buying loads of merch. These are events we’d like to see in 2021 (as soon as we safely can).
One Night Band
Promoter Richard Bouchard did what many long considered impossible. With his One Night Band fundraiser for music education nonprofit Zumix, he united artists from every corner, pocket, nook and cranny across the city. Forty musicians, from folk singers to hip-hop MCs to metal guitarists to jazz horn players, randomly shuffled into new bands spend a day writing three original songs and mastering a cover tune, then perform the material at the Sinclair that evening. The magic has to be seen to be believed.
Bust Out Boston
Bust Out has been a one-day event at Brighton Music Hall and a multi-day fest at the Burren Backroom. No matter the format, the mission has been the same: Unite women from all genres for an audience committed to cheering on hip-hop, punk, anti-pop and whatever else the artists have to offer. A short list of local talent right for a 2021 edition: Miranda Rae, Kaovanny, Billy Dean Thomas, Sad13, Jazzmyn Red, Twisted Pine, Saucy Lady, Shallow Pools, Jenee Halstead …
Boston Answering
HipStory’s house parties (both in the flesh and virtual) have become an essential tool for discovering what’s new, cool and awesome in Boston. A digital media production company with deep roots in the Boston music community, HipStory must revive its in-the-flesh parties. But, better yet, HipStory needs to bring back Boston Answering. Created by the company and its founder, Cliff Notez, Boston Answering responded to megafest Boston Calling’s 2019 failure to include a fitting number of local voices by putting those voices on stage at the Strand Theatre. The event amplified the art and careers of the city’s young titans including Notez, VQnC, Photocomfort, Forté and Red Shaydez.
The Rock ’n’ Roll Rumble
The Rumble takes the battle-of-the-bands format and turns it into a festival. Yes, a winner is crowned (and the prizes are substantial) but, more than anything, the event buoys the music community by connecting fans with new bands and artists with new friends. It’s also a rock ’n’ roll rite of passage — everyone from ’Til Tuesday and Mission of Burma to Morphine and the Dresden Dolls have played it. Its last two homes — Once and T.T. the Bear’s Place are now gone — so maybe a relaunched Great Scott can step in to save the day?
from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/38105O7
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