Spring 2019
Irish Music: To a New Pair of Eyes
I wanted to explore the Irish Folk Scene in Boston. The Irish folk scene in Boston is a long-standing one, with its deep roots in the history of Boston and to the time when the Irish first settled here. Its history is one that is intertwined with the very land it is based on. For…
Read MoreLive Outposts: Alternative Venue Space in Boston
Eclectic Outpost 186 signage directly outside the venue (2019) Boston thrives as a city in many respects, with burgeoning investment in biotechnologies, robotics, and a hearty university-based populace to funnel higher education into contemporary innovation sectors. The history is there, as many of Boston’s chief exports have sat in the realm of academia, as the…
Read MoreChoirs for Change: The Boston City Singers
The Boston City Singers Tour Choir performing for MLK Day at the MFA, 1/21/19 I joined my first choir in middle school, 7th grade, and it changed my life. I was lucky enough to attend a school that had a strong performing arts program, because it developed into such a defining part of my grade…
Read MoreConstructing Space and Reality through Sound: Subway Musicians at Downtown Crossing and Park Street Stations
This research project and experience began to unfold and develop as I weaved between the tunnels, stairs, escalators, and halls of the orange, green, and red subway lines in Boston. The Park Street and Downtown Crossing stations transform from a busy, commuter space to a stage for local Boston musicians during the less busy hours.…
Read MoreWe Got the Funk in Boston!
Funk? In Boston??? Sitting at a bar in Cambridge, crowds chatting, glasses clinking, and you hear the first synth lick to Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition” and suddenly you’re taken back to 1970’s New York where funk was vibing and people were grooving. Yet, the cell phones and Sam Adams on tap are stark reminders that you…
Read MoreSupport for Boston’s Musical Communities
Introduction Advances in technology makes sharing a lot simpler and helps connect people from all around the world. Music is accessible through online streaming platforms and shared on social media. Musicians are able to connect with listeners and build a fanbase from the comforts of their own home. However, infrastructure and community support can just…
Read MoreEveryone Needs a Bit of Pep!
In America, students and colleges alike benefit extensively from having a Pep Band – should other countries take note? This blog takes a closer look at the behind the scenes running of Northeastern University Pep Band in Boston, to find out the real life impact that it has on the students involved. My name is…
Read MoreAfterhours: Northeastern University’s Home for Underground Performance
A research project by Caitlyn Furler For my Musical Communities of Boston class this semester, I conducted ethnomusicological field research at Afterhours, which is Northeastern University’s live music venue located in Starbucks in the Curry Student Center on campus. I chose Afterhours as I felt that it would prove to be a valuable insight into…
Read MoreGender Equality in Jazz: “It don’t mean a thing, if it ain’t got that [all-female] swing!”
An Ethnomusicology Project with The Mood Swings: Boston’s All-Female Swing Band In 2018 Berklee College of Music announced its latest project, the creation of the Institute of Jazz and Gender Injustice, spearheaded by renowned drummer, first female Grammy Jazz Instrumental Album winner 2013, and gender equality activist, Terri-Lyne Carrington. For over three decades, ongoing debates…
Read More“Hey Boston… Do-It-Yourself!”: The Role of Local Bands, Independent Record Labels, and Community Internet Groups in the Boston Music Scene
Introduction When we came to college in Boston the term “House Show” came up often. For the uninitiated, a “House Show” is a concert set up by local musicians, for local musicians, all in local music lovers’ homes. For many, a punk show in someone’s loud, sweaty basement may seem like a hellish experience; but…
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