Unearthing Boston's House Show Scene: DIY Doc Premiere
Photo courtesy of Breana Del Gatto
“It really felt like a place you could shamelessly embarrass yourself in.”
When graduating Emersonian Breana Del Gatto found herself interested in documenting DIY performance spaces throughout Boston, she didn’t quite know where to begin. As a transfer student hailing from New York, Del Gatto was familiar with venues back home but was trying to navigate an entirely new scene in a foreign city.
“DIY venues are mostly very welcoming but there’s always a level of secrecy-which is totally necessary to keep them functioning”, she shared. After posting an inquiry on a Boston DIY Gigs Facebook page she was shocked at her instant welcoming into the community, and quickly received invitations to film at house shows across the Boston area.
She defines Boston’s DIY scene as “quite different”, calling it “more homegrown.” This difference is best encapsulated in the first installment of DIY Doc, which follows a night at the venue Trendy Shit Town. Despite spontaneous moshing during Pregnancy Mask and Pontius Pilot that required a more strategic use of the loaned equipment her crew was using, the community that Del Gatto had stumbled upon was worth it.
“It was so heartwarming to see everyone in a small basement really just support each other, whether they were friends or strangers”, she stated. Trendy Shit Town was, “welcoming, inviting, and inclusive” for the crew, the performing bands, and of course the audience. Perhaps the most important aspect of documenting these venues came in the friendly nature of those that organize and run these houses- all of which were open and excited to be included in this project.
Photo courtesy of Annie Yan
For many college students, specifically in the Boston area, house shows have become a refuge. Whether you are supporting your friend’s local band, looking for an alternative to the frat party scene, or in search of an environment to enjoy affordable shows, DIY events have you covered. They are void of judgement, an underground “weirdo’s paradise”, according to Del Gatto.
“The thing that stands out the most to me (and what I think is most inspiring about the DIY scene) is how much work, money and time people put in for little to no financial reward just to create awesome quirky spaces for people to come together to share and enjoy music, good vibes and be their authentic selves”, she stated. The commitment to these venues is often accompanied by live-in owners that work to provide their space for mostly college-aged bands looking for opportunities to share their work and gain a larger audience.
With the onslaught of COVID-19, these venues are some of the hardest hit spaces; tight basements, large congregations, and followers comprised almost entirely of students who have now been sent back to their respective homes. The livelihood of these DIY musicians and vendors was the first thing Del Gatto thought of when she learned she would be kicked off campus in March, fearing for their inability to tour and the lack of sustainability with a now uncertain income. However, the scene has found inventive ways to continue.
“One of the first pages I found was @post_world_radio”, she shared. “They curate a lineup of small DIY artists performing every day on livestream in various time slots.” As the pandemic has continued, localized musicians have joined in modifying their reach to be entirely digital. Without an end in sight, the DIY scene simply plans to adapt. The community they have built remains intact.
DIY Doc premieres today. Check it out!
Follow DIY Doc: