A Quahogger in Boston
As a Californian gal familiarized with the East Coast via Providence, Boston always held the promise of musical exploration. Any stranger of the city reads snippets here and there, about famous clubs, the visiting or homegrown musician, a free summer concert at Copley. A few years ago, a New York Times article listed countless "smoky" and "legendary" Jazz and Blues clubs. I traveled the great distance Quahoggers are so reticent to take, and journeyed to Wally's Café, hoping also to go to "Boston's #1 Jazz Club" (also voted as "Best Date Spot" recently) Sculler's Jazz Club, and Ryles Club, touted as a two-floor extravaganza of live music - jazz and other genres - in Cambridge. I made it to Wally's that night, but had to wait a few years, before Boston became home to search for music there again.
My situation on arriving was this: I was without a job, living with my fiance, taking time away from medical school (and having to pay loans back). In short, I had the time to explore but no money with which to do it. However, I am no stranger to finding cheaper things to do and enjoying in simpler pleasures if funds are limited. I've been to Paris, Cork, Dublin, etc on budgets, which demands a certain resourcefulness, time, patience, and the realization that you will "miss" and maybe "hit."
So I "googled." I "googled" jazz, Irish, alternative music, pop bands, boy bands and even tried the words soothing tunes. I looked for "free concerts." The list of places I could go grew ever bigger. I made a daily walk to the main branch at the Boston Public Library, and looked for bulletin boards, often tacked with small art show, film viewing, and the occasional classic music treat. I looked up the Berklee website, walked by the campus, and looked for final performances from up-and-coming artists about to graduate. I also noticed many free magazines: Improper Bostonian, Boston's Weekly Dig, The Boston Phoenix; all of which mention free concerts and a little bit of the music scene. Because I love to write and find whatever is out there, these were probably the most useful in getting to know the area.
I
am intrigued by the ten-table Tir Na NOg Irish pub, the idea of being pushed
into cramped corners with friends and strangers, listening to the lively music
and drinking some Guinness. Another Irish pub, The Burren played host to Lunasa
the night before their concert a year ago at the Somerville Theater, whose
own claim to fame includes live acts and having gutted their basement bowling
alleys and massive renovation in 1996. Listening to their performance still
makes me want to pound the table and stomp my feet. To this end, I am searching
for any new song or place that takes me - I am searching for alternative bands
and more jazz, more Irish, in the end, always more of Boston.
