Significant Shrinkage: New Compass Layout Debuts March 2016 The Compass has been running strong on an 8-page layout for over three years now, so it may come as a shock to learn that we have decided to move to a 4-page layout starting in March 2016. This is only temporary, though. We see our transformation as akin to that of a frightened turtle or the ballin’ disguise of the doodle bug, the way we gotta scooch down sometimes before we shoot up. Unfortunately, it does mean that we need to downsize. The Briefs page and Tardy Eagle section are leaving the paper for just a moment. But only in a material sense! The idea is that everything that has been featured in the newspaper (and then some!) will be available on the BOSTON HASSLE WEBSITE, which is undergoing Extreme Makeover: HTML Edition right now. (www.bostonhassle.com)
What’s with all the makeovers? Why can’t things just stay the same, forever and ever, into eternity?? Well, The Hassle/Compass is a strange animal. It is changing all the time, morphing organically into different shapes depending on who commits their time and energy into making it grow. Think of the Compass as one arm of this collective beast;right now it is shrinking, changing shape, and coming back around as a square right hook to the jaw. That being said, this is a cool time to get involved, because we could literally shoot out in any direction, depending on who steps up to the plate. We are seeking a new Editor-in-Chief to take the paper under their wing and breathe flame into fire. This is the only rag that’s expressly for the people/by the people in the whole city, so if you’ve ever picked it up and been like, “wow, cool--this exists,” then do something about it! Donate or volunteer! Till next time:see you in March. -Emma Leavitt
HASSLE ARTS: LOTS OF ART HAPPENINGS TO COMBAT THE WEIRDNESS OF THIS UN-WINTERY WINTER! HASSLE BRIEFS: LEGION OF ANDROMEDA, SACRED PRODUCT, GUN OUTFIT, EARTHEATER, F INGERS, JAKE MEGINSKY HERE BE THE SHOWS: INFINITE GARAGE GOOP, CLASSIC AND CONTEMPORARY PUNK, NOISY NEBULAS, BASEMENT BLASTS, RETURN OF KAL MARKS! TARDY EAGLE: A VERY HELPFUL PAGE WITH GREAT THINGS TO DO WITH YOUR LIFE THAT YOU CAN ENJOY FILM FLAM: LITERARY SCREENWRITERS, CLASSIC QT, LAST YEAR’S FINEST, AND MORE-- PLUS OUR CINEMATIC NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS! COMICS & OTHER FUN: SUBVERSIVE SEQUENTIAL ART AND HAUNTINGLY REAL HOROSCOPES
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Is anyone there? Anybody interested in the exploration of consciousness? Interested in the power of psychedelics for healing or learning about ourselves? See a connection between radical politics, self examination, consciousness, and freedom? Do you think that if we don’t have control of what we put in our bodies we will never truly be free? We are starting a group where we talk about consciousness, plant medicines, meditation, radical politics, psychedelics, art, wellness, sustainability, empathy, mutual aid, the now. We want to have talks, film showings, discussions, and all kinds of events. Get involved! Get in touch! wearefruitsalad@hotmail.com
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At $10, this inspirational work of art and scholarship is a must for your home or workplace. Featuring twelve articles by Compass columnist Neil Horsky, each beautifully illustrated by a different artist, the second edition of the calendar explores topics such as women’s reproductive rights, anti-nuclear activism, DIY publishing, and others. Calendars are available at both Deep Thoughts locations, Aviary Gallery, Lucy Parsons Center, and at Hassle events. Online purchases may be sent via PayPal to hasslepayments@gmail.com. All profits are donated to the local volunteer-run non-profit BRAIN Arts Organization, who thank you in advance for your support. - N.H
C OM E C H R I ST E N T H E FA Z E N DA CA F É !
New year, new traditions, new spaces! We’re starting 2016 out right by launching a new night, Homegrown: A night of fuzz and vibes at Forest Hills. All in a newlyminted venue, Fazenda Cafe, which is graciously opening it’s doors to our community. For the inaugural night JOHN ANDREWS & THE YAWNS, SOFT EYES, SQUIRREL FLOWER and CANDY MIAMI will be giving a warm, lovin, welcome-home squeeze to the mellow chillers of JP where once again, there are dope all ages shows. But the tunes and delish coffee and food aren’t all – Vidumami will be providing visual treats too. So come on down and get your dome blown by the sounds of HOMEGROWN. 8pm ALL AGES, $5-10 Suggested *A Boston Hassle Effort*
Keeping up with movies can be exhausting: ticket prices are rising, weekends are valuable, and it’s tough to catch new releases when you’re busy rewatching STAR WARS and MAD MAX. Fortunately, the Brattle has you covered with their annual, painstakingly curated yearend review. Selections are typically eclectic, from the nightmarish (Guillermo del Toro’s CRIMSON PEAK, Austrian mindfuck GOODNIGHT MOMMY) to the devastating (gut-punch docs THE PEARL BUTTON and THE LOOK OF SILENCE) to the animated WALLACE AND GROMIT spinoff SHAUN THE SHEEP. And yes, MAD MAX is back too, if you have any friends who missed it. –O.G.
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You’ve seen her onstage at Great Scott, you’ve seen her in the blogoverse, you’ve seen her in the pages of Vogue (probably). Now Lillian DeVane is back in vinyl form, and she wants a cookie just for showing up. Trophies for Trying explores the world of feel-good lady blogs, generalized anxiety, and erotic Babysitter’s Club fanfiction through Lillian’s live performances and a few pieces recorded exclusively for the album. Check it out and grab a copy at Lillian’s bandcamp (https://lilliandevane.bandcamp.com/ releases). Because no one should have to go home emptyhanded.
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Now that the first snow is falling outside our windows we need a lil’ reminder that summer did, in fact, happen. Luckily, you can shatter the inevitable creeping ice with some NOISE, thanks to the Allston-on-Chicago-noise-rock lovechild release straight from the sunnier months. NICE GUYS and LIL TITS have put their Summer Split cassette release up on bandcamp for FREE, so crank up your sound and howl along before your vocal chords freeze and shatter. https://niceguys666.bandcamp.com/album/niceguys-lil-tits-summer-split-2015
THANK YOU to the following individuals for inspiring the creation and/or continuation of Boston Compass over the past 5 years: Brandon Plumert, Greta Merrick, Lindsay Clark, Greg Moon, Brian S. Ellis, Shane Don, Kate Lee, Adam Foam, B. Law, Morgan Shaker, Casey Rocheteau, Shane Myrbeck, Emily Shisko, Jon Deuce, The Cups, Joe Deignan, Abigail, Fern, RED, Lenny Symczak, Greg Sun, Michael Collins, Edgar Evan Foudray, Shai Erlichman, Jimmy Hugs, David Villanueva, Mark Johnson, Frank Hurricane, Conrad, Santiago Cardenas, Pancho The Kid, Ian Kovac, Wes Kaplan, Greg Tellier, Jesus Vio, Shawnie Brando, Mr. Dickens, Jonah Furman, Kofi Thomas, Papa Hagan, Nini, Jasmine Taibi, Briana Cervantes, Bev, Nick Rasputin, Mona Maruyama, and Fee Kürten. Shout out to Gobby, Kal Marx, Chris Cross, Kung Fu Charlie, our neighbors over the years, Aight Steve, and anyone who has ever worked for City Feed, Boomerangs or SOP. See you all around, no doubt.