Crucial Cultural Ceremony: Boston SciFi’s 40th THON
ART BLAST.............................................PAGE 2
The Boston Science Fiction Film Festival and Marathon, known together as Boston SciFi, is an 11-day cinematic event held at one of those reel important film institutions of ours, The Somerville Theatre from February 6th to the 16th. This month’s edition marks the 40th anniversary of this odyssey, the oldest genre fest in America. I still feel my nose wrinkle in disbelief at the freakish dedication to freakdom this landmark event stands for. The significance of SF40 goes well beyond the sci-fi realm. The fact that Somerville Theatre (and The Orson Welles before it) are willing to host such a large batch of imaginations in this special way speaks to the potential for legitimate institutions to work with independent thinkers and artists of all types. Arrangements like this are all too rare but they do happen, carving out a wedge of the pie (11 days in this case) for us true believers. The closing portion of Boston Sci-Fi is The THON, a 24-hour-long group binge on far-out flicks, new and old, carefully chosen to provide a flow conducive to heavy viewing of paranormal and futuristic cinema. Surround this big, historic screen with hundreds of fans, blankets, aluminum hats, and a full circle rotation of coffee, beer, popcorn, soda, and coffee, and you’ve got yourself a very unique experience. The THON is all about vigorous appreciation. It is a rare comingtogether of minds to celebrate their amusements and expressions in such a complete way. The existence of such an event is avocation advocacy in and of itself. It is recognizing the relevance and even gravity of discovering life’s simple pleasures in art, music, film, sleeping out on the sidewalk to be first in line, what have you, and occasionally getting drenched in them. - Sam Potrykus
Liquid Art of America
House, and Being
Rob Collin’s Glimpse a Better White Ally
HASSLE BRIEF & PURE IMPACT..........PAGE 3 Human Plenty,
Bodies, G.L.O.S.S, Burnt Ruth Garbus & more.
Envelope, Lower PI: Video Filth
HERE BE THE SHOWS......................PAGE 4-5 EYEHATEGOD, Jaw Gems + World Cup, Herbcraft, Ariel Pink + Jack Name and a ton more
THE TARDY EAGLE.................................PAGE 6 Where the Comedy At, Oscar Buzz, A Drawing of a Demon, Tru American History and more
FILM FLAM.............................................PAGE 7 February is for Masters Lynch, Kubrick, AND Cronenberg; a Long Lost Film; and Sci-Fi Marathon!
COMICS.................................................PAGE 8 King Fu Video & DVD’s relation to Boston’s underground hip-hop scene & art for your eyeballs
The Boston Compass is produced by the BRAIN Arts Organization Email us at ThatBostonCompass@gmail.com Visit us online at www.Brain-Arts.org
Local Experimental Group Deleuzer Very Active, Rad
Somerville Winter Farmers Market, Every Sat. til March You lucky Somervillains have local produce on lockdown every Saturday from now through March over at the Center for the Arts @ The Armory from 9:30–2:00. They’ve got an epic list of vendors including farms, bakeries, wineries, cheese companies and a rotating cast of characters selling specialty items and services. Make sure to grab a Life Force Juice while you’re there and remind your body of what it really craves. Curious about the market? Peruse www.SomWinterMarket.org and explore their interactive map to find out who’s there and when. Buy food from the people who helped grow it, for your sake and our planet’s. - CEEK
Filmmaker Mak es fART A screenplay I’ve developed is moving toward production. It’s about a Northeast US community created by a Jewish messiah. Pork becomes unregulated food & a black market springs up. Some teenagers discover they get high by drinking pigs’ blood & inhaling each other’s farts to have out-of-body experiences. They discover pictures of people “huffing” simultaneously, their feet coming together in a swastika. Have they uncovered celestial illumination or are they in a losing battle with God? We need actors, crew, & lots of production people. Anyone can apply. Send an introduction, portfolio (as needed), & resume to lukejumes@gmail.com. - Luke Jumes
Loveable Newspaper Seeks Loveable Support Coordinator
ners Digital Priso
il of War Unve
New EP
Boston OG Supriya Gunda has been ripping it up on stage with Hats & Glasses, Thousands, Bent Shapes, and Lost Twin for years, but Casually Defying Physics, recorded by Justin Pizzoferrato (Thurston Moore, Speedy Ortiz, Krill) represents a landmark of sorts. Her first official solo release under the DigiPOW moniker, it’s a perfect introduction to her songcraft, with titles like “béla bar talk” and “kill whitey,” as well as excellent drumming by both Emmett Jefferson “Murph” Murphy III of Dino Jr. and Cynthia Koch of Lost Twin/Sweet John Bloom. Read a full review and have a listen on the Hassle site! - Ben Potrykus
Western Mass Scene Report Franklin County, Massachusetts, neighbor to Northampton and Brattleboro, VT, has been undergoing some exciting changes. At the nexus of Turners Falls and Greenfield, the zone has been hosting more quality independent arts events than ever. At the TF Brick House Community Center, Mike Jackson and the board have been setting up shows for Palberta, Cloud Becomes Your Hand, Chris Weisman, Bromp Treb and loads of others. Across the river in Greenfield, Scott Seward (John Doe, Jr. Records) and I are running a series called JDJR that will soon see Caethua, Taboo, Father Murphy, Killer Bob, Frank Hurricane, and Little Howlin’ Wolf just to name a few. Franklin County also excels in other areas: nature, food, drink, shops, affordability, so please visit! - Matt Robidoux, Dept. of Tourism
Look at the shows page. Now back to me. Now back to the show page. Did you notice all those kind and wonderful supporters of the Compass on the sidebars? Our volunteer-run, non-profit rag runs EXCLUSIVELY on those support spots and we need your help feeding the beast! You find local businesses and events that want to promote themselves, we put these pages in your hands monthly. If you’re studying advertising or marketing we can offer internship credit (plus real-world experience and good times). Interested? Open up your Googlewebs and write us at thatbostoncompass@gmail.com. - Harrison Bralower
How about a head trip? Boston has a world-class experimental jazz community, and you shouldn’t miss a chance to see one of its best ensembles. Deleuzer wraps up a residency with a show 2/1 @Washington Street Arts Center (321 Washington St. near Union Square in Somerville). Abstract strings, horns, electronics all improvising together, showing off extended performance techniques and playing pieces written especially for them by local composers. Then on Feb. 25th the band heads out on tour to Hadley, MA; Philadelphia; Baltimore; Washington, DC; and Providence, RI. Don’t miss ‘em! - Angela Sawyer
FUNKE AT FORTY: Fashion Drenched In Funk
A wiser man than myself once said, “Fashion is fabric’s lovesong.” Soon after, he was fired from his job at Banana Republic. Come 2/13, the good people @40 South St. (JP’s premier vintage boutique) are aimin’ to prove that poor man right. From 3:30 - 8:00 you can stop by and squeeeeeze into this hot spot for smooth tunes jockeyed by local great John Funke, sexy drinks, and sailin’ sales. Last-minute shoppers/boozers/movers/shakers can stop in for Valentine’s Day Eve bargains. What better gift for a lover than a maroon corduroy smock or a pair of decommissioned bowling loafers? Be there, baby. - Wheat Pullman
Prefab Messiahs back with New Record after 30 Years! This March 10, Burger Records/KLYAM will be putting out the long awaited new release (10”/cassette/CD) from Worcester neo-psych kids, the Prefeb Messiahs. Not so much “kids” anymore — but still ever-youthful as evidenced by the ageless Kris “Trip” Thompson (he of 1,000 Boston shows) — the Messiahs recorded this new joint with fierce fans/friends Doug Tuttle and Jesse Gallagher on the top floor of the Lilypad building before mixing it at singer Xerox’s homestead in rural New York. A lot of love and years in here. Don’t miss them 3/19 @The Middle East (upstairs). - Jonathan Donaldson
2/8 SOUPER BOWL 7 @Haley House Bakery Café Holy helpers HALEY HOUSE ask us to grab a bowl at their annual fundraiser for their South End Soup Kitchen that has been handing out home-cooked food to those in need since 1966. For $35, you select your own handmade ceramic bowl to keep (via MassArt’s Clay for Change program) then use it to sample soups from 12 top local chefs. More than a dozen bus lines go directly to Dudley Square (including the 1, 10, 42, & 66), so take one of ‘em on Sunday 2/8 from 2–6 PM to get fed and support the cause. Read more about MassArt’s Clay for Change program on page 2. www.HaleyHouse.org - CEEK
Respec t The C om
pass’s S h
ow Sub m
ission D eadline
If you look at the end of our show listings you will find the show submission deadline for next month’s issue. It’s there for you, the show throwers and goers. It’s the Compass’ north star, guiding you with its naturally occurring brilliance toward ultimate exposure to the freak-base your event is designed to stimulate. Don’t take your eyes off it. Let it remind you to solidify that date, book that last band, finalize that venue, have a poster made by that artist friend of yours, and submit your show all in time to get it printed (and possibly blurbed) in your city’s show paper. - Sam Potrykus