Cheapskate’s Guide to Boston: Somerville PorchFest

For all the flack city folk give suburbia — a wasteland to be escaped from or returned to only under duress, a folksy slowdown for those unable to hack it metro-side — the Boston-Cambridge burbs (Jamaica Plain, Somerville, Dorchester, etc) staunchly defy cookiecutter-dom, particularly during the summer. Where the city purges some quarter million students post-May, the outlying townships spring to (often free) community revelry during the summer months. This past Saturday Somerville coaxed sun-seeking crowds beyond the T zone with its first (and, one would hope, annual) PorchFest, which filled some 75 stoops, porches and lawns across Somerville with musicians of all stripes for the afternoon.

Stepping off the Porter Square Red Line stop at Somerville’s edge with Cambridge, it took no time at all to find the first band — a red balloon trail and the echo of snare drums off clapboard (this is still the suburbs, facades and all) led to a sidewalk indie cabal hosted by A Bit Much. For once shades on a bassist seemed reasonable, and the drummer’s dishbrushes in place of sticks (perhaps for sound abatement to appease the neighbors?)

set all heads bobbing along. The small bass amp drowned all trace of lyrics, small price to play in the open air and sun for that lovely woman next door who you know called the cops during rehearsal.

Moving on (and having neglected to print out or pick up one of the porch maps provided the Somerville Arts Council, organizer of PorchFest), we wandered a few blocks past lazy eateries and shopping strips, eyes roving for bobbing balloons and ears strained for any hint of melody. It quickly became a game to be the first to divine the next porch or lawn. We tracked a trickle of crowd (mostly human, but a respectable showing of mutts) through one neighborhood after another, too proud to ask to sneak a look at a map and enjoying the wanderlust in any case. After fifteen minutes the scream of electric guitar broke all into a shared smile as we turned a corner and knew we had found the PorchFest epicenter.

http://youtu.be/elhCtJJq-a8

Blues guitarist Barrett Anderson at PorchFest | Video by Shawn Musgrave

Every couple of blocks brought its new beat and feel, drawing the crowds and offshoot groups down side streets and into backyards with a license for snooping which on any other day would be bald-faced trespass. Familiar faces haunted successive concerts as people made the rounds, sharing beer and block party fare with the general mishmash while listening to multi-talented neighbors. The impending sunburns and dully aching feet only enhanced the pleasure of the whole experience — this was music in need of finding, seemingly endless concerts for the patient hunter without admission or service fees or oversold venues. Sure, not a single band we found was not stumbled upon as a direct result of poor directional sense and pure luck. But each happened-upon performance seemed like a discovery all the same, equal parts scavenger hunt and festival ambiance.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zYL9Orj4LQ

Video by Shawn Musgrave

By far the highlight of our slice of PorchFest was catching up with the Second Line Social Aid and Pleasure Society Brass Band, a fifteen-piece New Orleans-style street band that frequents peace demonstrations, benefits and social interest rallies where “cause is true and the time is right.” Blasting standards through otherwise quiet neighborhoods, the SLSAPS raised a royal din. The wide age range of bandmates was striking, as were the infectious grins of all they passed on parade.

http://youtu.be/86bcwLDXUYs

The Second Line Social Aid and Pleasure Society Brass Band at PorchFest 2011 | Video by Shawn Musgrave

Without a doubt, Boston should consider itself on notice — the burbs are out of the corner swinging for summer. The outlying squares and plazas all have itineraries bloated with festivals like these over the next couple of months [check back to The Quad for previews], plus the charm of being far removed from Kenmore, Allston or Government Center. The events are well worth a bit of MBTA maneuvering (and maybe a trek on foot besides).