Canceled Culture

Fall/ Winter 2020

Hello friends,

Yes. This has been a tumultuous time for you and for me. At this time, under 'normal circumstances' we would be gearing up for the JP Music Festival. Sadly, we are without her companionship this fall. So,  we carry onward to an unpredictable Fall, an election year, a nation and world in the throes of massive change and social unrest. 

As far as I can tell, events like the JPMF are largely seen now as somewhat arbitrary compared to what we've seen in Portland Oregon, Wisconsin and Washington DC. More so in Indianapolis, Minn. I've been thinking a lot about how the city I have grown to love in Boston is in the middle of this change as well and how we are going to pull through this, what it will look like on the other side? So many of our beloved iconic city institutions like The Field and the Cantab Lounge have now gone under. What will occupy their spaces as we come out of this? When will we come out of this? Will we ever come out of this? Man, we have trouble even wearing masks.

We had Bar Wars and several fund raisers simply disappear from us this year. Did we even think that could happen? You and I are in the same boat. We have had our differences and doubts and I'm sure they are as far from our present situation as they possibly could be. Though I see this moment as totally unpredictable, I also see it as a tremendous opportunity for change. Change of pace, change of routine, job and most of all, change of perspective. 

I'm going to keep at what I'm doing. It's the only way forward for me. There is no doubt that I am very lucky to have a backup move during this time. However, I am still bleeding for the people that I know and love in the Boston that I once knew. Do yourself the best possible favor you can do. Get off of Facebook. Simply leave. It sounds horrific I know because I was there. However, now that I am free from it, I couldn't be happier. What's the option? Continue to check into the hostile and anxiety driven content that pisses you off every time you look at it? Or, breathe a deep breath of relief knowing you are free from the manipulation and addiction of attention? The math for me was pretty simple. 

I'll see you again soon.

Ah, yes. That time of year again.

The 50 grade sandpaper windburn Autumn air replaces the humid density that hanged heavy, heating up the ashphalt of Hyde Square,  straight on down pass the memorial and off to oblivion...And Jamaica Pond is -  again -"nature's reverb chamber" as it pushes the soundwave barriers via Tube amp, perpetuating outward to permeate this new atmosphere of honey, pumpkin whip, chai latte with the music, performed live by some of the areas most circularly augmented and forward seeking, alternative musicians, for the 9th annual JP Music Festival.

Who doesn't love a rambling, run-on paragraph?

It's a pleasure making these videos. I like listening to this trove of excellent music and stories of art in vulnerability, painful resolution. Vengeful rock, then soft -landed poetry, delicate truetone and pushing the level ever higher. 

2019 saw the return of festival local fav's Rick Berlin and the Nickel & Dime Band and our fabled, oldest school of Theater, The Footlight Club. The way the show rolls out is just as interesting as the music that is played on the two stage, "deep out in left field", JP Ho-down. With return of road warrior tested - and approved - Chandler Travis, accompanied by the unmerciful testimony of Savannah Sly and rabid furor of Trusty Sidekick to name but a mere drop in the pond (ka-donk!) of fully resolved and determined bands that hang around this too cool community of Jamaica Plain.

J P Music Festival - 2019

1/16/18

Ransom Note Productions is very proud to start rolling the cameras for 'Live at the Midway- a Rockumentary' this March 25, 2018.

You are invited to a very important musical and cinematic event:

Ransom Note Productions is thrilled to announce the filming of ‘Live at the Midway- a Rockumentary’.  Sunday March 25th, from 4-8pm will feature performances from ‘The Hi- End’ ‘Erin Harpe and the Delta Swingers’, ‘Fur Purse’ and ‘The Nickel and Dime Band’. All performing on the same bill at our beloved Midway Cafe, 3496 Washington Street, Jamaica Plain.

This is an ALL AGES SHOW and selected performances will be included in the documentary about our favorite local, live music venue. If you would like to participate in this fantastically cool event, please BE ADVISED that your image MAY be filmed at some point even though the cameras will be focused on the performers and the stage itself. We cannot guarantee that your image will or will not show up in some portion of the filming but if you agree to attend, you are automatically waiving all rights to sue us in court.

The gloves come off and the ear plugs go in for this community art project of great music in support of our favorite Midway Cafe. Entry is $5.00.

A Tribute to John Casey: June 7, 2016.

The 3rd annual JP Bar Wars kicked off at the Midway Cafe on June 7th in all of its debouched Rock n Roll glory accompanied by our darling and always flamboyant Vice Versatile as the MC. This year, there was a more sobering tone to the festivities as the memory of a fallen friend of the community and server in the Bar industry, John Casey was present in the hearts that knew him and for whom this years JP Music Festival fundraiser was named after. 

Though I did not know John Casey personally, my memories of him were of a man who was smart, fair and always willing to lend his ear to a patron who needed one to be heard.

In the year of 2010, I moved to JP and had a small group of friends I would run around with. One of them had a birthday that we celebrated down in Copely but soon felt that the bars in JP would suit us better. After a few shots and some cheap tacos, we found ourselves at the Brendan Behan Pub on a Saturday night where John Casey was sailing the ship solo from behind the bar. Certainly no easy task for a bar tender, but he was holding his own as he always did. 

Not exactly being sensitive to our surroundings and fueled with alcohol, the general spirit of birthday celebrations and caught up in the excitement of being in a new place with new friends, our little group somehow got the idea that it would be hilarious to begin laughing out loud as if we were a Doctor Evil trio. We let out a repetitive and collective roar in an ugly and all- too- unpleasant triumvirate of buffoonery and lunacy in the form of evil and insane laughter that the entire Bar heard. It was shortly after this moment that my back facing the Bar was then greeted by a freezing cold hail of hard, crystalized ice particle vapor that proceeded to drip down the back of my neck and my lower back. Every second of it claiming a territory of its own, designed to uproot whatever feelings of belonging and festivities I had been wrapped up and consumed by. Looking stunned, I glanced up at the people behind the table across the Bar from us but to my surprise they looked as shocked as we! Yet, I also noticed that their eyes were slightly off of my right shoulder as if they were deer in headlights. I turn myself around and behind the Bar is a lone John Casey, breaking from an impossible schedule of slamming, insatiably thirsty, pub goers, with a belting, powerfully thundering and authoritative call, like a referee on the soccer field at Wembley, through the penetrating, thumping, loud, music, with the dim lights showering him in a faintly reincarnation of The Incredible Hulk, looking straight into my eyes with his arms out to a “T”…  “What are you DOING?!!”

I was frozen. My Guinness nearly turned green with my guilt of what our little group had done.He did NOT throw us out. We quietly finished our beverages and walked out slowly and sheepishly. 

My thoughts were that my future in JP was ruined by this. A hard working, local, bartender now had it out for me. He was probably ready to shame my name, hang a photo of my face behind the bar with a sign painted on it saying “banned for life!” or at least have it printed on the dart board. 

Not to worry. This was John Casey. This was the man who worked hard, was fair, decent and honest. He expected nothing more than for people to be responsible enough to be where they were at. Quiet but direct. Happy to see you but not overly excited. He knew where his place was and expected you to know where yours was as well. He was welcoming and knew his friends. His friends loved him and respected him. His friends were deeply hurt and confused when they learned that they had lost him.

I know those that knew him well. Seeing their response to his passing and the mark that it left on this community was staggering and bewildering. I seriously am sickened when I see my friends like that.

For me, what makes events in JP like the Bar Wars so special is that it is one of many creative and effective ways for this community and their friends to come together is good spirit. In song, in laughter and above all else…in support of each other. Perhaps any kind of silver lining Mr. Casey could leave for us is to seriously stop and take stock in what we have here and now. To be grateful and thankful. To be fair and honest. To work hard and to be there for one another. To serve each other. 

Billy Squire

June 14, 2016.

In our final episode of The Ransom Note Podcast's coverage of the JP Music Festival 2015, it should be known that if it were not for the support of some great, GREAT businesses in JP, this would be nearly impossible to put together. Our friends JP Licks came out with Squirrel Nut Zipple ice cream, a caramel, vanilla, nut inversion that is fantastic! It took over my favorite Blackberry Shake! Tres Gatos does the merchandise the day of the show and holds benefits at the restaurant, but most importantly it is The Midway Cafe. Hundreds of bands play there, live, loud, Rock&Roll can be played for events like this for fundraisers and you don't have to worry about upsetting the toddlers running around wanting another Panini! You can't find another place like The Midway in JP. It's the best stage in town for Dirty Live Music! 

Rick's endorsement at the end of this interview is priceless. He understands the value of a venue like The Midway in JP. Full of surprises and never underestimated, The Midway is in it's own way, very much a part of the JP Music Festival, almost by default. The music can be so diverse and unpredictable there. Any bar in America that has something like The Midway in its community, should hold onto it for dear life!

See you at Jamaica Pond on September 12.

In part 7 of the Ransom Note Podcast coverage of the JP Music Festival, we thought that everyone should know the drill. Many don't. So here it is. In order to perform on one of the stages of the JP Music Festival, you must first apply. Then, at least one member has to be living or working in JP. There can be no headliners and you must perform original music - for the most part. The term headliner can be somewhat foggy to some artists who wish to grace us with their presence on the stages of the JPMF and that is encouraged but they ask for you to keep it in perspective. 

All forms of music can be heard at this festival. Everything from local church choirs, to musical families, ethnic varieties and alt. garage punk. These bands exist here because THAT IS JP! A myriad of music and art is alive and pumping in these streets and the JP Music Festival does its best to bring it all together. For one day only on September 12, 2015 from 12-7. You will be transported from JP to Kenya, Cuba to San Juan. It's all here and it's all waiting for you!

Let it be known that the JPMF costs about $30,000 to put on. That money has to be raised in Jamaica Plain by a small group of people. David Mueller, the treasurer and Justin McCarthy are nothing short of genius when it comes to putting out the word for fund raisers for the Jamaica Plain Music Festival, held this September 12, 2015. They come up with awful and hilarious ideas. 'Smell the Love' (The Anti Valentines Day fund raiser), Before the Gold Rush, a Neil Young Tribute show and tributes to Levon Helm have all been home runs for the JPMF. Some of the more lampooned events that they'd like to forget was the Meat Raffle where the grand prize was a big block of Tofu!, Bad Movies by local film makers (stand up Billy Squire!) and a Chili cook-off. 

Getting these things together is all part of the game when it comes to putting on the Jamaica Plain Music Festival. If you're going to have that much of a headache getting dozens of permits from City Hall and dealing with Parks, Cops and Fire Departments, Ambulances and an estimated 4,000 people descending on Jamaica Pond, you better have a blast getting the word out and raising awareness. Something that David Mueller (Treasurer) and Justin McCarthy (Design) know a tremendous amount of.

In part 5 of the Ransom Note Podcast about the JP Music Festival we talk about the collaborative and outstanding effort put forth by the crew of the JPMF. David Mueller as Treasurer, Charles McEnerney handling Marketing, Margie Nicoll as the Artist and Justin McCarthy doing the design, all of them contribute to this hugely anticipated community event. Saturday September 12, 20015 will be the 5th year anniversary of the Jamaica Plain Music Festival and it couldn't have happened without these people and the people of Jamaica Plain. Businesses and friends, musicians, artists and townies MAKE this come together and help celebrate the sheer COOLNESS of JP.

As Rick Berlin put it, "It's not Boston calling, it's what JP answers." The balance of this team is nearly perfect. Everybody has his or her strength whether it's dealing with City Hall (never easy), the bands (never, NEVER, easy), Public Works or Police, all the bases must be covered for a NOT FOR PROFIT like this to go down smoothly. It costs over $30,000 to put on this festival and ALL of it has to be raised in Jamaica Plain and finally, after 5 YEARS, the JPMF is able to pay its musicians.