Still in books

I may be relatively new in Boston as a musician, but there seems to be one glaring difference between the new music scene in Boston and that in New York, something holding Boston back from the constant, rapid growth of the larger city slightly to the south.  Academia.

I don't meant that the music played in Boston is entirely of an academic nature.  The uptown-downtown labels don't hold much sway as they once did (though most music I've seen programed in Boston seems to avoid traditionally downtown music, and there is much academically minded tonal music) and the disparate representation modernist music once had in academia is no longer universal. The stunted growth comes from a purely logistical place.

Since moving up here I've attended a number of concerts at the various halls in the various schools, museums and churches.  Concerts given by groups very old and very new, with programming from the very staid to the very experimental, but always in a hall.  Playing in a hall (and most "halls" are shrouded in academia) subjects you to several things, notably curatorial programming and price.

It's very difficult to start a group and get programmed in a large hall at a large, notable/museum/church, and it's very difficult to be a new group and pay those rental fees.  In essence there isn't an infrastructure to support expansion.

In New York there are a number of venues with the express goal of promoting interesting or experimental music.  Le Poussin Rouge, the Tank, Issue Project Room, The Cell, Roulette, Dozens of galleries and various lofts/living spaces/warehouses, etc.  

Obviously Boston has interesting places to see live music, though not the plethora NYC has.  The problem is in attitude.  The vibe at most of the concerts I've seen in Boston gives the impression that contemporary music is still something exalted, something that belongs exclusively in the concert halls, and the programming reflects this.

It's difficult to convince the average curious concert goer to attend a concert of stuffy music in a stuffy concert hall.  It's easy to convince a curious listener to wander into the same club he may have seen some interesting rock or jazz or hip hop the night before to see a concert of interesting contemporary music.  This is the environment we need in Boston to foster a scene where new groups can emerge, the scene can grow, and people can take chances and experiment.  

note: I realize there are a few places like this in Boston.  There is the charming Lilypad in Inman Sq. and the ART's club/theater Oberon has some concerts, but looking at areas arts calendars still puts nearly every concert in a hall, shrouded in Academia.