Tag: Boston Freedom Rally
Show Review: Boston Freedom Rally Highlights – 9/19 on the Boston Common
by Bryan on Sep.25, 2009, under Live Shows, Media, News, Reviews, Video
- Photo by Billy Korecki – www.calmovita.com
An estimated 30,000 people stormed the Boston Common on Saturday to experience two stages of great music, political activists, and vendors galore, all in the name of the legalization of marijuana. The 20th anniversary of MassCann’s Boston Freedom Rally was a celebration of last November’s Proposition #2, which decriminalized the possession of marijuana – showing that the work these activists do and the rallies they stage actually effect progress rather than existing as mere lip service. Regardless of which side of this debate you take, you have to take heart in a grassroots political movement actually having an impact on the daily lives of millions across the state. This was by far the biggest ‘Hempfest’ ever – a second stage was added for even more musical acts to perform, and there was by far more attendees then any previous rally – MassCann officials estimate as many as 50,000 people visited the Common over the six hours of the event. Even with the increase of attendance, Boston Police reported fewer problems than past years – only about 100 people were issued tickets for possession, and only 3 distribution arrests were made. PGB was at the Rally all day long, here’s some highlights of the event – in no particular order – to go with some great videos and photos…
Styles P (formerly of The Lox) taking the stage and asking the crowd about weed in Massachusetts: “Is it just a ticket up here? … Fuck that” With that, he lit a blunt up on stage and proceeded to smoke it throughout his entire set.
New Trumpeteer for The Force Phil Weinstein missing half of his band’s set due to being waylaid and written up a ticket for smoking a joint.
Luxury bassist Justin Day and Prospect Hill bassist Edgar Troncoso competing for best vault off of the elevated drum platform. Day got a little more air, but Troncoso’s might have been timed a little better – its a toss-up. Both were pretty incredible though.
Graveyard BBQ’s badass rendition of Star Spangled Banner to kick off their set.
Neurological Damage pulling Vic from The Force up on stage to sing a few songs.
Dave Tree being Dave Tree, and rocking the shit out of the second stage.
Keep Me Conscious guitarist Daniel Maleck finding a way to headbang his hat off. It was a wool beanie! Pulled down pretty low! How the hell did he do that?
Former WBCN and current WBZ DJ Bradley Jay’s project Thunder Brothers being accompanied onstage by a gyrating flygirl and a guitar-playing ninja. Why can’t all bands have a ninja on guitar?
The Luxury bringing their strings section out to play – the strings and lead singer Jason Dunn’s voice could be heard projecting across the entire Common, even all the way over by the second stage.
The BBQ Girls getting on stage to sing and dance along for Graveyard BBQ’s “Ride the Stache” (link to PGB TOTW #1)
Yes there were about 30,000 in attendance, but maybe 29,995 of them were photographers shooting for various media outlets. (Just kidding, there were a ridiculous amount of photographers running around though)
Twice as many girls as guys knowing the lyrics for Prospect Hill and Keep Me Conscious. Chicks dig it.
A thick haze of smoke over Big Shug’s crowd, long before the traditional 4:20 smokeout.
Termanology running up and down behind the barricade, slapping hands with his fans.
Guest speaker Steve Bloom (founder of celebstoner.com) holding up a clock and trying to get Styles P to stop his song for 4:20, with no luck whatsoever. (usually the organizers do a big countdown with an organized mass lighting up – not so much this time, but it didn’t stop anyone from smoking anyway)
Prospect Hill singer Adam Fithian up on the barricade hypnotizing and transfixing the crowd as he sang “Break Down.”
The crowd expanding exponentially over the course of the day – a few thousand early on, then suddenly over 10,000, then suddenly over 20,000, then suddenly the Common was so packed it took at least 20 minutes to go from one side of the stage to the other and you had no prayer whatsoever of navigating the paths between the vendors.
Graveyard BBQ guitarist Brownbag Johnson crowdsurfing midsong while soloing… and getting dropped… and dropped again… and again. Ouch. Hey, it didn’t stop him though – after the barricade guards pulled him back over to the stage side he got right back up on the barricade and shredded his heart out with his fans screaming right in front of him.
Hey Dude in the Crowd for Keep Me Conscious’ set! Did you realize when your girlfriend asked you to prop her up on your shoulders that she only wanted to get up there so she could flash the band?
The random dog running around backstage and behind the barricade without an owner in sight. That dog rocked.
Plastic bucket drums in between the two stages. Those guys were nasty.
An estimated 30,000 people stormed the Boston Common on Saturday to experience a packed festival complete with two stages of great music, political activists, and vendors galore – all in the name of the legalization of marijuana. The 20th anniversary of MassCann’s Boston Freedom Rally was a celebration of last November’s Proposition #2 victory, which decriminalized the possession of marijuana – showing that the work these activists do and the rallies they stage actually effect progress rather than existing as mere lip service. Regardless of which side of this debate you’re on, you have to take heart in a grassroots political movement actually having an impact on the daily lives of millions across the state.
This was by far the biggest ‘Hempfest’ ever – a second stage was added for even more musical acts to perform, and there was by far more attendees then any previous rally – MassCann officials estimate as many as 50,000 people visited the Common over the six hours of the event. Even with the increase of attendance, Boston Police reported fewer problems than past years – less than 150 people were issued tickets for possession, and only 3 distribution arrests were made. PGB was at the Rally all day long, here’s some highlights of the event – in no particular order – to go with some great videos and photos…
- Photo by Kori Diabate
Boston Freedom Rally Schedule Announced!
by Bryan on Sep.17, 2009, under Live Shows, News, Previews
It’s that time of year again when a horde of musicians, a teeming mob of vendors, a slew of political activists, and a near-impenetrable cloud of smoke descend on the Boston Common. Hempfest? The Boston Freedom Rally? Whatever you want to call it, there’s no denying that this is one of the signature outdoor festivals of Septembers in Boston. Over its 20 years of existence, this festival has grown into the second largest pro-marijuana law reform rally in the country and by far the largest on the East Coast. The rally never fails to support the local music scene by inviting some of the finest Boston acts of every genre up on stage to blast their songs across the entire Common… and half of downtown as well! This year is no exception – and looking at the lineup it seems they’ve picked quite a few PGB favorites to rock two different stages! Whether you’re a rabid reform believer, a hardcore straitedger, or just generally apathetic to the cause, you do NOT want to miss all the incredible music rocking the Boston Common all day long on Saturday. Here’s the newly-released schedule to help you plan out your day. (Schedule subject to change)
Show Review: Boston Freedom Rally Benefit – Neurological Damage, Planetoid, The Force, Captain Cutthroat, Prospect Hill
by Bryan on Jun.12, 2009, under Live Shows, News, Reviews
Photo by Scott Gacek
No matter which side of the marijuana decriminalization debate you’re on, you gotta give it to the MassCann guys – they know how to throw a hell of a party… especially when they team up with super-promoter Shred for a night of musical madness! Saturday night at the Middle East downstairs was no exception. 6 bands graced the stage, all for the benefit of MassCann/NORML (Massachusetts’ Chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws) and the Boston Freedom Rally – better known around these parts as the HempFest. The Boston Freedom Rally is in its 20th year and is considered the 2nd largest pro-marijuana reform rally in the country, and throughout the years has been funded largely by benefit concerts such as this one. The bands take no money whatsoever for their performances, choosing instead to donate their door fees to a cause they believe in. Regardless of whether you’re a regular smoker, an advocate of personal freedom, or you’re rabidly against all things weed-related, MassCann surely put together a great lineup of bands that rocked the Middle East all night long.
Boston Freedom Rally Benefit Show – Saturday, June 6th @ the Middle East Downstairs
by Bryan on Jun.04, 2009, under News, Previews
This Saturday, the Middle East Downstairs is hosting a benefit for the Boston Freedom Rally (better known as the HempFest). This benefit show features an all-star lineup of Prospect Hill, The Force, Captain Cutthroat, Planetoid, Neurological Damage, and Build A Machine. While the show was originally scheduled for the Upstairs venue, it had to be moved downstairs once the true drawing potential of all these bands, plus the Boston institution that is Hempfest, was taken into consideration! This is going to be an incredible show – amazing bands, a common cause, and the Girls 4 Ganja will be out in full force, meeting and greeting as well as holding an open casting call for future models! Also, local NORML hero Mike Cann will be filming the festivities, interviewing concertgoers about decriminalization, etc. to post on his blog and Youtube channel.
Tickets are available through Ticketmaster or at the Middle East Box Office… or if you purchase tickets through any of the members of The Force they’ll include a free T-Shirt or their debut CD with purchase! Click here for a review of the CD – if you haven’t picked up a copy of their incredible album, now is the perfect opportunity. This show WILL sell out, so why not grab a freebie if you’re getting tickets anyway? So head on over to their website, send them an e-mail, and work out a time and place to meet up to pick up tickets!
Subscribe to the PlaygroundBoston.com
Mailing List
Follow Us!
Latest Photos
