Great Scott
photo via @sometimes_kush

Ryley Walker, Kevin Devine, Clairo, Har Mar, Frank Turner & more pay tribute to Great Scott

The greater Boston community (and beyond) has been distraught upon learning that Allston venue Great Scott won’t be reopening after the coronavirus pandemic, and justifiably so. In the 40+ years Great Scott stood its ground at 1222 Commonwealth Ave, it served as a beacon for the local DIY community. For concert-goers, it became a safe-haven where you felt as though you were part of an intimate family while you got to witness bands shred. For musicians on the come-up, it became a place where they could be heard and supported.

“The big thing was to have your last show at Great Scott or to have your album release show [there],” Sami Martasian of Boston indie rock group, Puppy Problems, said for a WGBH piece about the closure. “It was like a hospital where things are being born, and things die. You don’t think that the physical place could ever go away, because it’s what holds all of that creation and the undoing.” In that same piece, Rick Maguire recalled that Great Scott “taught [his band, Pile] a lot about how to be a band.”

In the days following the release of general manager Tim Philbin’s statement about the closing, many have taken to social media to express their devastation at the loss of this pillar institution of Boston live music. Read tributes from Sidney Gish, Vundabar, Sadie Dupuis of Speedy Ortiz and Sad13, Horse Jumper of Love, Clairo, Ezra Furman, Ryley Walker, Kevin Devine, Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever, Anna Burch, Sarah Thompson of Camp Cope, Pronoun, Potty Mouth, Cloud Nothings, Frank Turner, Future Teens, TWIABP, Weakened Friends, Gouge Away, Har Mar Superstar, Honey Cutt, Told Slant, Alex Lahey, Greg Rutkin of Trace Mountains and LVL UP and more below.

 

 

 

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i honestly don’t think any of you would know about my bands if @greatscottrock hadn’t taken so many early chances on us. please sign the petition and write their landlords asking for a lease renewal. scoured youtube for some show goodies, as follows… 1. “young liars” by @tvontheradio , night 2 of our residency 12/12/2014 shot by @newartillery 2. “dirty work” by steely dan ft @realtedleo, 12/31/2017 or possibly it had JUST turned 2018, shot by @ihavesweatypalms 3. “plough” 12/19/2014, last night of our residency. honestly this exact ass vantage is how i watched most shows at great scott lol shot by michael achille 4. “indoor soccer” 8/22/2012 by @instant_rock 5. “cutco” 3/1/2012 also by @instant_rock 6. “silver spring” 4/9/2012 by @davespak 7. “no below” at the major arcana release show 7/6/2013 shot by andrew gibson for @allstonpudding A post shared by speedy ortiz online presence? (@sad13) on

Boston publication, Allston Pudding…

Writer Luke Oneil who also plays in no hope/ no harm

Nina Corcoran, former music editor for Dig Boston