so it's trite but I think somewhat necessary:

if anyone hasn't noticed, the number of places to do all ages shows is pretty much slim to nill. around boston it's a triumverate of the same three places run by a handful of people that if you don't know, or if they do know you but you're not "cool", you're not in.

so I say stop gettin' fucked and playing $8 shows at dives not worth hanging out at and let's at least brainstorm a way to have more shows that are accessible to a wider, more diverse, crowd and ones that are cheaper. Also let's make it easy for the new bands to get on.

I say this cause all I can think of for boston show spots are:

the middle east
the ICC
disaster house
hoss
o'briens
chopping block
all asia
occassionally crusty craig's basement or elsewhere

there's gotta be a better smattering than that, I mean, unless I'm completely oblivious to other spots...

I feel bad when I see new bands starting and having trouble getting shows.
doesn't it seem like there should be a neutral, non-clique-oriented place to have shows? that are cheap and easy to get to, and open to whoever?

or maybe my head is really far up my ass, which is also a possibility.

probably more of the latter than the former (shrugs)

The unfortunate state of eastern Massachusetts is that those are the only places, that I have come across anyway - 2 of those places I haven't even heard of before.

What alot of bands don't understand is how the politics within Boston (or whatever city) work in regards to licensing clubs. Places like the HOSS will eventually cease to exist because they operate without said licenses, the more people know about it, the easier the city will know about it and shut it down.
All Asia has already gotten threats to have their licenses stripped from them as well, because people do not want rock and roll to succeed for some reason.
If metal gets bigger, and moves towards bigger clubs like the Middle East and Bill's Bar, then even less bands will get gigs because those bigger clubs will only want the bands who draw the best.

To have such a club exist, that is all ages and can take chances on bands, then it would either need another business involved with it, or have it be more of a community, non-profit art space (or something along those lines). There was such a place but it was shut down last year because people take things for granted and break the small amount of rules that are put into place to preserve such venues.

you talking about the art space?

There was a place in Boston that was all ages, and you could even bring your own beer there. I forget what it was called.
It closed down sometime in 2003, Porn Belt and Gut played at the last show the place ever had.

thats a shame, we need more all ages places to play, but i undertsand the license thing totally. TOC, i can undertsand your frustrationg, my band is experiencing the same thing.