Arthur Freedman

Friday 11/8 was a big night for Arthur Freedman, a big night for the Boston scene and a big night for The Harvard Film Archives and the Loeb Music Library. The HFA have had Freeman's videos since 2011. They've put a lot of work into them. The Loeb Music Library took five years alone to digitize just the audio tapes. This night showed some of that work and the way they are contextualizing the large body of work.

Walking into the Carpenter Art Center we could see Willie Alexander standing in a middle of a group. In that group was Peter Laurence of the Loeb Music Library at Harvard, soon after we were joined by Richie Parsons, Betsy Sherman and soon Arthur Freedman. We noticed more and more people entering the building. We soon found out that the night was sold out. Inside was Carl Biancucci, Mr. Curt, Tim Jackson, Tommy Long, Jada Maxwell and Crow Follow (Tim, Judy and John).

Peter Laurence - Loeb Music Library and Willie Alexander Photo: Blowfish

The audience was mostly older and from the reactions during the night obviously big longtime Boston music fans. There were some introductory speeches from people working on the archives. That's where you could hear how they were in parts framing the collection to current day interests of gender identity and women's empowerment.

There was a short film by Martha Swetzoff of Bound & Gagged where she played along with guitar giving it a live soundtrack , very much experimental and cutting edge.

Then there was a set by the Dangerous Birds (with the exception of Lori Green). The set was everything you could hope for. They didn't just play the notes, they had the whole feeling of a set from their early days. We felt like we were down in the Underground. This was a set of primo post punk art rock.

Dangerous Birds with Peter Dixon on keyboards -

One of the main points that shaped the set was the drumming. We're so used to manic drummers but Karen Sekiguchi was calm, elegant, measured and sparse. In the minimal playing you could hear the time keeping bass drum like you almost never do. There was so much finesse in the restrained cymbal playing.

The drumming allowed you to hear the bass playing by Margery Meadow which was always interesting. Then there was Thalia Zedek which is where the art rock sound comes from. The singing which is so identifiable to us now must have made a big impression back in the day.

The songs all held up with no sense of being dated. The capper was the cover of fellow Propeller Records group V's song "1926". That was a stunner. Thalia has covered that song in her first solo album and has done it live through the years. It seemed like time stopped when she sang the line "your god hates me."

The audience

That could have been the night right there at another time. Then it was time for a collage of Freedman's videos. The groups where: Human Sexual Response, John Felice and the Devotions, Neighborhoods with Springa, Unnatural Axe, Barrence Whitfield, Birdsongs of the Mesozoic, Salem 66, Volcano Suns (last show), Two Saints, Mickey Clean & the Mezz, Quivver, Organ Donors with Mickey Betts, Grand Theft Auto with Justine Covault.

It was a powerful mix. Human Sexual Response made a big impact with their lively show/spectacle. The manic shows from Unnatural Axe, Volcano Suns and Neighborhoods/Springa were thrilling. Then there were those that have passed that were in the videos: Justine Covault, Windle Davis, Bobby Bear, Mickey Clean, and Asa Brebner.

Arthur Freedman

You can see the value of what the archive has here. We all want to see the high profile groups but even the unknown ones make a mark. Quivvver is one group we never heard but the short clip made us want to know more of this sort of glam group. When we saw Salem 66 we realized we had never seen a video of them before. How many more worthy groups are in these videos?

After the film there was a talk by Arthur. He did so well. The audience gave him many rounds of applause in appreciation. He made many good points and carried himself with assurance. He was generous in giving shout outs to others that have helped the scene through the years. He had his jacket of buttons on too, just like the old days.

Gary Gogel - Dangerous Birds

Then they took questions and comments. Someone made a point that there aren't as many clubs because of institutions like Harvard gobbling up real estate in the Brighton/Allston/Cambridge area and The Rat was obliterated because of BU's expansion to Kenmore Square. That was in your face truth telling.

Quite a night. It made it obvious that Arthur Freedman Archive is in the right hands. The Loeb Music Library are always looking for back up material (flyers, photos, band stats) that help round out the profile of the groups included in the collection. It's an excellent way of letting your material be shared by all, just like Arthur Freedman did.

Arthur Freedman

Audience

In Memoriam from film

Karen Sekiguchi - Dangerous Birds

MC Alex Vasile - Loeb Music Library

Miss Lyn and Blowfish

Mr Curt

Peter Dixon - Dangerous Birds

Thalia and Margery - Dangerous Birds

Arthur Freedman

Dangerous Birds

Tim Spraque and Gregg Zoske

Tim Spraque of Crow Follow making comments

Arthur and Betsy Photo: Blowfish

Mr Curt, Tim Jackson and Richie Parsons Photo: Blowfish