Joseph Beaulieu & James Lockridge.
Local booker Joseph Beaulieu produces shows that take the long arm of MTV out of Burlington's throat, and the music clenched in its pasty corporate fist with it. I've known Joe for years and can vouch for how impressive it is to witness him have an opinion and do something about it; his booking enterprise has been a labor of love and necessity for him, a calling. That relentless impulse, combined with his musical interests and growing network of truly original musicians and agencies around the world, makes him a formidable show producer and one that can meaningfully defy the taste-making of popular media. It's a lucky thing to be able say that Joseph has brought his booking effort, the 802 Booking Collective, to the Big Heavy World office.
Big Heavy World and Joe share an outlook on our music community. We want to see it working together to uplift itself, show what it has to offer, and connect it to the world outside our private paradise in Burlington. It's easy to insulate and self-reflect as a scene; it's a bold task to build bridges to the rest of the world. Joe's building them.
Here's the full Northeast Performer interview (Joe is featured in the current issue). Get to know him, and get in touch: 802@bigheavyworld.net, (802) 865-1140.
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What's the mission statement of the 802 Booking Collective?
Basically to promote, book, and spread the word about underground music. My personal mission with the collective is to win back independent music from the MTV culture as they are no longer willing to seek out anything new on their own. They want it spoon-fed, sometimes even forced down their throats in so many ways it's beyond ridiculous. You can still book a band like Circle Takes the Square into a 126 capacity venue and get a lively turnout, but the numbers won't be there. Likewise with Junius, Kayo Dot etc. However put an act like As I Lay Dying at Higher Ground and kids come out in throngs. It pulls away from the original ethic I loved about local music and 'the scene' when I was kid. Difference is I refuse to get jaded about it.
How long have you been around and how did it come to pass?
802 Booking / Empyreal Records Collective has been around for nearly two years. It was founded by a friend of mine and I when we worked in retail and were sick of seeing the same posi-core and local hardcore over and over. So he called some bands up and I got in touch with 242 for our first official show. It was: Fight Amputation, Arcadius, Relics, L'Antietam, Furnace, and Archer In Jeopardy. He ended up leaving and I have pretty much done the whole operation by myself. 'Collective' is a bit of a misnomer as I've been doing it alone since then, but I do have help when the shows happen. The family and community that have grown from Burlington outward (to as far as Groningen, Netherlands) has been a really exciting thing for me.
Tell me about the various services you offer.
Well it started with just booking a band as a third party into a venue and paying the bands a guarantee out of pocket; in essence, being a promoter. Then I incorporated my really broke-ass record label Empyreal Records into the mix and now I even do national booking for one local Vermont act called Vitals, as well as a New Hampshire act called Alessa, and finally a Hartford, CT band called the Cargo Cult Revival.
Tell me about the Burlington music scene. Why is DIY important to the thriving of independent music there?
In a "City" that borders other key points in the Northeast it is important to keep the scene thriving as a cooperative effort. Burlington's really cut off from what goes on in a lot of the scenes around the country. We are always the last to know about some up and coming band. In a lot of ways though, it's important to keep it D.I.Y. the way we do it, 'cause our slogan is "D.I.Y. is Dead, DO IT TOGETHER!!!" More is accomplished if everyone puts in a hand, and more people have a tendency to get excited about it if they are involved in some small way. Burlington is a very community oriented and self-empowering environment to its denizens so I just try to carry that forward within the ethics of my booking and practices.
Why is Burlington a good place for a musician? Advantages, disadvantages?
It's again very centralized for touring purposes. You can make a weekend out of hitting Boston, New York City, and Providence. Disadvantage is that until you play those places, no one knows who the hell you are. A lot can be done through your hype alone.
What bands are you currently excited about?
Vitals (Instrumental/Post-Rock), incredible locals carrying the torch left by Cancer Conspiracy but sounding a lot more heavy, like Boris, Mono, Explosions in the Sky.
Manuevers (Very At the Drive In-esque punk/hardcore with some Salsa tones) really good guys that do a lot for the scene themselves too. Jeff Foran, the singer/bassist, designs a majority of the band's t-shirt artwork and show posters.
War Elephants (another Instrumental outfit, a lot more in the vein of Coheed and Cambria without vocals). These are like 14/15 year old kids who are doing something amazing that I honestly don't think anyone was talking about before.
How can bands not from Burlington go through you guys in booking shows in the city? What kind of bands do you usually work with?
Well the easiest way to get in touch is either through Myspace at http://www.myspace.com/802bookingcollective or email at 802@bigheavyworld.net, I typically have booked a lot of louder acts but also have worked with The Black Atlantic (solo acoustic project of Geert Van Der Velde of Shai Hulud fame), One Am Radio and the Lymbyc System so I am definitely okay with booking some softer indie acts.
What changes have you seen in booking practices lately?
Mostly, it has been all done on the internet - you just tell the band a date and time to show up and there isn't much else to do 'til they get there. It's strange and it's amazing that almost noone sends press kits anymore. I honestly still love getting them so I can hear more from a band I am obsessing over that I booked.
*What's your personal musical background/involvement in the scene outside of booking?
I started as a photographer for local bands with Big Heavy World when I was 17, started going to shows at 242 at around 10/11 years old and have been going ever since. I work pretty closely and have become good friends with a lot of the local area musicians. So we come up with ways of making CD sleeves or God knows what-else together, it's pretty awesome. Other than that I am presently working on my own band and on putting out about three records from various bands across the US and in France. This fall I plan on going back to school at the age of 26 to learn audio production and recording. You could just say music is what I am passionate about.
(Pick up Northeast Performer at Pure Pop or Big Heavy World - 215 College Street, Third Floor - to find the printed interview.)
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