Boston’s general election is on Nov 7, and the musicians of Allston want to make sure you know who to vote for.
This Friday, a handful of bands will take over O’Brien’s Pub in Allston to throw a fundraiser for Brandon Bowser, one of the candidates running for Boston City Council District 9. The local event aims to show residents why Bowser is the right candidate for the Allston-Brighton community while letting them enjoy the wreckloose garage of Black Beach, the punched up flair of Ozlo, the alt-rock charm of Gia Greene, and the electro-punk prog of Scream Castle.
As we’ve reported in earlier editions of the Dig, Bowser is running on a strong platform in hopes of winning the District 9 race. He wants to incentivize local businesses to hire local artists, improve the transportation infrastructure in the neighborhood, and help fully fund the schools in the district while supporting the rollout of the Extended Learning Time policy. But for many of the acts playing the fundraiser event, there’s another one of Bowser’s proposals that proved his allegiance to the region and the change they want to see.
“We really respect Bowser’s stances on community building and affordable housing,” said Ozlo. “Allston-Brighton’s future depends on having council members who put neighbors first. The district has seen rapid growth and development, often at the expense of current residents. We’re happy to support a candidate who is a community member and will represent the growing need for fair development practices.”
“I’ve already felt the sting of rent inflation in other neighborhoods of Boston, and it really sucks to know you have to move because your rent is literally doubling,” adds Black Beach member Steven Instasi. “Every day, I ride by a bunch of new developments, and it’s pretty scary to look at knowing they’re not meant to house me, other working class people, or families. Bowser hopes to have affordable units within all new developments in Allston-Brighton so that people from this community can stay here. He also plans to connect local businesses with local artists in hopes to create more opportunities for local artists to work and create in the neighborhood rather than move away to other cities.”
For others, it’s a blend of Bowser’s affordable housing plans with his goals for local education. “As both a musician and an educator, as well as a proud resident of Allston-Brighton, I find Bowser’s platform does so much to support our local arts community and our schools,” says Gia Greene. “Since he is an educator himself, Bowser realizes the need for increased public school funding, inclusivity towards different learning styles of students, and the importance of Extended Learning Time policies in schools. As an artist, I love that Bowser is vehement about continuing to make Allston-Brighton an affordable and accessible place for the artists who have always thrived here by insuring that affordable housing units and artist work spaces are financially available to us.”
Bowser’s campaign has been largely funded by Allston-Brighton’s DIY community, with multiple benefit shows and fundraisers being held by locals who hope to see him win. So it should come as no surprise that the musicians, artists, and people in between want to throw Bowser one last benefit show to increase turnouts at the polls next week. If he’s the candidate best suited to represent them, then they want to do their best to help represent him to the younger voters.
Head to your local polling place on Nov 7 to vote in this year’s general election. If you don’t know who to vote for, consider swinging by O’Brien’s Pub to chat with one of Allston-Brighton’s district seat candidate. After all, when people want to rally behind a politician and make the loudest noise possible in doing so, it’s safe to say that politician represents the people. You could be one of them.
BRANDON BOWSER CAMPAIGN FUNDRAISER WITH BLACK BEACH, OSLO, GIA GREENE, SCREAM CASTLE. FRI 11.3. O’BRIEN’S PUB, 3 HARVARD AVE., ALLSTON. 8PM/21+/$10. OBRIENSPUBBOSTON.COM
