The new system, which requires all permit applicants to submit a residential address, makes subway performance impossible for roaming or homeless performers. The program also carries no provisions for musicians visiting from other cities, Ingram says—many of whom bring vibrancy to Boston’s underground music scene.
According to Conrad, it’s that vibrancy that continues to pique interest in the musicians’ work among commuters and students alike.
“The subway really is a part of the soul of the city, and it offers something that you cannot get in other venues for playing,” he says. “When you get down to it, the subways are breeding grounds for good music.”
—Staff writer Nathan J. Heller can be reached at heller@fas.harvard.edu.
Advertisement