Through his position with great scotts as promotion director he has alot of say in that club's activity.

He posted on the honeypump board that the new booking guy from Obriens, Martin Doyle, does not have email and that people can email him and he would pass the info on to Martin. He never mentioned you can just call Obriens to book a date there. He wants to have as much shit run through him as possible.

Someone from The Pill (a night at great scotts) is now booking Bills Bar, which Ben Sisto seems pretty excited over. He must have or atleast think he will have influence there as well.

His main thing is themed nights, which sucks because if wednesdays aren't metal night, and a metal band comes on tour and hits boston on a wednesday, then they are going to have trouble finding a show.

Now he is planning another one of these retarded NEST showcase things for 2006, which ties up a shitload of venues for a week with all local bands, hopefully no touring bands want to play Boston that week.

Ben Sisto and HoneyPump are bad for the music scene in Boston.

lets kick his ass...seriously

p.s. no im really not joking. lets beat the living shit outta him

hes gay

i think honeypump/great scott is gay. i was surprised that eyehategod and anal cunt actually played great scott. Ive been thrown out of that place like 3 times...place sucks.

The singer of Death Cab For Cutie said that he would need more than two hands to count the number of "indie" or small labels that have fucked over bands royally, and in his opinion it's far worse because it's so personal and small. Who cares if a big label fucks you over? It sucks but you expect it. But when the little guy comes in and starts gouging you, that's when it's really screwed up.

Same thing here. There's a lot of kids in that scene and in other scenes that abuse the fucking shit out of power and position and we let it go because we think we're powerless or we think that they are little guys and it's ok. But it's not ok, it's worse than that even.

I think Ben has done some really big achievements but I also think he is a powermonger, and he's not the only one on the list.

LOL

WIKKID GAY D00D! FUCKIN FAGS WITH DER FUCKIN FAG MUSIC RIGHT BRO?? FAG SHIT FOR FAGS!! FUCK A FAG UP! BEN SISTO'S A FAG!! LETS FUCKIN LIKE HOG-TIE HIM N FUCKIN DRAG HIM ACROSS 5 MILES OF PAVEMENT!! FUCKIN STREET JUSTICE FOR ALL FAGS!! I HATE FAGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

yeah ben sisto definitely is a powermonger and he doesn't keep the door open for other bands that aren't part of his stupid scene

To be frank, a lot of people run to him to do their DIY work but how is that DIY? Should be "Do-It-Vicariously-Through-Others"

weird... last I checked, ben was just bringing tons of really good shows to mass that wouldn't happen otherwise.
my bad

the_reverend said:

this is fuckin stupid joe

ok... if I was joking, then tell me the last person that did a khanate show in boston?

the_reverend said:


I don't think it's an issue with if he is bringing good entertainment. In fact, I'd go on record as saying I have a lot of respect for what Ben's been able to do in this town. I do. I remember how he got MassArt going and how he's opened up pathways for a lot of new venues and given some life to things that needed it. In that respect, frankly, I think he deserves a lot more credit then he is given, and I don't mind saying that.

But what's in question isn't his abilities or even his intellect to make shit happen. What's in question is his ethics and how he applies them. Joe's got a point, he's abused power several times in a public, open way and I think for that you can't just whisk away the issue of power, influence, and responsibility over simple issues of taste.

Also, from a promoter's standpoint, it's not always whether you get the show booked or not. It's whether shows are offered to you. There's a better chance that whoever books for Khanate got in touch with Ben because he works for Great Scott and offered him the package rather than he sought them out, put his hopes and dreams on the line, and then paid out the anus for advertising just to get Khanate. Methinks it was something he was offered and thought he could promote well. Was it even him that was the promoter, or did he just secure the venue?

i don't know why i looked in this thread, i have no idea whtqas going on, but it's better than homework

This is the guy that had Helvete night shut down..............

I don't think he had anything to do with that.

I heard differently on that one............Let's just say from a reliable source.

this thread still isnt as good as the tyag breaking up thread or the Nickttos thinking they had mindcontrol over their instruments.

but go on about your thread, may it get better.

My dealings with Ben have been purely as an accquaintance, never in buisiness.As far as I know he put in a good word for HELVETE but seeing as we're talking about the 'allston white belt mafia' anything is possible.Take it form someone who knows firsthand though; innocent until proven guilty.WOTAN MIT UNSl

I was told Ben Sisto was friendly with and helped spread word about Helvete being white power to get it shut down. If thats not true I feel bad because I told a few people that after hearing it myself.

Like I said anythings possible.It's easy to talk shit if you're a coward and even easier to act like a friend when confronted.Hey Ben, prove me wrong.WOTAN MIT UNS

I think the main thing is this thread shouldn't be about shit talking this one guy because that's just crap. Ben isn't a bad dude, and like I said, he's actually a very intelligent and capable guy. The issue is: Is he using the resources and connections he's acquired ethicallly or not? Is he performing nepotism or is he being egalitatian?

or rather, the better question is...Is there any reason to be concerned about this kind of thing? Does a booking monopoly affect anyone?

INTELLICORE!

Ben Sisto ruined MassArt shows, especially the room in North and turned it into a haven for his stupid indierock faggot squad

the_taste_of_cigarettes said:





nepofezegaliwhuh?????

http://board.honeypump.net/t.php?id=23597&r=3

pff you must be joking george if you really expect me to believe you are "building bridges"

Hey Nick, why can't you post on hp again? Please refresh my memory!

hey alex, remember when you made that totally sweet thread about missing your ex-girlfriend? awww, why didn't you repost that here?

i'm having fun on the internet, leave me alone

i thought it was a funny thing to say...

JoeNotCommon - 09/29/05 at 11:37 am (24.147.65.122)


ben - 11/13/05 at 03:38 pm (63.164.145.198)
this is bullshit. what if a super last minute touring band needed help? you are hogging up an entire venue for a full night? this is bullshit.

haha i love this guy, no idea who he is..or what he's trying to do but anyone who describes a band asa super last minute touring band. is a ok in my book.

he sounds like he needs a hug

Ben Sisto
www.honeypump.net

MassArt Graduate, worked with Eventworks to make it what it is today. Ben Sisto founded the Punk Rock Flea Markey, Nest, and pioneered music nights at Great Scott and The Milky Way in JP. Ben also used to work with the X-Haus when they were around. Probably more than any other person in recenty memory, Ben has managed to make a popular indie rock community in Boston and some of it's suburbs, as well as giving a graphic, visual concept to the movement through his art.

Sisto is a capable, powerful person in the face of business. It is important to note that he is accomplished and has forged paths on his own and of his own accord.

The main issue is, now that he has power, is he using it correctly? My answer is no, and my experiences, for me, provide much fact to this. But if it's a question of is the guy talented at what he does? Then very much he is.

I think ben is a great example of taking a product or service, slapping the word "DIY" on it and selling it off just like any other business, knowing those three little letters will make it seem like an ethical choice. I don't believe that all of his choices are DIY, ethical, or for the pursuit of small, publically responsible business. No one can make all great choices, but Ben knows the difference between right and wrong and I've seen him choose wrong sometimes.

and I've seen you choose wrong to. I mean look at 1/2 your shirt choices in my photos.
A#1 thriftstore rejects.
there is no salvation for your army.

touche

his bio sounds like carinas. did you write it?

I helped Carina with hers and I just made this one for Ben Sisto off the top of my head. I've known him / known of him / etc for like 5 years now.

take that boston's music scene, haha just joshin' yah im bored

I don't understand that post at all.

the_reverend said:

nothing to see here, move along....move along.

Ok, so you guys have made your opinion of Ben Sisto clear in a public forum, obviously with the intention of warning people who may deal with him or may be affected by his business practices. Now, can you back any of this up with examples of how his business practices have had a negative effect on any "scene" in the Greater Boston area? And by examples I mean actual facts, not vague statements like " No one can make all great choices, but Ben knows the difference between right and wrong and I've seen him choose wrong sometimes." Well, what happened? When did he "choose wrong"? I'm genuinely curious.

duh duh duh duuuuuuuuh

and now the thread takes a serious step, of actual facts verus fiction.

Hmmm... Sisto huh? I think his brother was in my brother's band 3 or 4 years ago.

...

anonymous said:


read some of the links here:
http://www.returntothepit.com/view.php?formid=23202

I don't think the issue lies with ben specifically, as I said somewhere before. I think the issue lies with the fact that with great power comes great responsibility, and I think he has misused that power what with his club nights and other things. The real issue, anon, is that I don't want this to be shit-on-sisto cause he is NOT a bad dude. But I want people to discuss what is desirable and undesirable and ways of resolving that which we don't desire and/or making the desirable come into focus more.

what the fuck, are you trying to say you sound like the dood from this thread.

http://www.returntothepit.com/view.php?formid=23742

I am saying that Ben Sisto might very well be trying to "control" the boston scene as joe put, but I think it's only part of a large issue which is that there are no clear guidelines for how a promoter should or is expected to behave, and, if they behave in a way that is counter productive for a healthy environment, what does anyone do in response?

well i think clear channel or the infinity group wouldnt put up with someone controling the boston music scene but i supposed as far as locals go boycott what you can....but you're dealing with crabs in a pot here Nick

Ben is moving into Lansdowne and it's becoming acceptable to play the Paradise for "Honeypump" bands. How is this consider seperate from Clear Channel then? Where are the lines, then?

It's confusing, I think there needs to be a common set of ideas, or at least an admission that there are none at present so we can't make judgement calls about someone doing something in err in "our scene" or whatever.

whiskey_weed_and_women said:

you show me unite in a music scene and ill show you commerce.

joe...didn't you used to tell me you were going to take over the boston club scene? lol.

Michael from the Pill is booking Bill's. Not Ben Sisto. Going back to the original point that opened this thread: If Ben Sisto calls Michael at Bill's, and get's UV Protection or Clickers or Night Rally or any other "Honeypump band" a show at Bill's, how does that effect any other band in the Boston area or touring band. What band is not going to get a show (or has not gotten a show in the past) because Ben Sisto has a business relationship with someone (Michael) who is directly employed by a company (the Lyon's Bros./Lansdowne) that also deals directly with Clear Channel.

AFAIK from what i was told, at the Whitehouse show Ben left without paying Psychic Paramount, one of the two groups playing that night who were on tour.

BRING BACK HELVETE NIGHT!!!!

This is happening.If you know me or Fodhladgh contact us.Wotan Mit Uns

the_taste_of_cigarettes said:

It's not my fault the majority of this board, including yourself, has to resort to force to get laid!

hahahhahahahahhahaha

ok that was just mean

I think the manufacturer of roofies would do well to put up a banner ad here!

the children's chewables you mean.

anonymous said:


Since you clearly go to honeypump, anon, you would recognize the relationship between Robin and Ben and you would remember when Ben had mentioned he would prevent Robin from doing a show at Great Scott. In my opinion, he had no right to say those things or act in that manner. Due to the fact that this is already something that he was doing publically on his own board, this is the only thing that I will share with an anonymous poster who seems intent on discussing Ben Sisto, anonymously, rather than trying to better understand the concept of power and priviledge in the a musical community.

Also, anon, methinks you point out the issue. Yes, he is working with a venue that works with clear channel and lyons, and as I've known for many a year now, what's good for bill's, axis, or avalon, is good for their parent corporations. There is a claim amongst your fellows in the "DIY" scene -- a scene so pretentiously and falsely named in that the work is rarely done by the originator of the idea -- that they are above corporare involvement, yet, low and behold, they are working more and more with these moguls of business. How is that DIY? How is that "punxxxxxx rok"? It's not my value system that I shout from the rooftop, but it is one that if I were to label my shit as "punk" and "DIY" and all that other shit that I'd think twice about.

the_taste_of_cigarettes said:

This is why I only book shows through Spiderman.

DestroyYouAlot said:

peter parker is booking shows, goddamn you spiderman !!!!

Kick him where he pees.

Wow, this is great.
First off, Ben doesn't "book" great scott. Carl Lavin does. Ben is the promotions guy meaning he coordinates ads, flyering, etc. He books some shows in there, just as I do.
Michael who works with the Pill, books Bill's now.
On a whole, Great Scott does NOT want to do metal or heavier shows. Most of the heavier bands, EyeHateGod, Doomriders, etc have been booked through me and in most cases, brought in extra security, etc.
I've told multiple people posting in this thread before, if you have a good bill and want it at GS, talk to me and I'll try to push it through. That seems to go ignored.
Regarding Obriens, it was mentioned several times in that thread that Martin is there most nights and to call the club or just go talk to him. In fact, I suggested that a few of you do that. Apparently, that didn't happen.
Ben's "thing" isn't themed nights. People have brought ideas to him in some cases and they were themed nights. Ben had nothing to do with the creation of the Plan, the Pill, Blackout Bar, my whiskeybent and hellbound thing (which I explained on honeypump, was something I was going to do with Martin at his old bar and HE wanted me to do it Obriens now that he's there.)
As for Helvete, even Ben said the kids responsible for all the shit talking about it being a white power night were ridiculous. I spoke to shred directly about it since there was a ton of rumors floating around. He said it was put on hold due to the NAFTA or whatever the fuck they're called anarchists threatening a protest and problems if there were bands associated with white power movements playing there and that if the Helvete people promised to NOT include those bands, he'd have had no problem bringing it back.
As for taste of cigarettes post, Ben IS NOT working with Bill's, Michael is. Ben said he thought it was good for "the scene" that someone like him was going to try to turn that room around.

Mark Vieira

Also, the main issue here, that I mentioned on honeypump is promoter track record. Ben's able to do a lot of shit at different places because he has a good track record of booking successful shows that do well for venues, whether you like the style of music or not.
If anyone was able to bring as many people as he does to places on a regular basis, you'd be able to do it as well.

Mark

You certainly must be aware, then, that Ben said that he would tell Great Scott not to work with Robin due to the fact they don't get along. Robin has worked successfully with PA's lounge and O'briens to do shows with a good turnout and no significant problems. Ben's argument was that when he found out that Robin wanted to do a show at GS, he would inform (supposedly) you that Robin should not be worked with because he could be an issue. This was, to the best of my knowledge in interpreting things, only due to their not getting along.

When Whitehouse had to be moved from the Middle East to another venue, Ben moved it to Bill's. Regardless of whether or not he is on the employment roster of Bill's, he is working with shows that end up there and brought business to a Lyon's / Clear Channel venue with a smile on his face and the word DIY stuck somewhere on there. How is this not working with Bill's bar?

also, Mark, why did it take a thread like this to get you to come here and talk to people outside the Honeypump community about doing things with Great Scotts? My grievance is that there is this elitism, as if people haunt one spot and only deal with that board and those bands. But when a site run by Ben Sisto and with mostly indie rock and the ilk bands are on it acts a filter to get you to music scene information, how can you expect to get an even handed picture? You get their view of things first, their ideas, their sentimentalities.

I mean the same could be said for here, which is why a thread like this http://www.returntothepit.com/view.php?formid=23202 makes more sense. To get people looking at these issues.

show us evidence Ben Sisto "atached" the word DIY to anything to do with the Whitehopuse show toher than using his own website that he pays for and maintains to spread word that the show was moved.

i thought he was the guy who sang the thong song. why is he trying to take over boston?

the same website that the person who started this thread uses to promote his own label and shows he books by the way (ie a network for ANYONE in the scene to use)

also, Mark, why do you insist on discussing Ben Sisto more than the ethics and guidelines of working within / as part of a music community?

A- DIY wasn't attached to that WHitehouse show. It was a "honeypump presents." He does shit all over. It was originally at the Mideast. Also, Bill's isn't in anyway a clear channel venue.
B- I post on MANY messageboards. In fact, honeypump probably the least. I didn't even realize this site had a messageboard. So, please don't act like I'm isolated to the honeypump world, or that I, or anyone, has some responsibility to "spread the word" about the club's policies on different boards.
C- Ben knew I was willing to work with Robin and he NEVER suggested I don't.
D- as for discussing Ben over "ethics" and guidelines, I made it pretty clear, but I guess not clear enough, that I don't find anything "unethical." Seems to me there are people with sourgrapes about not being able to get their shows booked and are looking at a successful promoter of a different genre as being the reason/person to blame.

Mark Vieira

if it's "honeypump" presents does that not mean ben is booking it? I don't see the distinction you are trying to express. Why would he put that label on someone else's show?

Bill's is a lyon's venue. The lyon's venues and CC ones are in the same bag as far as the least likely to have anything to do with the punk scene. Lyon's group is as much a player in the conglomerate, corporate, etc world as Clear Channel, just with less public attention. Ben has used the labels "punk" and "DIY" to sell his shit. So he didn't put it in regards to this one show? That's not saying much. If he used the "N" word to sell all his shows, then left it off the whitehouse show, according to this logic scheme, you would say he never used the N word before or that he couldn't possibly have ever used it to promote anything else.

Whether or not he actually told you not to, he threatened Robin with getting his show blocked. If you really want to take the time to find the thread using the amazingly poor search function on BHP feel free. It's there, he said it, it's in poor taste for him to act that way.

I agree, blaming ben for problems in a music scene isn't going to solve shit. For the 5th or 6th time I will explain that my interest is in discussing the ethics, guidelines, or ideaology of a musical community. If you have something to say about that it would be much more useful. Just spending our time talking about a guy who IS good at what he does (ethically or not) isn't going to change very much.

I'd rather talk about what we can do to make things better, if there's anything at all.

Perhaps you could add something to that, Mark? You seem to have a decent knowledge of some thing that go on amongst your constituency. In your experience, what needs to change, what needs to improve, what HAS improved or does NOT need to change?

If you do feel the need to talk about Ben, what can you say is GOOD about what he does? You say he is "successful", but how do you feel his successful and what has he done to make it that way?

I won't use buzz words or exploit a "scene" to make myself popular, so I mean, I think - yes - that ben has done that and I think a lot of the promoters that cluster on BHP do that, yes. It's more important, for me, to be a responsible person and then a promoter than the other way around.

whiskey_weed_and_women said:

what! that nerdy parker!?! Spiderman? I had him all the time!
I've got some business to attend to with aunt may.
*whoo0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000sh*

even though I still think that ben is a great guy and is doing a lot for a lot of bands, I like the fact that this dialog is happening. I personally think that I could suggest almost ANY band to ben and if he could do it, he would.
anyhow, this thread is open and honest (well, beside jewjoe starting it with is in-of-itself not honest). there are plenty of good points here. I can see how nick feels the way he does seeing this from his POV and mark giving a POV that is closer to ben currently.

as for the connection between him and the cancellation of helvete, I'm pretty sure that was just a rumor and that it was killed a long time ago.

Yes, Ben booked or promoted it at Bills; that doesn't make him a Bill's employee. And yes, Bill's is part of Lyons Group which is a big corporation that I don't like, personally. It's not the same thing as Clear Channel and it's NOT the same bag. I really don't see the point you're trying to make with this WHitehouse shit.

I know what went down between Ben and Robin and let me assure you, if I'd wanted to have done a show with him, ben would not have blocked it.

I also don't consider myself part of any "constituency." I'm not a DIY promoter. My motives are pretty clear. I book shit that I like and that ranges from punk to hardcore to altcountry to metal to indie rock or whatever. Aside from my relationship with Ben as the promo guy for Great Scott, he does his shit, I do mine. We have very different taste. We respect each other. I dont have any other dealings with any of the other "diy" promoters in town (Craig, Jonah, Dan Shea, Deb, etc) I'm speaking from the perspective of another promoter in town.

taste of cigarettes> I think what you are saying makes a little bit of sense and your motives aren't too bound by gossip and/or jealousy, which seems like what motivated the person who started this thread (who mysteriously has not posted anything since his intial few incredibly libelous statements). I think you proved that by starting that other thread (Discuss the inner workings of our music scene(s)) There's probably some things that frustrate you guys within the scene. Every promoter wants their favorite bands to sell out huge awesome DIY venues where the security is cool, the crowd doesn't start fights, drinks are cheap, show can be all ages, etc. but the fact is that's rarely the case. MarkV, Ben Sisto, whoever, they book bands they like, and sometimes they book bands they're not into because the band draws and that will give them resources (money, connections, etc.) to book more bands they do like. Sometime's people have to come to terms with a few facts about metal/hardcore versus indie rock/"honeypump art shit" A) How many fights do you see at a Sleater-Kinney or Lightning Bolt or Iron & Wine show? OK, now B) how many people were thrown out of the last Mastadon show at Axis? How many bouncers had their noses broken trying to stop a fight between a guy beating up a girl in "the pit" at the last Soulfly who on Lansdowne. Why hasn't Blood For Blood played on Lansdowne in several years? Why are there no more matinee shows at Bills with bands like Bane and the rest of the Bridge9 brigade? Do you know the answers to these questions? I do. I worked on Lansdowne as an independent promoter for years. Basically, there's always going to be very few people who want to deal with metal/hardcore crowds. Sure it's just a "few bad apples" but that shit makes the news, and whether yr booking Obriens, the Middle East, Great Scott, or Axis or Bill's, if you put on the show, you're pretty much answering to SOMEBODY if something happens. So life sucks metalheads. When Exhumed plays the Middle East, all it might take is one stupid kid to hit a bouncer or some 15 year old kid to go home to his lawyer dad with a bloody nose from being in THE PIT and POOF once again ANOTHER venue in Boston doesn't want to deal with metal/hardcore. And before anyone says "Well Soulfly and Bane and Mastadon sound nothing alike blahblahblah" Guess what? IT DOES TO SOMEONE WITH A $5 MILLION DOLLAR INSURANCE POLICY ON A FUCKING NIGHTCLUB AND THE POSSIBILITY OF LOSING A LIQUOR LICENSE.

oops forgot to sign the above post. Anonymous= Joe P, proud friend of Ben Sisto, Mark V, and a person who has actually had first hand experience dealing with not only Ben, Mark, the Middle East, but also with the Lyons Group, who are indeed terrible business people and pretty much bloodsucvkers, but at least I made that decision after I actually dealt with them, not because of something I read on the internet.

I still think Ben's a fucking crybaby faggot on a powertrip, who has no idea of what being in a band is. He's an art school kid that has coke parties at nightclubs. He gets his little hipster buddies laid. "Um actually, I'm," Ben shut the fuck up.

And he totally thinks I love Life of Agony and 1 life crew. haha.

anonymous said:



well I think you bring up a few good issues. I'm willing to accept that there is the downside of more aggressive music in that it makes people act more outwardly, and, yes, sometimes poorly or even violent; but what is the downside of "indie rock/'honeypump art shit' "? Surely there is an up and a downside to everything -- what is the downside of that? and what is the upside of metal and hardcore?


Another issue is one that Joe NotCommon has mentioned to me in person but never brought up on here, or, as far as I know, on honeypump; Why is there this approach in the HP sect that metal and hardcore aren't "art shit"? Why are metal and hardcore treated as the lower class? It would appear that, at least as I've heard it put by others, that that view is both snobbish and totally ignorant. There's plenty of art in any music, even bad music, but more importantly I can see what joe means -- it's always approached, at least from, again, the POV demonmstrated in the HP and even, I may go so far as to say, The Noise, sects that metal and hardcore are cheap, elementary forms of entertainment.

Let's fucking mosh it up blah blah blah.

Just like any constant band promoter, they will go away, anyone remember Sean Cringe? HAHA. John Regan, HAHA.

does Joe Regan host fear factory

" Why is there this approach in the HP sect that metal and hardcore aren't "art shit"? Why are metal and hardcore treated as the lower class?"

because they aren't from providence!

the_taste_of_cigarettes said:

dude shut the fuck up. you are such a faggot. seriously go be a fucking hair dresser. no one gives a shit about your gay opinions or if you like art or not. people who talk about art are talentless fucking jackasses who try really hard to be different because they fail at life. like you and your gay band that sounds like 5 million other fucking terrible bands. you cant just appreciate something for what it is, you need to give it this 'cerebral' quality (remember, you LOVE that word!) with fucking gay metaphors that arent even clever and dont even contextually make sense, abstract or not. ITS SO FUCKING RETARDED!!!
metal cant just be dumb and aggresive and brutal. you need to point out how it has artistic qualities and isnt just for white trash drunk asssholes. well guess what? YOU ARE IN A GAY METALCORE BAND!!! what the fuck do you really know about metal? you cant seem to play it for the life of you. oh but wait, i bet you have some gay story about how you have listened to _____ since you were 13.

its like me going to japan with whiteface and my balls hanging out and talking about how im a geisha and how i got all these new ideas to improve geishas.

just shut the fuck up. stop being so self important, you egomaniacal jackass. no one gives a fuck about your opinions and if they do, then they are fucking faggots.

oh and you making a thread like this is basicly you just name dropping and elluding to what a hand you have in boston music, like anyone gives a fuck. shouldnt you be going on ironic dates with girls with asymetrical haircuts? or making out with their brothers? or...i dont know. an 80s dance party maybe?

YOU SUCK. BOOOO. FUCK YOU.

my_pretentious_erection said:

That reminds me! I just heard about this hype new grind but not grind band called Daughters, stop me if you guys have heard this one already...

Oh baby, I forgot about this thread.

Why woud Ben Sisto recomend that people email him ideas for Obriens, and he will pass them on to Martin Doyle, when in reality you can just call and ask for Martin? He wants to filter out ideas that he doesn't like, even though it won't effect anything he does because he won't be there. Why the urge to organize and monopolize the club scene in some NEMO parody for a full week? He can't be at 5 places at once, 7 nights a week. What is so important about his agenda that he needs to do these things, and blackball anyone he can who won't play along? Did he really threaten to prevent Robin from working at Great Scotts? I know he probably could pull it off, he did it to me. Robin might have more pull in some circles then I do, so it could be a little harder maybe, or have more of a backlash.

As far as booking Khanate, I doubt it was very hard considering he can get what he wants at Great Scotts. Imagine being in awe if Mass Concerts booked Suffocation at the Palladium. However, imagine if Mass Concerts cancelled Nile for fear it was going to be too violent, then booked Suffocation. Ben Sisto cancelled Dysrhythmia on me, with the bullshit excuse that it was going to be too violent. However, Sex Positions was safe enough compared to instrumental hippy metal. He tried to blame it on a situation at Obriens, from the advice of Drew (their former bar manager), but that turned out to be a lie.

anonymous said:

I'm not metal in the least. I have listened to The Offspring since I was 13. I don't like tight pants nor would I cause they constrict my nuts. I'm also not punk or hardcore. I think I'm just Nicholas. I'm sorry I originated this thread, I'm secretely Joe NotCommon and Taste Of Cigarettes.

anonymous said:


You do have something resembling a point, in that meathead hardcore does fuck it up for metal and real punk. But I'm guessing that's not what you were getting at.

I don't think the hardcore music is meathead, I think some of the people that go to see it behave like meatheads.

DestroyYouAlot said:

No that IS exactly what I was getting at. And I was also making the point that in the minds of the people who actually run the clubs on Lansdowne Street, there is very little difference between having Blood For Blood play and having Mastadon play or Bane or Cannibal Corpse. People like you and I think "What? These bands sound nothing alike and <i>completely</i> different crowds go to see these bands.." But do you think anyone in those offices down there gives a shit? To them it's extreme music. Once again: No one gets their nose broken when the Rapture or the Shins play at Avalon or whatever.

Fair enough.

anonymous said:



Ah ah ah...you don't hear about the down side of those shows, but there surely MUST be one. What is it?

the_taste_of_cigarettes said:


Dudes that all look like Gibby doing lines off of each others' units.

the_taste_of_cigarettes said:


The biggest downside of a Shins show is that it allows the mentally retarded to meet each other and engage in intercourse.

Guy: OMFG YOU LIKED GARDEN STATE TOO? THAT MOVIE SPOKE TO ME ON SOOOOO MANY LEVELS I REALLY UNDERSTOOD THE MID-20'S MALAISE!

Girl: IT'S SO REFRESHING TO MEET A GUY WHO UNDERSTANDS ARTISTIC CINEMA AND IS SENSITIVE AND UNDERSTANDS MY FEELINGS AS A WOMAN!

Guy:WANT TO FUCK, I'VE GOT THE NEW INTERPOL EP WE CAN LISTEN TO THAT AND I CAN PUT MY PENIS IN YOUR VAGINA

Girl: OMG YOU ARE SO DEEP! LET'S FUCK!

^^^That was I

Wait, the guy or the girl?

I was Paul Driscoll broadcasting live from the Paradise.

Why woud Ben Sisto recomend that people email him ideas for Obriens, and he will pass them on to Martin Doyle, when in reality you can just call and ask for Martin?"

Dude, for like the 5th fucking time, that god damn thread said you could call him at the fucking bar. Is that really that hard to grasp, joe?

"Ben Sisto cancelled Dysrhythmia on me, with the bullshit excuse that it was going to be too violent. However, Sex Positions was safe enough compared to instrumental hippy metal. He tried to blame it on a situation at Obriens, from the advice of Drew (their former bar manager), but that turned out to be a lie."

Do you have some proof that's a lie? Because, I'm still under the impression from info I've gotten from several sources that it is true. And Sex Pos vs a metal band??? Are you serious? First off, Sex Pos' crowd is virtually little kids. Also, again, it's a band I booked (not sure if they played a Ben show, too).

Mark Vieira

the_taste_of_cigarettes said:


The only downside I can think of is that the club makes less bar money off of these crowds. What do you think it is?

Now maybe you can answer me this: There's dozens of posts on this board like this one> "I had a crazy theory as to what's wrong with local shows" where local metal denizens point fingers at each other, call each other "faggot", and tell each other that their band/shows/whatever "sucks". Where's the Ben Sisto/Honeypump/Mark Veira/Great Scott/etc. equivelant of that?
-Joe P

Ben Sisto vs Robin Goodhue is that equivelant.

I have no idea who Robin Goodhue is or why he's is "vs." Ben Sisto.

My point is there are a handful of people on this board including "taste_of_cigarettes" (whom I have never met) who seem genuinely concerned with "improving their scene" and are encouraging intelligent dialogue. And it seems like whenever they actually make a post to encourage dialogue on the subject, they are put down, criticized, laughed at, "why do you care about the scene your band sucks faggot!" etc. etc. Honestly, I have no idea who half of these bands and venues and labels are, even though they're Boston-based. Why? Because just like Ben's lil Honeypump/Great scotts/PA's Lounge scene and the whole NoiseBoard/Abbey Lounge/Mr. AirplaneMan garage scene or some crusty punk bands who only play shows in basements in lower Allston and then go to Spike's for veggie dogs afterwards, these different scenes are always going to have some level of insulation. Wasting time complaining about Ben or whoever is useless because (as mentioned in other posts) it is most likely people within YOUR OWN SCENE who are preventing certain clubs from regularly booking metal/hardcore etc. shows. So what is the downside of the Honeypump/Sisto scene? I don't know, but like I mentioned before, it doesn't prevent club owners from letting bands regularly play their clubs. The dudes at Bill's went out of their way to get Michael from the Pill into the fold, opening up the doors for Ben/MarkV/etc. and other friends of the Pill to book shows there. Why hasn't Bill's reached out to anyone in the metal/hardcore crowd? Because Ben Sisto told them not to?

^
Joe P

Oh hey guys.

This is Ben. So, I just got this link of the honeypump board. I don't feel a need to go into great detail as people already have their preformed views on me / honeypump and so forth, but I will save a few quick things

I work on events I enjoy. In Boston and the music scene in general, it seems hard to believe that someone is just 'doing it for fun', but I really am. When I first began booking shows at Mass Art, it was to raise money for art shows at the ICA. I really had no intention of getting this involved with music. As time went on however, it became more and more important and here I am today, still doing what I enjoy and being thankful for it. At the end of the day, people need to realize that dude to Boston's size and transient population, EVERYONE has the potential to do shows, events, and programs that they find rewarding and positive. We have the exact right number of venues to be both cooperative and competative, which breeds the best results. Am I the best promo dude ever? Doubtful. Do I book the 'best' shows? Objective. All I can really say is that I'm doing what I enjoy and people maybe could spend less time being worried about the 'say' I have in things, and more time understanding that at the end of the day my 'say' is bullshit. My 2 cents are the same as anyones.

With regards to O'Briens - Martin, the booking dude, ASKED me to find new bands and so forth to suggest to him because as someone not super into email, he knows he can't hear everyone's opinions. You want a show there, call Martin or the bar. You want a show there that is somehow suggest via me, fine - email me. It's 100% up to you. I dunno..some people dislike me because I refuse to work with people who use words like 'nigger' and 'faggot', and if thats an issue all I can say is, it's 2005 and I have no time or energy to deal with those who are unwilling to work together in a positive way.

The music I like, whatever - It's what I like. Kill Rock Stars is prolly the lamest label ever to some people here, so go out and book what you love, do what you love, and everyone together will make Boston awesome.

Boston rules.

also in reply to:

post by the_taste_of_cigarettes at Nov 13,2005 10:42pm
I am saying that Ben Sisto might very well be trying to "control" the boston scene as joe put, but I think it's only part of a large issue which is that there are no clear guidelines for how a promoter should or is expected to behave, and, if they behave in a way that is counter productive for a healthy environment, what does anyone do in response?

>> I dunno man, give me examples of what Honeypump has done 'wrong' and I will totally listen to them. I want everything in Boston to be better and fully accept that not all my choices are 'best' for everyone. So, inform me as to the specifics and perhaps moving forward in the future choices can be made that better the community as a whole. But keep in mind, that I'm doing events I personally enjoy. If I wasn't, you'd all be saying 'Ben doesnt even LOVE Eyehategod, and its LAME that he got to work with them'. So what do you want, me to only deal with events I love and in turn shut certain people out, or for me to be fake and take funds and trust from bands who I don't know much about? I mean, really.

"Ben Sisto cancelled Dysrhythmia on me, with the bullshit excuse that it was going to be too violent. However, Sex Positions was safe enough compared to instrumental hippy metal. He tried to blame it on a situation at Obriens, from the advice of Drew (their former bar manager), but that turned out to be a lie."

OK Fine, I will go over this here also. You asked me to book this event at GS and I did. After, and event you booked at our 'sister' venue of O'Briens ended with windows being broken. My boss at GS told me to bail on the event. I explained to them in full that I didn't think it would be a 'problem' show, but since the O'Briens stuff had just gone down, I wasnt in much position to debate. I have bosses, believe it or not. So, in the end I emailed you saying I was super sorry but it wasn't my choice. You have held onto this as your only real 'point' against me. Did I talk to the bands directly? Nope, it was your show. All I told you was 'sorry, it's out of my hands because of shit that went down at one of YOUR events'.

Can't understand basic facts? Sorry dude.

And for the last time re: Robin being 'banned' from GS

You call me a nigger, a faggot, and use 'jew' (as Robin did me and others) in the same light and I am not going to work with you. These 'extreme' ways of being noticed are hateful, unneeded, counterproductive, and simply stupid. If someone seriously thinks I should just 'ignore it' when someone is using 'nigger' and 'faggot' than yes, I want nothing to do with you.

SO WHAT DOES EVERYONE THINK OF REGENERATION RECORDS???

Really awesome DIY startup store. Prolly one of the best things to happen to Allston in ages. I try to buy at least 1 LP a week from them.

never been there...
but maybe some day.

Wait Waaah?

-sisto

Oh also, Nick P (taste of cigs):
If you want to say anything to my face ever, maybe like the time you tried to appologize for borderline raping a friend of mine, I'm around.

ben @ honeypump . net

wait, what the fuck is 'WOTAN MIT UNS'?

anonymous said:

Borderline rape? What the fuck is that?! You either rape someone or you don't rape someone. Since rape is actually a violent crime, did he rape her and tell he loved her at the same time? I might buy that as being borderline rape. If there was some sort of borderleine rape, then why didn't it get reported to thr cops, or did someone go to the cops and report a rape and then the cops replied, "well, you see. That's what we like to call bordlerline rape. Had he not said I love you during the ordeal he would definitely be up on rape charges." Oh, and whatever happened to the boycott of their show?

the_taste_of_cigarettes said:

Are you insinuating that I'm a powermonger?

And I'm sure somebody already posted this Honeypump thread.
http://board.honeypump.net/t.php?id=25328&r=44

this is the dumbest thing I've ever read

anonymous said:

JoJo Dancer is Boston's Most Wanted Borderline Rapist

QUESTION said:

QUESTION WHY IS IT THAT EVERY TIME I'M WALKING DOWN THE STREET SOMEONE HANDS ME A FLYER? MAN, FUNK DAT!

anonymous said:

Possibly the greatest song ever written.
Or maybe not.

beaky-fat nugs 4 life

anonymous said:

In some ways, it seems like you know too much.
In other ways, it seems like you can't spell my name, even though it is right there in front of you.

today is anonymous posting day, everyone log out and post anonymously. Only Aaron will know the true identities!

Brophee made me.

aron shmaron

Date: Sat, 24 Dec 2005 07:19:49 -0800 (PST)
From: "N Cigarettes" <fireandjail@yahoo.com> Add to Address BookAdd to Address Book Add Mobile Alert
Subject: go fuck yourself
To: ben@honeypump.net

thanks for bringing up that rape bullshit on christmas
eve.

I hope you rot in hell you fucking holy-rolling piece
of shit.

-N

anonymous said:

Brophy...Brophy...BROPHY
What is wrong with you?

Radick fucking sux tho.

anonymous said:

Go here: http://board.honeypump.net

Ben Sisto still sucks, and why is honeypump on that DIY site when it's now the farthest thing from? NEST, like NEMO, is just plain stupid.

Joe its Robin are we on the NYE show or what!????

anonymous said:

sure!

really? Joe? That would be awesome.

Yeah no problem. Having you guys on the bill would rule.

dude its on then. e-mail the line up to me sometime today at amoniarecords@gmail.com also Defeatist ex Anodyne/Kalibas might want to play.

anonymous said:


also ben if you want to discuss the fact that you tried to shutdown a show I did at MassArt back in 2000/2001 because I fooled around with your ex-girlfriend, feel free to email me fireandjail@yahoo.com

I'm around as well. Thanks for never addressing that to my face, and also thanks for using mud-slinging as a way of trying to get the attention focused on how you run your business moved.

anonymous said:

the email address didnt work

Grief 12-12:45
Adolf Satan 11:15-11:45
Defcon4 10:30-11
Abhorred 9:45-10:15
Hirudinea 9-9:30
Dead God 8:15-8:45
some other band obriens got 7:30-8
doors at 7

Joe/NotCommon said:

I think he forgot an "m".

"...thanks for using mud-slinging as a way of trying to get the attention focused on how you run your business moved. "

+ I know neither of these people but, that doesn't even make sense.

anonymous said:

"thanks for mud-slinging in order to take the attention off of the way you run your business."

DEFCON 4 BANNED FROM OBRIEN'S

Haha, this thread was so retarded.

anonymous said:


On the note of the Helvete Night. WTF? That sounds like a great idea! I'd support that. Unfortunately, in my opinion Boston sucks and probably isn't the most productive place for such a thing"especially, due to naive and dangerous utopists like the formentioned "Anarchists/Activists" that would threaten such events.

For the folks who pushed for this Helvete night.
Don't compromise with some shitty club!
Make your Helvete night happen somewhere else thats all and bring in whatever kind of bands with whatever views you want. Theres always some sucker willing to rent out venue or hall. Money talks right? Good luck!




I leave our Leftist readers with this quote.

"Anti-Racist Action is one of a growing number of self-styled vigilante groups who have cast themselves as the new Thought Police. When such groups encounter an artist or musician who they feel is expressing ideas that they don’t agree with, they see this as an occasion for stirring up trouble: they call-in bomb threats to venues, in an attempt to get shows cancelled, engage in slanderous smear campaigns, protest performances, threaten performers' lives, and so forth. The irony to this is that while groups such as ARA claim to oppose ‘Fascism’ and ‘intolerance’ they themselves are far more active when it comes to censorship and the silencing of dissonance, than those they attack." -Boyd Rice

whiskey_weed_and_women said:

thread should have ended here.

Is that a scene from that movie KIDS???


-Jade <333

post by anonymous at Nov 6,2005 1:55am
Ben Sisto ruined MassArt shows, especially the room in North and turned it into a haven for his stupid indierock faggot squad



ahahahaha, Not much has changed in nearly 2 years! Not in Boston anyway! Stay gay you faggots!

KittyKittieKupKake__Boobs said:

Yes. Would you like to reenact it?

Yay, this thread's back!

the irony of this is shortly after being called out for his business practices, Sisto diissolved honeypump. HMMMMM.

the_taste_of_cigarettes said:

Hahaha...

Who gives a shit about honeypump, or ben sisto's 'business practices', that homo is broke and can't make a dime. Dude is a failed con artist who is trying to rip his little cult off for donations now.

Ben Sisko rocks!