Punketta Doilie Presents:
SHELTER
Saturday, February 2nd
Machine Nightclub
1254 Boylston St.
Boston, MA 02215
$7 before 10:30 / $10 after
21+ / 10p - 2a

MySpace: Punketta Doilie

Perceptions of the industrial scene in Boston from those who've never attended the nights nor have become acquainted with some of the individuals that frequent them can really miss the mark. While outsiders may view it as an isolated crowd ridden with a lot of deviant behavior, drugs and sex are not anymore key to the goth-industrial scene of Boston as its hipster, rock n' roll, and hip hop scenes. So what is it that separates this from the crowds that are always mingling and creating new hybrids in pop culture? Bostonist talks with Koren, a.k.a. DJ Punketta Doilie, who's been in the industrial scene of Boston for many years. Her residency at Machine - a club that draws a predominantly gay crowd every other night of the week - is called Shelter, and happens the first Saturday of every month.

Bostonist: Machine is generally a gay club, but Shelter is a night that attracts all kinds...could you tell us a bit more about the night and its history?

Punketta Doilie: Machine (and Ramrod, in the same building) are gay clubs swarming with gay men most nights of the month. Sometime, though, it’s a gay club swarming with goth kids. I’d guess that country-wide there are a lot of goth-industrial nights that are housed in gay bars and clubs because those places already accept “alternative” lifestyles, whether that alternative is sexual preference or not. They are safe places for exploration and experimentation.

Bostonist: You've been working with Shelter's promoter for several years now, has anything else come of it?

Punketta Doilie: Shelter’s promoter, Michael, has another night at Machine (Sin-O-Matic) that’s geared much more toward the fetish scene. He’s been really supportive of my attempts to push the boundaries of what can be played at a goth-industrial night. He contacted me about Shelter when the club offered him another Saturday.

Bostonist: When did you sign on to be a resident for Shelter?

Punketta Doilie: Our first night was in November, so the event on February 2nd - Mardi F'cking Gras - will bring it to a total of four. I'm joined every month by a different guest DJ, and this time will be with New York City's DJ Hellraver. He specializes in a blend of industrial, EBM, hip-hop and powernoise.

Bostonist: Would you say most of the Manray crowd comes over here? If not, where else do they tend to go?

Punketta Doilie: There have been folks that I saw at Manray that I don’t see at Shelter, but I don’t know if they aren’t coming because they’ve moved away or gotten “real” jobs or had kids or whatever; or if my style is just not their cup of absynthe, you know? The Manray crowd I do see out and about in Boston have been extremely supportive. There have even been a few times where two events have been scheduled on the same night, and folks will hit both! Hardcore!

Bostonist: How do you feel about people in and out of the industrial scene talking about the Manray days as if it was such an apex of the subculture that everyone is now perpetually scrambling to find their solid dark corners again? Do you agree with that idea?

Punketta Doilie: To those outside the subculture, I’m sure it might have seemed that the scene died when the temple was destroyed. No more goth club = no more goth nights. Manray was an institution - once it was gone, lots of folks didn’t know the first place to look. A significant portion would travel from the ‘burbs, they may not have the resources that will point them towards what’s happening. It might have seemed that the scene just bled out. There are plenty of spooky events where people can get their goth on, and I think all of the promoters in the scene are always trying to find ways to get that word out.

I refer to “the Manray days” myself, as both a reference point in time and as a period in my life where there was this club filled with people who were deeply involved with sharing, furthering, performing, promoting and enjoying the music and asthetic that I had loved for so long. When you are from a tiny town in the woods, with no cable and limited internet access, and you like weird music you are ALONE so Manray felt like a home. Manray was awesome, but I disagree with the generalization that ‘no Manray = no Boston goth scene,’ there are plenty of places to get dressed up, listen to music and feel comfortable.

Bostonist: Being deeply involved in the industrial scene for many years in Boston, how do you imagine outsiders perceive it? If you could change one thing about that perception, what would it be?

Punketta Doilie: I’d think the main perception is “Holy shit, that person must have some serious issues!”

Actually, our issues are pretty much the same as everyone else’s, from “How the hell am I going to pay rent this month?” to “How the hell do we fix what we’ve done to the planet?" to “How can we build a just and kind society?" to “Who would be the best President?” There are many intelligent, thoughtful, balanced individuals, they just like to dress and look a bit different, is all.

Bostonist: Why do you think the goth and industrial scene has never really integrated into a lot of other popular subcultures? (Though it seems to be more and more tied with the gay crowd.)

Punketta Doilie: There are thrill-seekers, pleasure-seekers, peace-seekers that (to me) would gravitate towards different subcultures that focus on those aspects of the human experience. The goth-industrial scene, to me, is more contemplative and accepting of the dark side of human nature. Since people spend a lot of energy trying to avoid or deny their dark side, I can’t say I’m surprised they don’t line up to pay $10 to confront it.

Bostonist: What is the philosophy of Shelter that stands out amongst other industrial nights? Are you trying to bring in new heads?

Punketta Doilie: I am definitely trying to open the door to the scene a bit wider to let people see that it’s fun in here. There are some great nights in Boston that focus on the fashion or the fetish aspects of goth culture, but Shelter is about the experience of music and the people.

Bostonist: What sort of conflicts do you think can arise from drawing in new crowds? Do you think there really are any, or just paranoias?

Punketta Doilie: There are always some people with an “us versus them” mentality, and even really open-minded goth kids have been harassed at clubs for being/looking/dressing goth. They want to feel safe at a club night, so if they are suddenly outnumbered at a place they held as their own they are worried they might start to feel uncomfortable. There is a strict policy for hecklers and harassment, and people who violate that will be thrown out. I want Shelter to be filled with respectful, fun people so scenes and scenesters and visitors to the scene can combine in new ways.