The Fire of the Boston Freedom Rally: Dampened by Rain, but Not Extinguished

Posted on October 6, 2024 by Rockstar Culture in Concert Reviews // 0 Comments

▣Boston Commom | Boston, MA ▣Saturday, September 21st 2024
▣Photographer/Journalist: Carlos Londono

Saturday festivities proved to be a challenge, as the rain didn’t let up all day. The show went on, rain or shine. Mother Nature was not kind, she tried to put out the Boston Freedom Rally eternal flame.

This year’s Boston Freedom Rally marked the 35th annual occurrence of this glorious event. The event is sponsored by MassCann (the Massachusetts Cannabis Reform Coalition). It happens on the third Saturday of the month of September, rain or shine.

Unfortunately, this year was all about the rain, leaving attendees scrambling to keep their joints and blunts dry. while finding warmth and unity under their umbrellas. And this would be the story for the entire day.

After getting situated and fighting the rain myself, I caught up with Boatyard Resin. The Jam/Rock band out of Boston was doing their best to keep people’s spirits alive. We all hoped for the rain to stop and for the sun to make an appearance. Despite the rain, they managed to get some people dancing and grooving. There was even a dog getting some playtime. And it looked like the guys from Boatyard Resin had given Elmo a bit too much ganja. He was seen to the left of the stage leaning against an amp, looking faded. The guys left us with some good vibes that certainly made us smile.

After finding some necessary shelter under a small tent, we were then treated to some cannabis reform wisdom from writer, author, and former Senior Cultivation Editor of High Times magazine – Danny “Danko” Vinkovetsky.

We then heard from Chris Cano (Executive Director of Suncoast NORML) – on the fundamentals of starting your own green room that is both affordable and pesticide-free. Both speakers were informative and insightful.

Dred Buffalo came on next. The four-piece Rock ‘n Roll band born out of the misty bogs of Southern New England did not disappoint. The guys reminded me of the bands No Doubt and Paramore. In fact, if No Doubt and Paramore had a baby, that baby would be Dred Buffalo.

The quote “Dance like nobody’s watching” couldn’t apply more, but neither the rain nor the less than existent audience would stopped Dred Buffalo from pulling off a great performance.

I then headed over to the 21+ stage to catch Wax‘s set. The Los Angeles rapper had come a long way to be here. He was definitely hyping up the small crowd that had gathered to watch his performance. Wax thanked the crowd for hanging out in the rain. He said, “Where I’m from, no one would be standing in the rain to watch me perform.” And I would say that’s true—we’re just built differently in New England. He has a song called “…Better When You’re High,” it really resonated with the crowd and had us all dancing. Wax’s rhymes were both fun and fresh, bringing a light to this gloomy day.

I found some shelter from the rain for a bit. Afterward, I headed back over to the 21+ stage to catch the legendary Onyx. The rain was not letting up. However, the crowd did not mind. They had formed to watch these hip hop legends perform. The crowd was definitely hyped with excitement by the time the Mighty Onyx stepped on the stage. Sticky Fingaz was on stage with a grin on his face from ear to ear. Meanwhile, Freddo Starr lit a blunt. Then, the rap duo wouldn’t waste any time and began to slay the crowd with their hit “Slam.” They would wake us all from the coma that we found ourselves in and energized the crowd. Their performance of the song was raw, gritty, and filled with aggression. The b-boys did not disappoint!

Not shortly after, I felt that the rain had finally gotten the better of me. I found myself drenched from head to toe. Realizing how wet my equipment was, I decided to call it a day.

The rain have gotten the best of us, but not the spirit of this ever-growing event. Rain or shine, the spirit of the Boston Freedom Rally remains.

We hope to see you next year!

Check out our staff photographer, Carlos Londono photos now!