Black Eyes + Downtown Boys at AS220, 3/26/26
On Thursday March 26, 2026, OPEN presented a concert at AS220 featuring Black Eyes, Downtown Boys, and readings from the book We’re Having Much More Fun. The show was all ages, $30, and sold-out in advance of doors opening. A big thanks to all involved. Great night!
Performer Credits:
On this night, Black Eyes was Dan Caldas, Daniel McCormick, Hugh MacElroy, Jacob Long, and Mike Kanin. Downtown Boys was Victoria Ruiz, Joey La Neve, DeFrancesco, Mary Regalado, Joe DeGeorge , and Joey Doubek. Our guest book authors were Judith Peraino and Tom McEnaney.
Additional Credits:
Silkscreen Poster: Joe DeGeorge
Digital Poster: Black Eyes
Photos: Dale Giramma
Sound / Production: Lux Lucidi
AS220 Team: Emma Rome, David Dvorchak, Jonesy Mann
Special Guest: David Morales
Special Thanks: Jacob Nathan
Organized by Ben Sisto for OPEN
Below, left to right: Black Eyes, Downtown Boys, digital poster, silkscreen poster, and book cover.
Copy used in the original promotion:
Black Eyes formed in August of 2001 and the band’s first full-length arrived two years later via Dischord. Their shows were chaotic and often melted down into frenzied jam sessions. A second full-length, "Cough", came out in May of 2004. The album introduced saxophone to the mix and relied more heavily on improvisational and dub influences. After 20 years off, the band returned in 2022.
Their newest release, Hostile Design is out October 10. Previewed now on Bandcamp, pre-order from Dischord.
“Plenty of albums will try to grab your attention this year, but few will demand it like Cost Of Living. The third full-length by Downtown Boys is a rapturous, incendiary punk record, and the Providence band's first for the inimitable Sub Pop label. While not an unrecognizable departure from 2015's acclaimed Full Communism, the songs on Cost Of Living are a big leap forward in the evolution of one of punk's most revolutionary groups. They also couldn't be more relevant or resonant in today's fraught political environment.” - NPR
We’re Having Much More Fun
This show’s kicking off with an introduction to the new book, We’re Having Much More Fun: Punk Archives for the Present from CBGB to Gilman and Beyond(Cornell, 2026). The book crosses the U.S and spans generations, highlighting the diverse peoples who make punk happen. Rare flyers, photos, zines, letters, and more showcase the creative and political energy that has fueled punk from the start! Authors Judith A. Peraino and Tom McEnaney will be joined in conversation with contributor Victoria M. Ruiz (Downtown Boys) at about 8:20 pm.
Limited Run Poster, Printed in PVD
“A big show needs a big poster!”
— Joe DeGeorge
Providence, RI has a rich tradition of bands producing silkscreened posters for their concerts. For this event, Joe from Downtown Boys has created a wave-filled interference pattern design; multi-color print on black stock that’s roughly 18” x 24”. Each poster is a bit unique, hand signed and numbered by the artist.
Joe will have them available at DTB’s merch table; get ‘em while they last!
