Above The Basement - Boston Music and Conversation

Ron and I sat in the back room of 40 South Street in Jamaica Plain, buried in denim, and various other piles of vintage clothing with our masks over our faces on a beautiful day not too long ago.  The proprietor Hilken Mancini had to leave every so often to take care of the front of the store, but we got in a great conversation.  

40 South Street is a vintage clothing store owned by musician, punk rocker, entrepreneur, aerobic instructor and all-around amazing person Hilken Mancini. We first saw Hilken on stage with her band of incredible women in Band Of Their Own at the Foundation To Be Named Later event at The Paradise a few years ago.  

But that is only one of her many musical endeavors. She was also in the great band Fuzzy, The Count Me Outs and currently plays in The Monsieurs and Shepherdess.  

But she is also the founder of Girls Rock Campaign Boston, which empowers girls, women, and youth and adults with marginalized gender identities to believe in themselves by providing a supportive community that fosters self-expression, confidence, and collaboration through musical education and performance.  

Finally, in 2000 she also founded Punk Rock Aerobics, the original DIY workout that rocks out - combining original punk dance moves with aerobic exercise.  

Hilken is awesome and we love her.