father john misty

Boston Calling Wrap-Up Report

Boston Calling Music Festival
City Hall Plaza; Boston, Massachusetts
Friday, September 25^th– Sunday, September 27^th, 2015
Written by Eric Riley

Pre-show Grade:
For their sixth installment, Boston Calling brought one of its broadest lineups to-date. Headliners alt-J and Alabama Shakes each are unique in their own regard, but still stood out set against most of the other acts performing. Of the five past weekends that I have attended, this lineup contained the fewest acts that excited me (though, if you read further, I’ll explain how that worked in my benefit). MisterWives and CHVRCHES were instant draws, and I was interested to see what Nate Ruess’ solo return to Boston Calling would be like. Meanwhile, the radio successes of Hozier and WALK THE MOON made them sure to bring in huge audiences. For me, the larger pieces were in place, it was just a matter of seeing who could fill out the rest of the days. C+

Post-show Grade:
Like I mentioned, when the lineup was revealed in May, I wasn’t totally sold on the majority of artists playing. Each headliner held the role because of their large fanbases, but I’ll admit I wasn’t the biggest fan of either’s music. That’s not to say they didn’t perform extraordinarily – Alabama Shakes called in a favor from the universe, closing out the weekend under a blood red moon. While I’m not a huge fan of the music, I’m still a person with working ears and [unfortunately] human emotions, and the power of the performance was undeniable. Where Alabama Shakes closed things out with crowd-shaking soul, Sunday openers Dirty Bangs delivered arguably the best performance that the yearly local acts have yet. Early Saturday, Minnesotan rap collective DOOMTREE set the standard for how bands should perform – energetic and passionate, while bringing
something new to the stage. A good live set is crucial to making new fans, and they surely made plenty; I’ve had their latest record on repeat. B

Highlight & lowlights:
As they always seem to do, each Boston band opened their respective days to decent-sized crowds. Sunday grew at a steady rate, in size, diversity, and intensity, starting with the raw sharpness of Bully and Fidlar before reaching critical mass during Hozier and Alabama Shakes. Saturday, however, saw some signs of faltering. DOOMTREE had the blooming audience rushing closer to the stage with each passing song, while back-to-back sets from Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks and lone bluegrass artist Sturgill Simpson (seemingly filling the role Jason Isbell held in May) saw some attendees taking bathroom breaks and heading to the merchandise and food stands. Father John Misty’s dark, brooding indie-pop instantly picked things back up, and from then on out, the remaining artists really brought it home.

Grounds:
Much like I reported last time around, the festival makes brilliant usage of City Hall Plaza. The setup stayed the same, with the stages, vendors, restrooms, etc. in their usual locations, and this familiarity comforted any returning concertgoers while simultaneously being easily learnable for anyone new in attendance. Being set in the center of a major city is a bit of a double-edged sword – the Government Center T-stop is
still unfinished, which is more of an annoyance than a hassle, but I can understand how those who are unfamiliar with the city or the public transit system could get a little confused. The construction site was a bit of an eyesore, but the stop is scheduled to be
finished by Spring 2016, so this could be the last time that that’s an issue. Also, with the wear-and-tear of daily commutes being evident with, as one site had reported, “loose bricks are as common as flower crowns and tie-dye shirts.” That’s a bit picky, if you ask me. Also an easy fix if it comes down to it. A

Weather:
Almost as perfect as you could ask for – mid-60’s and sunny during the day, with a bit of a chill rolling in as the sky darkened. Then again, compared to the monsoon that happened Day Two last September, any bit of sun is favorable. (Even a year later, I still couldn’t be more impressed with the staff enough for how well they handled that entire situation.) A

Amenities:
Sponsors have always been a major part of Boston Calling, and this year was no different. With the usual suspects, such as Wicked Wines, Polar, Sam Adams, and Blue Stage sponsor JetBlue, coming back once more, the sense of familiarity reached further than
just the grounds’ setup. The free sunscreen and water refill stations were taken full advantage of, especially on the cloudless Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Restrooms, either in the General Admission area or the VIP section, were clean and stocked, and trash bins were emptied regularly (though attendees were encouraged to recycle whatever they could). Oh, and I had my first Tasty Burger experience. That is a very
accurately-named business. A

Overall:
This was my fifth time going to Boston Calling, and given the chance, I plan on attending every one until either it stops happening or I can’t physically go. However, this year’s may be the most honest, accurate review I can give. Each previous lineup contained a handful of artists that I am crazy for – Marina and the Diamonds, St. Vincent, and HALSEY back in May, Lorde, Childish Gambino, and twenty one pilots last September, and don’t even get me started on how packed May 2014 was. This time through, I’ll say I considered myself a fan of three, maybe four of the artists heading in. Also, on my last visits, I had always been on-site as a pit photographer rather than attending as press. So, here’s me, working a job that is not my forte, for a roster of bands that was (key-word: comparably) on the weaker side. Yet, here I am now, in the same spot I always am after Boston Calling comes to a close: sitting at my laptop, with a handful of bands that I can now call myself a fan of, writing about how incredible this young festival somehow manages to be each and every time. I can only imagine what they’ve got in store for us when May rolls back around. But,
you can bet I’ll be there to find out. A-

Boston Calling Highlights

Over the course of Boston Calling’s three-day festival just a few weeks ago, there were plenty of moments that struck a chord with the audience. These came from acts big and small, and we at LOL wanted to recap some of our favorite sights and sounds. From fresh faced newcomers to seasoned festival veterans, every act at Boston Calling performed with aplomb – read on for some of the stellar moments observed by our editor, Kara Kokinos, during the three day festival.

Best Stage Show
It is not easy to enchant me with heavy bass and lots of
pretty lights, but if there was ever a group that could do it, that would be
Chromeo. While musically their set became a bit of a blur, the infectiously
funky tunes were brought to life by two musicians whose commitment to engaging
their audience was a breath of fresh air. It was a perfect set up for the rest
of the night’s performers and a wonderful way to get everyone’s blood flowing
on a chilly night.

Most Consistent
Alt-J have a soft spot in the hearts of many fans of ambient
indie rock because of their ability to churn out well produced and well written
songs that are not necessarily stand alone hits but always have tremendous
musical merit. It doesn’t hurt that the band has been able to craft a live show
that reflects much of the same attention to detail and subtlety throughout.

Most Diehard Fans
Friday has almost always been a slower day for Boston
Calling, as expected from a weekday show and its shorter bill. Trust the Avett Brothers
to change all of that. Ticket sales have reportedly been higher this year than
in years past and it was clear from the presence on Friday night that the
choice to book the folk rockers was a wise one. I had the pleasure of meeting
two fans of the band who informed me that this was their 27^th time
seeing the group perform live – and that they knew plenty of people in
attendance whose numbers made their own look weak in comparison. Although I was
familiar with the band’s music, I was not prepared for their fans. It’s easy to
go to shows, especially festivals, and see plenty of people with arms crossed
and dead eyes. That simply would not fly while the Avett Brothers performed. The
clamoring of the crowd was coupled with enough dancing and clapping to truly
start the festival off with a bang. While much of the crowd succumbed to the
cold of the night as the group chugged along, everyone who remained left with
broad smiles and a roar in their eardrums.

1-2 Punch
Nothing makes my heart sing more than fuzzy garage rock, and
the combination hits of Bully paired with FIDLAR was a tribute to the Allston
Pudding loving, basement show going members of the crowd. Bully’s singer Alicia
Bognanno delivered all of her lyrics with a bite and thrashing guitars set the
tone for the least subtle band to grace the Boston Calling stage. FIDLAR initially
had an audience that was half enthralled and half in a state of utter confusion
but midway through the set everyone seemed to be on the same page, whether you
were there to see the band or just caught up in the infectious energy that
comes with screaming, “I drink cheap beer, so what? Fuck you,” on repeat. The
intensity was enough to make anyone who had partied too hard the previous night
a bit queasy.

Most Heartbreaking
Although many of the acts packed an emotionally charged set,
Daughter’s set was incredibly stirring. While the trio’s recorded music is
particularly haunting, seeing it performed was an unsurprisingly moving
experience. While the entire set had a somber tone, the execution of “Smother”
and “Youth” was enough to visibly bring audience members to tears. Singer Elena
Tonra was adorably nervous during the set, the trembling timbre of her voice
coupled with guitarist’s Igor Haefeli’s playing of bowed guitar was incredibly
atmospheric and evocative. With the addition of Remi Aguilella’s supporting
instrumentation, the band was able to take the ethereal and ground it enough to
be hard hitting and captivating for an audience who tuned out a lot of the more
quiet acts of the weekend. All of this was done during a daytime performance,
following the howling intensity of FIDLAR, a feat that deserves respect in
itself. The band, who have opened for fellow performer Ben Howard, was
unforgettable in the best way.

Tame Tidings
When Father John Misty takes the stage, you anticipate
something a bit wild. While audience members were able to see that in his wild
motions on stage, J. Tillman was shockingly unshocking in addressing the crowd.
Though he encouraged the audience to “gourge yourself on pleasure”, there was a
slight air of either disinterest or apathy in his performance. In case this
seems like a harsh assessment, the singer recently came out with covers from
Taylor Swift’s 1989 in the style of the Velvet Underground and claimed that the
ghost of Lou Reed appeared to him in a vision and told him to take them down in
order to make a statement about the media’s penchant for all things
nonsensical. The man does not shy away from making a statement, and while he
let the music speak for itself, there was a sense that a ball was going to drop
at any moment but never quite hit the ground.

Let’s Hear It For The Girls
With more and more festivals getting attention for the lack
of women gracing their stages, it was refreshing to see such a strong female
presence in the performers at Boston Calling. While this could be attributed to
the smaller number of total artists performing, eight of the 23 acts performing
had female core members and many had one or more female instrumentalists in
addition to their primary members. This was not counting the many touring
members of several bands, including percussionists, singers, brass, and string
instrumentalists. Although not the strongest showing, it’s a welcome step in
the right direction, especially with such a variety of music styles being
showcased, at all career levels. This was also the first time that a female
fronted act had closed out Boston Calling. Alabama Shakes’ Brittany Howard had the
entirety of City Hall Plaza on their feet by Sunday night but there were plenty
of exciting artists exploring genre and technique. Whether it was Doomtree’s stylized
hip hop led by the unapologetically hard hitting Dessa, CHVRCHES’ Lauren
Mayberry who has made headlines both for her delicate yet commanding voice as
well as her lack of tolerance with misogyny, both online and at her band’s
shows, or Misterwives’ Mandy Lee whose vocal ability keeps getting stronger and
isn’t afraid to voice her own frustrations in the music industry, ripping into
gender stereotypes while doing pushups. It’s always fantastic to see female
musicians advocate for themselves while churning out music that packs a heavy
punch.

Seven Bands To See At Boston Calling: #1, WALK THE MOON

Written by Eric Riley.

Boston Calling is here to put summer to rest with a bang. If you’ve kept an eye on us for the last few years, you know the deal. Let’s do this again, shall we? Here is our list of who you need to be keeping an eye out for!

On our list so far: #7. Grey Season/Dirty Bangs, #6. Of Monsters and Men, #5. Twin Shadow, #4. Father John Misty, #3. Hozier, #2. MisterWives

Today we talk about our #1 pick, WALK THE MOON.

If you managed to
somehow avoid any sporting event, party, wedding, commercial, and radio station
within the last six months, then you may have not heard WALK THE MOON’s “Shut Up
and Dance” (Also, I’m not yelling, that’s just how their name is stylized.). As
massive and inescapable as the song is, it’s far from being all they have to
offer.

Handing the title of #1 Band to See to another band from
Ohio for the second September in a row, with twenty one pilots earning it last
year, it looks like we could have a trend on our hands. Someone do me a huge
favor and call Trent Reznor next year. BC ❤ OH 4EVR.

For fans of: Hellogoodbye, Neon Trees, Cobra Starship
For a taste, check out: “Up 2 U,” “Tightrope,” “Avalanche”
Catch them: Saturday, 6pm

Seven Bands To See At Boston Calling: #2, MisterWives

Written by Eric Riley.

Boston Calling is here to put summer to rest with a bang. If you’ve kept an eye on us for the last few years, you know the deal. Let’s do this again, shall we? Here is our list of who you need to be keeping an eye out for!

On our list so far: #7. Grey Season/Dirty Bangs, #6. Of Monsters and Men, #5. Twin Shadow, #4. Father John Misty, #3. Hozier

Today we talk about our #2 pick, MisterWives.

To be totally honest,
I think you’d have to try to dislike MisterWives, a dance-pop six-piece from
New York City that burst onto the scene over this last year and a half. Mandy
Lee’s vocals are pure sugar, while the infectious music digs its way into your
brain long after the song ends.

The band spent last September opening for twenty one pilots
(who were my #1 Band to See last fall), and are looking to take the baton and
run with it.

For fans of: Royal Teeth, Elle King, Lucius
For a taste, check out: “Reflections,” “Kings and Queens,”
“Best I Can Do”
Catch them: Sunday, 5pm

Seven Bands To See At Boston Calling: #3, Hozier

Written by Eric Riley.

On our list so far: #7. Grey Season/Dirty Bangs, #6. Of Monsters and Men, #5. Twin Shadow, #4. Father John Misty

Today we talk about our #3 pick, Hozier.

Not many artists have
had the breakout over the last year or so as Hozier. Thanks largely to
the mammoth success of “Take Me to Church,” which has racked up nearly half a billion plays so far on Spotify, Hozier
earned nominations at the Billboard Music Awards, the MTA Awards, and the
Grammys.

However, don’t let
one smash single blind your judgment – Hozier’s debut is, start to finish, a dark,
soulful, soaring record of songs that will sound just as beautiful echoing off
of the walls of City Hall.

For fans of: The Horrible Crowes, Lorde, Straylight Run
For a taste, check out: “From Eden,” “Someone New,”
“Foreigner’s God”
Catch them: Sunday, 8:15pm; Red Stage

Seven Bands To See At Boston Calling: #4, Father John Misty

Written by Eric Riley.

On our list so far: #7. Grey Season/Dirty Bangs, #6. Of Monsters and Men, #5. Twin Shadow

Today we talk about our #4 pick, Father John Misty.

Late one night a week or two ago, my brother and I
were leaving the hospital after visiting my father, who was recovering from a
[minor, (don’t worry)] operation. Pulling out of the parking garage, my brother
put on Father John Misty’s “Chateau Lobby #4” and it was a perfect fit
–

The bleak, dull grayness of a vacant parking garage rolled out in front of us as Josh Tillman crooned “First time, you let me stay the night, despite your own rules / you took off early to go cheat your way through film school. / You left a note in your perfect script: “Stay as long as you want;” I haven’t left your bed since.” Tillman’s clever, snappy lyricism is both charming and chilling, set to cool, crisp instrumentalism and ambient atmosphere. It was a soothing soundtrack to an unsettling situation, but it is bound to fit just as well (under much better settings) this weekend.

For fans of: My Morning Jacket, Dustin Kensrue, Fleet Foxes
For a taste, check out: “True Affection,” “Holy Shit,”
“Chateau Lobby #4”
Catch them: Saturday, 4:55pm; jetBlue Stage