Who: Run The Jewels, Lucius, St. Vincent, Halsey, Jason Isbell, The Lone Bellow What: Boston Calling Music Festival, Part 3 When & Where: 5/22/15 – 5/24/15; Boston, MA By: Eric Riley
Over the course of Boston Calling’s three-day festival 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 staff during the three day festival.
Next Big Thing Halsey was an absolute stunner, especially considering the length of her career (less than a year!). With the amount of buzz around her Room 93 EP, which has been featured heavily n MTV and Buzzfeed, it was shocking that her time slot was so early in the day. However, the little starlet packed a huge punch with her single ‘Hurricane’, a ballad that is equally biting as it is heart wrenching Halsey has a tremendous future ahead of her if she continues with this momentum, be sure to check her out on tour with Imagine Dragons this summer!
Middle School Flashback Gerard Way is the obvious choice for this category – the singer did not perform any of the hits from the My Chemical Romance roster but it was obvious that those in attendance were tenured fans. His performance was eerily reminiscent of the past, glad in the same signature black and red getup and bleached hair dyed back to black. The singer’s positivity has still remained contagious but the extremely warm welcome he garnered can be attributed to the loyal support of his t-shirt wearing fans and nostalgia factor.
Best Crowd Interaction While an argument can be made that many artists on the Spring bill are deserving of this slot, there was nothing quite like the reactions that Tenacious D elicited from their
audience. Fans were hollering lyrics at the top of their lungs, with just as many laughs being elicited as cheers. Not many musical comedy acts are able to support their humor with a musical talent to match but Jack Black and Kyle Glass managed to balance the two in a spectacle that highlighted and played off of both skillsets. The minimalistic presentation but entirely engrossing performance was a testament to how well the duo command a crowd.
Most Underrated Performance I will not lie, when Chet Faker was forced to drop off of the Boston Calling bill, Sunday lost a bit of its luster in my eyes. Despite this, his replacement act and City Hall Plaza veterans, Lucius, came in and blew us all away. The vocal chops of Jess Wolfe and Holly Laesig, who met at Berklee, were enough to convert even the most disgruntled and fit the overall tone of the festival perfectly.
Best Summer Song I need some heaviness to my singles, especially in the summer. It’s the season of ruining
your speakers with heavy bass and head banging in the car so Run The Jewels’ “Close Your Eyes (And Count to Fuck)” is my go to selection from the Boston Calling lineup. Any song by the duo should be on your summer playlist- they’re absolute fire and need to be on your radar.
Best Individual Artist Marina (and her Diamonds) showed the Boston Calling crowd that pop music done well is always something to celebrate. Her brightly colored fans came out in spades to jump
around to new tunes off of her album Froot and older hits like “Primadonna” the pop diva was returning to the stage with. Her performance was classy, energetic, and jam packed with happy, electronic vibes.
Best Band TV on the Radio were a band that brought so many musical styles that it was almost impossible not to find something in their set to jam out to. The translation of recorded
music to its live presentation is a spectacle not to be missed. Their lead singer, Tunde Adebimpe, has the sly swagger of a frontman who can execute a flawless performance every night while depending upon his fellow performers to pack a hefty punch.
Best Overall Performance Bow down to all that is St. Vincent. Annie Clark and keyboardist/guitarist/backup vocalist Toko Yatsuda stunned with a performance that was equal parts calculated movement and improvised perfection. The duo’s tiny, robotic choreography was not lost at any distance and fell perfectly in line with the music, while Clark’s purposeful collapses emoted a break in facade and composure that all could relate to. Clark’s venture into the crowd also won her bonus points, still looking effortlessly cool and composed with audience members clamoring at a chance to touch the singer. St. Vincent earned her spot as this festival’s highlight and possible the best act to grace the Boston Calling lineup.
Most Popular Beck. Beck. Beck. Did anyone on Friday talk about anything other than the Grammy winner? Yes, but he was on everyone’s minds and had an absolutely stunning performance that met or exceeded expectations. An incredible amount of people swarmed the plaza leading up to his performance, braving the Boston wind-chill to watch an hour and a half set that blew the audience.
Best of Boston This one is (obviously) going to Boston band, The Pixies. While we salute the other hometown artist’s tributes to the city, there’s nothing that gets a Boston crowd going quite like a hometown act with gritty guitars and a killer light show. Pack decades of
hits like “Debaser” and “Where Is My Mind?” into the mix and you have a perfect choice for the closer to this city’s one and only festival.
Honorable
Mention
Best Cover Don’t ask a Boston girl how to pronounce her name, but MØ’s cover of “Say You’ll Be There,” the 90’s hit from The Spice Girls, was absolutely EVERYTHING. The singer’s energy was off the walls but you could tell this was one of, if not, the song that she was most excited to perform. The singer wore her hair specifically to pay homage to the girl group and loved every second of it, just like the crowd.
Written by Kara Kokinos. Photos by Eric Riley and Kara Kokinos.
Today’s the day!! It is day one of Boston Calling and you can expect to see tons of coverage from us over the next couple of days! Wrapping up our Seven Bands To See At Boston Calling, we bring you our number one artist you need to be keeping an eye out for!
They be not angels,
they are but men. But, though mere men, they make up TENACIOUS D, The Greatest Metal Band in the World. While they have
their roots planted deep in comedy, it would be impossible to deny the serious
talent Jack Black and Kyle Gass both have.
With a new album (potentially) planned for 2016-2017, and a
trio of rock operas in their arsenal, Sunday night is going to be absolutely
insane in the absolutely best way possible.
For fans of: everything. For a taste, check out: “Beezleboss (the Final Showdown),” “Tribute,”
“Kickapoo” Catch them: Sunday, 8:05, Red Stage
It’s almost time! It’s only a few days until we’re back at Boston Calling once more. So, to keep with tradition, here is our list of who you need to be keeping an eye out for!
I first saw ST. VINCENT when she performed on The Colbert Report last February, and
then seeing her a few months later on Saturday
Night Live had me hooked. It was this strange combination of energetic and
frigid, staged and theatrical, yet free and random.
Her music has been labeled “baroque pop” and “art rock” and
a dozen other things, but I think it’ll be something different to each
different listener. And when it translates to stage, it’ll be even more. (Also,
her self-titled album took home “Best Alternative Album” and made my Top 10
from 2014; maybe that’ll hold some merit?)
For fans of: Scissor Sisters, Tegan & Sara, the Dresden
Dolls For a taste, check out: “Prince Johnny,” “Teenage Talk,” “Digital Witness” Catch them: Saturday, 6:50, JetBlue
It’s almost time! It’s less than one week away until we’re back at Boston Calling once more. So, to keep with tradition, here is our list of who you need to be keeping an eye out for!
The Boston Calling
folks couldn’t get Beyoncé this year, so they booked Beck instead. (Not really.)
It deserves to be mentioned that Beck’s 12th (12TH!)
album brought home the Grammy for Album of the Year this year, but it also isn’t as big of an achievement as
it sounds, since the man has been winning Grammys almost as long as I’ve been
alive. I sincerely doubt you have better Friday night plans.
For fans of: The Arcade Fire, BASTILLE, Modest Mouse For a taste, check out: “E-Pro,” “Blue Moon,” “Modern Guilt” (And “Loser,”
obviously) Catch them: Friday, 9:15, JetBlue Stage
It’s almost time! It’s less than one week away until we’re back at Boston Calling once more. So, to keep with tradition, here is our list of who you need to be keeping an eye out for!
Today we talk about our #4 pick, Marina and the Diamonds.
I’m not entirely sure how to describe her, but all I
can really say about Marina and the
Diamonds is that I am 145% sure we are going to have a ridiculously great
time watching this performance. She’s part dancefloor, part opera house, but it
all works.
Her crowd will be wild and energetic and ambitious, which
will be a perfect fit. And for those who may be new to Marina and aren’t sure
how to handle it, it’s simple: rule number one is you gotta have fun.
For fans of: The Ting Tings, La Roux, Ke$ha For a taste, check out: “Homewrecker,” “Primadonna,” “How to Be a Heartbreaker” Catch them: Saturday, 5:45, Red Stage
It’s almost time! It’s less than one week away until we’re back at Boston Calling once more. So, to keep with tradition, here is our list of who you need to be keeping an eye out for!
I didn’t get my first
listen of Halsey until early this
year, but from then on, there was no turning back. Her music is purely
addictive, and her huge “Ghost” is anything you could hope for from a pop song
– smooth, soft, sharp and seductive.
One of the serious contenders for Breakout Artist of
late-2014/2015, her early time slot is going to be a serious treat for those
who get there early. But, if she makes her way back for another round sometime
down the road, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see her performing much later.
For fans of: Ellie Goulding, Lorde, Sia For a taste, check out: “Hurricane,” “Ghost,” “Empty Gold” Catch them: Sunday, 1:35, JetBlue Stage
It’s almost time! It’s less than one week away until we’re back at Boston Calling once more. So, to keep with tradition, here is our list of who you need to be keeping an eye out for!
In comparison to the
last time around, this lineup features a much smaller amount of hip-hop.
September had Childish Gambino and Nas (and twenty one pilots, if we’re being
fair), while September 2013 brought us Major Lazer and Kendrick Lamar. The May
editions seem to favor the indie/pop/rock side of things, so Run the Jewels’ chunk of time is sure
to be a contrast from the majority of the rest of the weekend, in a good way.
Plus, even though El-P has assured the public that Run the Jewels 3 will definitely not be
coming out until 2016, that doesn’t definitely
mean we won’t be getting the first taste of new music, right? We’ll seeeeeee.
For fans of: Childish Gambino, Lupe Fiasco, Major Lazer For a taste, check out: “Close Your Eyes,” “All Due Respect,” “Oh My Darling
Don’t Cry” Catch them: Saturday, 2:55, JetBlue Stage
For our last giveaway of the month, we’ve teamed up with our friends at Boston Calling to give away a pair of three-day tickets to this May’s festival!* The line-up this year is pretty incredible and includes Tove Lo, Pixies, Gerard Way and Grammy award winner, Beck, just to name a few! The festival will take place from May 22nd to May 24th and will take place at City Hall Plaza.
Entry form can be found here! Contest will run for one month!
*Disclaimer: neither transportation or housing are provided.
Today is your last day to enter our Boston Calling ticket giveaway!! Winner will be announced tomorrow, so if you still want a chance to win a pair of three0day tickets to this May’s festival, enter by clicking this form! Good luck!
For our last giveaway of the month, we’ve teamed up with our friends at Boston Calling to give away a pair of three-day tickets to this May’s festival!* The line-up this year is pretty incredible and includes Tove Lo, Pixies, Gerard Way and Grammy award winner, Beck, just to name a few! The festival will take place from May 22nd to May 24th and will take place at City Hall Plaza.
Entry form can be found here! Contest will run for one month!
*Disclaimer: neither transportation or housing are provided.
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