seven bands to see

Seven Bands To See At Boston Calling, May 2016: #1 Sia

With less than a week left, we’re back with our list of who you need to be keeping an eye out for at the Boston Calling Music Festival!

On our list so far: #7. Lizzo, #6. The Vaccines, #5. The Front Bottoms, #4. HAIM, #3. Elle King, #2. City and Colour

Today we talk about our #1 pick, Sia.

Each year when I do this list, I set a rule for myself – I try to not include headliners. They obviously don’t need help attracting fans; they’re headlining a music festival. But, when one of the headliners is one of
the most eccentric, electric, enthralling performers around, I’ll break the rule (it’s my rule anyway, so whatever). Long story short: Sia. There’s not much I can say here that hasn’t already been said of her – she’s as much of a performer as she is the performance itself, and she
is one of those once-in-a-while artists that shouldn’t be missed when the chance presents itself.

Catch Them: Friday, 9:45 pm
Check Out: “Chandelier (Piano Version),” “Fire Meets Gasoline,” “Elastic Heart”
For fans of: St. Vincent, Florence + the Machine, Ellie Goulding

Seven Bands To See At Boston Calling, May 2016: #2 City and Colour

With less than a week left, we’re back with our list of who you need to be keeping an eye out for at the Boston Calling Music Festival!

On our list so far: #7. Lizzo, #6. The Vaccines, #5. The Front Bottoms, #4. HAIM, #3. Elle King

Today we talk about our #2 pick, City and Colour.

For more than a decade, CITY AND COLOUR (Dallas Green) has been one of the most consistently-impressive artists around, in any aspect. Whether it is his songwriting, his vocals, his musicianship, or just how well he brings it all together, few do it as well as Green. When Alexisonfire (who, for those who don’t know, are/were an equally
incredible hardcore act) called it quits, Green turned to C&C as his
full-time gig, churning out nearly a half a dozen stellar albums to this point and showing no signs of slowing.

Catch Them: Saturday, 5:45 pm
Check Out: “Thirst,” “Comin’ Home,” “Two Coins”
For fans of: Aaron West and the Roaring Twenties, Frank Turner, Manchester Orchestra

Seven Bands To See At Boston Calling, May 2016: #3 Elle King

With less than a week left, we’re back with our list of who you need to be keeping an eye out for at the Boston Calling Music Festival!

On our list so far: #7. Lizzo, #6. The Vaccines, #5. The Front Bottoms, #4. HAIM

Today we talk about our #3 pick, Elle King.

We’ve gotten some pretty great songs and singles this past year, but not many have been as inescapable as ELLE KING’s “Ex’s and Oh’s.” Finding the perfect balance of pop and rock, King had an enormous year, earning a Grammy nomination or two along the way. Also, while we’re talking about the success of that song, it needs to be said – yeah, “Ex’s and Oh’s” is a jam and all, but dude, have you heard “America’s Sweetheart!?” Maybe the catchiest song I heard all last year. King’s set it going to be worth it just for that song alone; everything else is just gravy.

Catch Them: Sunday. 5:45 pm
Check Out: “Ain’t Gonna Drown,” “Last Damn Night,” America’s Sweetheart”
For fans of: The Horrible Crowes, Larkin Poe, The White Stripes

Seven Bands To See At Boston Calling, May 2016: #4 HAIM

With less than a week left, we’re back with our list of who you need to be keeping an eye out for at the Boston Calling Music Festival!

On our list so far: #7. Lizzo, #6. The Vaccines, #5. The Front Bottoms

Today we talk about our #4 pick, HAIM.

Having to wait two and a half years for a follow-up album can test a person’s patience. But, when that first album is still holding up after that long, it eases the bother a little bit. To follow-up Days Are Gone, HAIM must have a pretty big bag of tricks ready to go. We’ll be getting something soon, and it’s a safe bet that we’ll get a preview here. Just don’t miss it. Pretty easy, yeah?

Catch Them: Sunday, 7:55 pm
Check Out: “Honey & I,” “My Song 5,” “Don’t Save Me”
For fans of: Bleachers, Tegan & Sara, Lucius

Seven Bands To See At Boston Calling, May 2016: #5 The Front Bottoms

With less than a week left, we’re back with our list of who you need to be keeping an eye out for at the Boston Calling Music Festival!

On our list so far: #7. Lizzo, #6. The Vaccines

Today we talk about our #5 pick, The Front Bottoms.

Great music doesn’t always have to be pretty. It’s art; sometimes art is subjective. With THE FRONT BOTTOMS, it often doesn’t feel like you’re listening to a song so much as you’re just listening to words and emotion and heart being spilled over music. Honest and shameless, they know exactly who they are and what they’re doing. It’s a breath of fresh air to have a group of musicians so sincere, and this translates into each song and performance.

Catch Them: Sunday, 4:50 pm
Check Out: “Peach,” “Twin Size Mattress,” “Plastic Flowers”
For fans of: Ramshackle Glory, The Wonder Years, Andrew Jackson Jihad

Seven Bands To See At Boston Calling, May 2016: #6, The Vaccines

Yesterday we announced the return of our Seven Bands To See At Boston Calling feature, so once again, here is our list of who you need to be keeping an eye out for!

On our list so far: #7. Lizzo

Today we talk about our #6 pick, The Vaccines.

I heard murmurs and mumbles during the last two batches of
BC about them leaning a bit away from the rock and roll side, and I’ll admit that there were times where I could understand people’s concerns. But, people tend to get ahead of themselves. There are a few reasons later on in this list to solidify my point, and here’s where I’ll start it, with THE VACCINES. Like if The Ramones had a bratty nephew, the band plays loud, fast, and fun. With all of the talent we’ve been seeing over the last few years, it’s great to be around during the latest wave of the British Invasion.

Catch Them: Saturday, 3:00 pm
Check Out: “Wetsuit,” “Dream Lover,” “If You Wanna”
For fans of: The Strokes, Interpol, Hot Hot Heat

Seven Bands To See at Boston Calling, May 2016: #7, Lizzo

And here we are again; so great to be back! Another year, another stellar lineup headed your way. Sure, there won’t be a Super Blood Moon this time around, but there will be no lack of chances at some
once-in-a-lifetime memories and experiences. With each edition, the folks in charge of Boston Calling make adjustments and additions and improvements, and this year is no different: with the inclusion of a newly-formed comedy stage, as well as a handful of bonus musical acts, the new-and-improved festival is almost here. But let’s get back to basics; with everything that happens in the plaza, there are plenty of possible distractions, so here’s who you can’t afford to miss.

Kicking off the list at #7 is Lizzo.

I’ve spent the better part of the last year listening to a small handful of albums, two of which are the Hamilton soundtrack and [BC 2015 performer] DOOMTREE’s All Hands. One of the huge similarities
between the two is they both feature women spitting straight fireeee
throughout. And for our first Artist to Watch, we have LIZZO – a performer who is going to send the crowd into a stir with her rhymes before lulling them back down with her smooth, powerful vocals. A
relatively early set, sure, but it’ll be one worth showing up ahead of time for; it’s not like a superstar-in-the-making played the 1:30 slot last May, right?

Catch Them: Saturday, 1:30 pm
Check Out: “Ride,” “Lizzie Borden,” “B.G.S.W.”
For Fans Of: Janelle Monae, Dessa

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