September 23, 2015
School’s back, and so is Boston Calling, which returns to downtown City Hall Plaza this weekend, Friday-to-Sunday, September 25th-27th:
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25th
The Avett Brothers One of the bigger – and better – hits of today’s new Americana (QRO photos at a festival), The Avett Brothers (QRO photos at a festival) won a wide audience with 2009’s fine country of I and Love and You (QRO review), including playing on The Grammys with Bob Dylan, and now come to Boston Calling (QRO photos at a festival), with 2012’s follow-up The Carpenter (QRO review). Their country can even fit in the big city (QRO photos at a festival), like Boston. |
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Of Monsters and Men Things moved quite fast in 2011 for Iceland’s the next-gen alt-folk collective Of Monsters and Men (QRO live review), on the back of killer single “Little Talks” (QRO video) and debut full-length My Head Is an Animal (QRO review). In addition to ruling the festival circuit (QRO photos at a festival) and headlining bigger & bigger venues (QRO photos), they even played Saturday Night Live (QRO Music on Late Night TV). They (QRO photos) come back to Boston Calling after playing the very first edition (QRO photos at Boston Calling ‘13) behind Animal follow-up Beneath the Skin (QRO review). Hey! |
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Gregory Alan Isakov Mixing indie and folk is the well-traveled festival mainstay Gregory Alan Isakov. |
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26th
alt-J Among all the overnight alt-successes, maybe no one has done it as quickly or as majorly as alt-J (QRO live review). Also known as ‘∆’ – that’s what you get when press the ‘alt’ and ‘J’ buttons on your keyboard – the indie-more quartet went from playing tiny places at terrible hours in 2012 (QRO photos) to winning their native England’s prestigious Mercury Prize later that year (QRO photos at a U.K. festival), and playing America (QRO photos at a North American festival) at much, much larger spaces (QRO photos). |
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CHVRCHES Scottish electro-pop outfit CHVRCHES (QRO live review) have gotten very big very fast (QRO photos at a festival), before & after the release of debut full-length The Bones of What You Believe (QRO review) – but are fronted by the tiny Lauren Mayberry (QRO photos at a festival) and some giant lights (QRO photos at a festival). |
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Chromeo There are combos and then there are combos: Montreal’s Chromeo (QRO live review) are the electro-funk duo of Dave 1 (David Macklovitch) and P-Thugg (Patrick Gemayel) has been best friends since childhood (QRO live review), billing themselves as, “The only successful Arab/Jewish collaboration since the beginning of time” (but what is their stance on Québécois independence?…). And their electronica works outdoors (QRO photos outdoors), day or night (QRO live review), even at a festival (QRO photos at a festival). They come Boston Calling (QRO photos at a festival) with their great show (QRO live review), now after the release of last year’s White Women (QRO review). |
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Walk the Moon In their self-titled album, Walk the Moon (QRO review), these Ohio natives (QRO live review) became one of America’s infectious indie rock groups (QRO photos at a festival) and it’s easy to see why: their catchy guitar riffs, fun and creamy pop beats can strike a tune within any listener (QRO photos at a festival). In 2012, the band (QRO photos) had the ‘song of the summer’ in “Anna Sun”, but they’re more than just that great single (QRO photos), and come to Boston Calling behind last December’s follow-up full-length, Talking Is Hard (QRO review). |
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Father John Misty While a member of overrated folk outfit Fleet Foxes (QRO album review), guitarist Joshua Tillman found time to do his own solo stuff (QRO album review), but in 2012 he moved to solo full-time as Father John Misty (QRO photos) with Fear Fun, and he comes to Boston Calling (QRO photos at a festival) behind follow-up I Love You, Honeybear. |
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Sturgill Simpson Though his sound is closer to traditional country, because Sturgill Simpson (QRO photos at a festival) operates his own label outside of the Nashville country music business, he’s labeled ‘alt-country’. |
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Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks After the worldwide reunion tour of Pavement in 2010 (QRO live review), singer/songwriter Stephen Malkmus returned to his Jicks (QRO live review), including the festival circuit (QRO photos from a festival). S.M. & The Jicks also returned to the studio with 2011’s Mirror Traffic (QRO review), something of a return to his earlier solo work, after 2008’s jammier Real Emotional Trash (QRO review), though last year’s Wig Out At Jagbags (QRO review) wasn’t quite the impressive record it could have been. The band (QRO live review) naturally favors newer songs (at least now people don’t ask them to play Pavement songs – QRO live review), such as “Independence St.” (QRO video) and great single “Senator” (QRO video), but there’s still room for an oldie like “1% of One” (QRO video). |
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Doomtree The Minneapolis based hip-hop collective is made up of P.O.S., Sims, Dessa, Mictlan, Cecil Otter, Paper Tiger, and Lazerbeak. The music is alternative influenced, and sports definite remnants of punk. As energetic as they are introspective, Doomtree (QRO photos) boasts a wide array of talent. Also: Skylar Spence Grey Season |
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27th
Alabama Shakes Actually from Alabama, throwback rock ‘n’ rollahs Alabama Shakes (QRO photos at a festival) are well loved from their numerous, energetic live shows (QRO photos), which got them a slew of Grammy nominations in 2013, and a well-earned spot on the festival circuit (QRO photos at a festival). |
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Hozier Ireland’s Andrew Hozier-Byrne (QRO live review in England) comes to Boston Calling (QRO photos at a New England festival) off of last year’s massive breakthrough single “Take Me To the Church” – not to mention being impersonated on Saturday Night Live! |
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Ben Howard English singer/songwriter Ben Howard (QRO photos in England) channels ‘60s & ‘70s folk, but keeps up with the times (QRO live review) – he’s also got a great cover of “Call Me Maybe” (but will he play it live?…). |
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Nate Ruess fun. (QRO live review) became a huge indie-pop sensation with singles like “We Are Young” (including playing Boston Calling – QRO photos at Boston Calling ’13), but they’ve been branching out. Guitarist Jack Antonoff has found major success fronting his own Bleachers (QRO photos at Boston Calling ’14), and singer Nate Ruess has begun his own solo career as well (QRO photos solo). |
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MisterWives Catch the excitable, electric indie-pop of MisterWives (QRO photos at a festival). |
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Daughter North London’s Elena Tonra + Swiss-born Igor Haefelli & France’s Remi Aguilella = indie-folk Daughter (QRO photos). |
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Twin Shadow With one of the best debut album of 2010, Forget, produced by Chris Taylor of Grizzly Bear (QRO live review), George Lewis Jr. (a.k.a. Twin Shadow – QRO photos) shot up on the hype meter. Turns out, the ‘80s new wave-influenced pop of the Dominican Republic born musician (QRO photos at a festival) actually lived up to its reputation. Sophisticated melodies and catchy hooks abound, the tracks of Forget easily transitioned from haunting poetics to infectious dance numbers (QRO photos at a festival), and he’s lived up to that level with 2012’a follow-up, Confess, which he tours (QRO live review) along with new record Eclipse. |
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FIDLAR Back in the long-lost eighties, punk outfits like Black Flag would prompt conflict with Commissioner Chief Daryl Gates’ pre-Rodney King LAPD – but everyone’s mellower these days, right? Not if FIDLAR (QRO photos) have anything to say about it (QRO photos at a festival). Also: Bully Dirty Bangs |
For festival website, go here: http://bostoncalling.com/index.html
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