Boston Calling provided some serious eventfulness as Day Two of the festival moved along. After speaking to some of the festival attendees, it became clear that Saturday’s line up was pretty great in most ways. Seeing Boston’s own Cousin Stizz fill his audience with pride to be from the city, or when The XX played their most famous songs, or even when Mumford and Sons played, “Little Lion Man” made one feel amazing for being a Bostonian. Some of the biggest artists converging in this close-knit city made living in Boston twenty times more exciting. Boston Calling definitely kept the same energy and momentum created Friday.
The total amount of people appeared to have doubled from Friday, which meant longer lines for food and for the bathroom… it was even a little tough getting in to see Hannibal Buress’s deadpan comedic delivery (but then again… it IS Hannibal Buress). However, where there were extremely long lines; opportunity provided itself in other places. If you wanted to grab a burger from Tasty Burger’s food stand and the lines were too long, then English Muffin Pizzas and Ramen lines were ridiculously short. Something about festival ramen mixed with Majiid Jordan’s melodic voice and people watching brings a sort of joie’d’vivre to one’s festival involvement.
Boston’s Calling Delta Blue Stage was the stronger stage on Saturday. As controversially loved rapped, Danny Brown, performed some of greatest songs; getting the crowd hyped up in his lyrics, melodies, and energy. It could be because of his high energy and less than conventional style of hip hop that he is reminiscent of the late member of the Wu Tang Clans’ Ol’ Dirty Bastard. Following Danny Brown was Cousin Stizz, a Boston native and as his Instagram title says, “Everyone’s favorite cousin.” It was clear that Stizz had something to show his audience as he performed his famous songs “Fresh Prince,” and “No Bells”. Telling stories about his rise to fame and how he never let money and fame change him. Being from Boston and having performed at a music festival held in the same city, must have been an amazing feeling. Then, seeing Majiid Jordan perform his version of Drake’s “Fire and Desire” from his 2016 album Views was an out of body experience.
If you were wondering, “How is The XX live?” the answer would be: prodigious. The dynamic trio played their hearts out on the Xfinity Red Stage. Exciting the crowd with the high energy music and low soothing vocals, The XX couldn’t have been more prodigious. The crowd sang along with all of their songs, including their renowned instrumental, “Intro.” As a band, it’d have to feel really good to hear a crowd harmonize with a song that has no words.
Finally, the headliner stage: The Boston Calling Green Stage. With a new nickname, the Green Monstah, Boston Calling’s Green Stage housed Day Two’s headliner Mumford and Sons. After a rumored splitting up of the band, they returned with an absolute bang! Experiencing Mumford and Sons play “Little Lion Man,” as the crowd sang and danced was spectacular, to say the least. Even after the show ended, the crowd sang “Little Lion Man” as they left the stadium. Over 40,000 people leaving Harvard singing for the second time as the day ended was really spot on/
