The last day of the Boston Calling Music Festival was widely agreed upon to have had the best lineup. The Killers and Hozier both returned as festival veterans. Megan Thee Stallion made her first visit, and all three music giants made quite the impression – as expected. The weather was perfect throughout the day, as was the brilliant execution of the production staff, who chose to open all gates smartly, general admission style, to ensure that the more than 40,000 guests of the day’s sold-out event all got in to find their preferred spot to watch and to listen to the or favorite artists. The open-seating areas filled up faster than both Friday and Saturday, with the obvious anticipation of performances by The Killers, Hozier, and Megan Thee Stallion. For over nine hours, the festival offered up a little bit of everything to make everyone happy.
Highlights from the show, of course, included the Las Vegas act, The Killers, whose performance was well-produced and well-polished. Brendan Flowers proved to be the ringleader for the band that pulled all the punches with hits spanning their twenty-year-plus career. Their fans cajoled as they delivered hit after hit, including “All These Things That I’ve Done,” “Somebody Told Me,” and, of course, “Mr. Brightside” for the encore.
Hozier, who really took hold of the moment, delivered the day’s most passionate and inspiring set. From the opening notes of “Eat Your Young” to the last note of the encore “Take Me to Church”, Hozier gave his performance everything he had. His vocals were impressive from the get-go, and he never wavered. Whether strumming a guitar or not, he was clearly living in the moment right along with his sea of fans before him who sang every word of every song in chorus. Hozier was worthy of being billed as a headliner – maybe next year!
The Revivalists came out of the gate with an undeniable fervor. I’d like to know where lead singer David Shaw gets all his energy, but like Hozier, he was locked in! In fact, the whole band was. Though Shaw gets most of the attention with his ability to meander to all points of the stage to interact with the audience, the interplay with the rest of the band was almost equally as present. Their comradery clearly pushes the band’s motivation and performance into the red. The band ripped through an stellar eleven-song set that included fan favorites “Good Old Days”, “How We Move” and “Kid”, much to the delight of all watching and listening.
Blues guitar sensation Christone “King Fish” Ingram brought his infectious smile and fretwork to an intimate crowd who was smart enough to attend his set. With a stripped production and a tight backline, Ingram greeted the crowd and put on a blues guitar clinic. At only 25, the Mississippi-born performer plays well beyond his years. Recognized by his peers as an undeniable talent, Ingram took his time on stage to let the blues pour through his fingers onto his fretboard. He treated his audience to “Midnight Heat”, “Not Gonna Lie” and “Long Distance Woman”. He is surely one to watch.
Chappell Roan, born Kayleigh Rose Amstutz, brought her synth-pop influenced music to the festival and commanded the stage with her drag-queen aesthetic, which had her fans eating from the palm of her hands. Supporting her debut album ‘The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess’, she and her band performed most of the songs from the album including, “Femininonmenon”, “Pink Pony Club” and “Hot to Go”. Her over-the-top style may be a bit too camp for some, but not for her legion of fans who came dressed in a similar fashion with faceprint and theatrical attire.
Earlier in the day, the bill showcased even more talent. Royel Otis, the Australian guitar-pop duo from Sydney spearheaded by Royel Maddell and Otis Pavlovic, brought an eclectic mix of pop, punk, and psych-rock to the party. Their colorful and erratic stage presence was a welcome and fun adventure. New York’s The Thing gave the festival a much-needed shot in the arm of actual rock and roll, which was sadly absent from all three days. Their youthful energy and sound were a breath of fresh air to those who appreciate musicians playing real instruments and singing without electronic enhancement.
Scottish Indie band The Heavy Heavy, fronted by Will Turner and Georgie Fuller, serenaded the sun-soaked crowd with their gloriously hazy and hypnotic set. Watch for them on the festival circuit this summer. Also, local musicians out of Lowell, MA, filled the local artists’ stage with flowers and fauna from corner to corner before delivering a short set of brazen grunge. Fronted by Samantha Hartsell, she and her band made the most of their time in front of an intimate audience.
In the end, the festival once again provided an incredible experience for the festival to go on a beautiful holiday weekend. In addition to the music, plenty of food and beverage options, along with simple and fun activities, were all in reach on campus. The tradition of the friendly vibe of the concert fan community continued through each day, keeping this event as one of the most successful and anticipated events for Boston.
