For many, May 4th has become a day synonymous with Star Wars and all its infinite glory. But this year fans of alternative rock had even more reason to celebrate, as Kim Deal and The Breeders were in town, performing at the great House of Blues on Landsdowne Street.
Opening for The Breeders were Chicago noise-rock band Melkbelly, who quickly set the tone for what would be a blitzkrieg of a set. Singer Miranda Winters lead the charge with vocals that shifted from delicate near-whispers to loud, unadulterated screams throughout the show. Drummer, James Wetzel, hammered away in a style similar to Jimi Hendrix Experience drummer, Mitch Mitchell, filling the sound with frequent use of tom fills and cymbal crashes. Collectively, the band presented an aggressive yet sometimes fragile style of music, which nicely supported the lyrical themes explored. And the raw energy of the band did not go unnoticed, as by the end of the set, the Boston crowd responded with strong applause.
When The Breeders finally took the stage, the crowd was more than primed and ready. Opening with, “New Year,” and closing with “Gigantic,” the band burned through a setlist that explored their long history, while at the same time performing many songs from their latest album, All Nerve. The Deal sisters were a delight to watch, appearing very comfortable on stage and charming the audience with their easy going nature and wonderful sense of humor.
About three fourths of the way into the set, The Breeders played a flawless performance of their breakthrough hit, “Cannonball,” which sounded like it was coming straight off the record. Every nuance was covered, and the fans loved hearing the high-energy rocker. “Cannonball” was immediately followed by a cover of The Beatles’ “Happiness Is A Warm Gun.”
After closing the show with, “Gigantic,” the crowd was treated to three more tunes. The first was “Saints,” followed by “Nervous Mary” and “Do You Love Me Now?” When the encore was over, the band greeted the audience with many smiles, waves and drum sticks. So while welcome to share the spotlight, Lightsabers were not necessary to make this May 4th show glow.
If you’re interested in keeping up with Melkbelly, you can follow them on social media via @melkbelly, or through their Bandcamp page. For more of The Breeders, visit their website or follow them on social media via @thebreeders.
See below for photos from the show: