By Sami Martasian

When I was fifteen, buy like most fifteen year olds, being a musician seemed daunting and impossible. I had read about music communities that my idols had been part of, but as a kid in suburban Rhode Island that kind of camaraderie seemed really far away. One of the first memories I can conjure of finally feeling the gap between listening to records in my bedroom and any kind of closeness with a music community at all is strongly connected to a band that I want to talk to you all about today. They’re called Pretty & Nice. Their name is a familiar one here in Allston and is synonymous with the rush of joy that their live shows have brought their audiences for the past eight years. All good things do come to an end though- Pretty & Nice have announced that they are going on indefinite hiatus.

My first experience with the good men of Pretty & Nice was running into them at I AM FEST in New London Connecticut when I was a kid. It was a pretty trivial interaction- just a few words about music but I remember walking away glowing. I had been a big fan of their 2008 album “Get Young” and the idea of chatting with these guys, who in my mind were as good as rockstars, and finding out that they were such kind, likable, down to earth people. It felt for that moment that it was possible that the world was filled with encouraging, passionate musicians just waiting to be met. I’ll admit I haven’t kept up with every turn of their career or listened to every album as it came out, but when I heard the news about their hiatus I immediately revisited that first meeting and felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude. I imagine I’m not the only one with an experience like this. Pretty & Nice not only rocked the socks off a seemingly infinite number of avid fans, but they brought something even more valuable and unique to the table- their attitude. While other bands strived to appear cool, Pretty & Nice put all their effort into making sure people around them were having a good time both during their performances and when interacting with people in their daily lives.

Seeing a band that has been very much the staple of the Boston Music scene move on is jarring. Their familiar name is somehow a comfort, and brings us back to memories of high-energy live shows, upbeat pop songs and exciting, brightly colored album artwork. Its hard not to feel a little old as we watch Pretty & Nice retire for what could be forever. They’ve been playing shows for longer than a lot of us have been writing about them and their career has outlasted many other Boston bands and music trends. It goes without saying that they will continue to be important to us even as they take a break or stop playing shows. Their mark on Boston indie pop history is a substantial one, thick with good tunes, and amazing attitudes. Their positive outlook was even present earlier in the year when they faced one of the most demoralizing obstacles a band could face: having their van broken into and their equipment stolen. The kind of magic that Pretty & Nice managed to create is irreplaceable and unforgettable.

If they return to their careers as well-loved musicians or if they decide to move on, Pretty & Nice will always be there to remind us that joy is never too far away and is waiting to be found, be it on the speakers of your car, the pulse of a live show or in a solitary moment listening to a record alone. In whatever they choose to do with their time and talents, it is my wish that the members of Pretty & Nice find the same love and excitement that they have been giving their audiences all these years.

While preparing to write this article I revisited some of Pretty & Nice’s albums and live videos. It was hard not to get emotional at the beginning of one of their videos of a performance at the Middle East when the addressed the crowd by saying “we’re gonna keep playing forever”

I hope they do one way or another.