As always, Kal Marks delivered a solid set that perfectly straddled the line between frenetic and contemplative. Between rapid-fire drums and yearning, bluesy vocals, the three-piece forge a completely unique sound that showcases some of the best talent in Boston. The crowd was treated to two new songs from the trio, and I see only more awesome, irresistible material from these guys in the future. Things got heavier when California X plugged in, plunging headfirst into their grunge-inspired attack. They don't hide the fact that their main influences are Dinosaur Jr. and Superchunk, but their music is far from derivative. By roughing it up and adopting a heavier approach, California X manages to stay current and give the aforementioned bands a deserved nod.
Next up were The Clippers, a Topshelf pop-rock duo (accompanied this time by a bassist) who'll make even the most soulless, awful fun-hating human tap a toe. From the second one of their short-but-sweet tracks blasted out the speakers, the crowd turned into one seemingly electrically-charged force, dancing and jumping and having a really good time, plain and simple. And it's always like that when they play. Every single song they've put out is too catchy for its own good, and the crowd can never seem to get enough. This time around, singer/guitarist Josh treated everyone to a simply delightful reading from a saucy "adult book" detailing the joys of anal sex in onomatopoeic splendor. Wondrous!
Oh, and there was free pizza, too.
-Siobhan Robinson
