I was bummed to have missed Bent Shapes’ set. The revamped quartet formerly known as Girlfriends has a new member, new material, and an exciting summer ahead of them. If it wasn’t for those goddamn Celtics! Luckily, Grass Widow’s inspiration provided enough of a distraction from the loss, as it was the first night of their tour supporting the release of their new album, Internal Logic. The band’s dynamic is pretty remarkable, and I’m convinced it all starts with drummer Lillian Maring. Her drumming style isn’t exactly unconventional, but it definitely doesn’t play safe, especially considering the vocal duties she covers as well. Whereas most punk drummers rely on speed, Maring switches it up with punchy fills on toms and steady, modest grooves.
This is where Grass Widow may not even qualify as a punk band. First of all, they aren’t tremendously heavy, but more importantly, their technical aspects give them a unique edge. It’s almost twee-poppy in a way, but less coy and more commanding. Their cherubic harmonies create a chamber-like atmosphere over the ascending and descending tones of the bass and guitar. This was exemplified best on “Disappearing Industries,” my favorite track off of the new album. The tune digs hard rhythmically but has a buoyant aspect in the cohesive vocals. As Grass Widow picks up speed on the East Coast, it was great to see such a fine turnout for them in Boston. Big ups to Bodies of Water Shows for once again pulling off an awesome bill of bands that probably wouldn’t have otherwise been put together. Grass Widow’s Internal Logic is out now on HLR.
-Perry Eaton
Photo Credit: Perry Eaton
