Last Sunday, Summer Salt played Great Scott with first time Boston performers Hot Flash Heat Wave and returning Chicago rockers The Symposium. Despite the near perfect weather—80 degrees, slight breeze, no humidity—the venue was sweltering hot, packed tight with sweaty fans eager to get as close to the stage as possible.
First up was The Symposium, joined by Henry Brinner of The Orwells on the drums. Starting at 9:00pm, the band immediately hooked the audience with their chill tunes and easy going demeanor. In between songs, singer Charlie Gammill bantered with the crowd, chuckling as he whipped out a wicked good Boston accent and he cracked jokes. Highlights from their quick 30 minute set included “ACL,” and “Tony Stark.”
On next was California five-piece Hot Flash Heat Wave, playing some fun, laid back, and danceable pop rock. And despite strong performances from all members of the band, it was the band’s newest member, keyboard and accordion player Jeffrey, who stood out from the rest. Noticed by some as he busily busked outside Blanchard’s before the show, delighting local Allston residents with Mario and Miyazaki tunes, the band’s “ace in the hole” pulled out his trusty accordion for a polka-rock performance of “Blue” to end their set.
Summer Salt finally took to the stage around 10:30pm, walking on to the soft and calming sounds of the ocean and the green glow of two light up palm trees. Drummer Eugene Chung’s kit was set up uniquely along the edge of stage right, right up against the crowd, with an assortment of oddities including a woodblock and chimes, while vocalist Matt Terry and guitarist MJ Tirabassi (formerly of The Walters) held center stage, and bass player Phil Baier claimed the left. When fans weren’t singing along, they were more than a little vocal about the less than ideal jam-packed and steaming hot conditions of the venue, but to the band’s credit, they simply shrugged it off, wiped their brows, and continued to play through the sweaty summer heat.
With this in mind, rather than the traditional walk off and back on ruse, the band took a poll from the crowd and agreed to stay on stage for their encore. So after just a quick flick of the lights, with some crowd sourced ocean sounds for effect (wooosh, swaaash, craaash!), Summer Salt was ready to keep going, ending on a high note with “Driving to Hawaii” and “Going Native.”
See below for photos from the show: