Margaret Glaspy Gets Back To The Sinclair

Posted on 10/03/2023 by Christine Varriale

Review and photos by Greg Wong

On Saturday, September 30, Margaret Glaspy returned to her old stomping grounds in Cambridge. She played The Sinclair in support of her third LP, Echo The Diamond.

The evening’s opener was Tasha, who played a bare-bones set showcasing her sweet voice to the early arrivals.

Margaret Glaspy entered the stage with her band and eased into a performance highlighting Echo The Diamond with her authentically raw style of rock. She played the entire new album but also covers of Alanis Morissette and Lucinda Williams and a healthy portion of her first album Emotions and Math for a throwback-heavy setlist. Glaspy took some time between songs to note her roots in the Boston area, as a performer, a previous student at the Berklee College of Music, and a former resident. Even if Margaret Glaspy no longer calls the area home, she received the warm welcome back she deserved from the audience at The Sinclair.

The Boys Are Back in Town: boygenius at MGM Music Hall at Fenway

Posted on 10/03/2023 by Christine Varriale

Review and photos by Greg Wong

On Monday, September 25, the indie super group boygenius returned to Boston for the second time this year, after playing the Re:SET concert series back in June. The trio played their first of two sold-out nights at MGM Music Hall at Fenway and announced a new EP, The Rest.

The night began with an odd start, with Palehound walking on stage and immediately needing to stop and point out a medical emergency in the crowd. Once the situation was safely resolved however, Palehound rocked their largest audience to date.

Seeing boygenius live can be likened to having a religious experience. Fans that had waited for hours in the rain outside were all too excited to sing and scream along to every song when Phoebe Bridgers, Julien Baker, and Lucy Dacus sprinted on stage. Given the fairly limited discography of the super group, they played every one of their songs, but surprised everyone with the live debut of a brand new track, “Black Hole.” The new song was accompanied by the announcement of an impending EP, The Rest, to be released on Friday, October 13 (👻). There was at least one more surprise in store for the evening after that. During the rambunctious climax of the show closer “Salt in the Wound,” Hozier suddenly appeared on stage and joined in, still in town after selling out the Pavilion on September 22 and 23. For a band that already offers an amazing performance as a matter of course, boygenius treated the night one Boston crowd to a particularly special show.

Making New Memories With Tegan and Sara at Roadrunner

Posted on 10/02/2023 by Christine Varriale

Review and photos by Greg Wong

On Friday, September 22, the iconic identical indie pop twins Tegan and Sara played their first show at Roadrunner. Carlie Hanson was first to the stage, and she was quick to endear herself to the audience during an acoustic set carried by the merits of her vocals and charisma.

Tegan and Sara opened their performance with the contrast of “You Wouldn’t Like Me,” a song roughly as old as Carlie Hanson, and “I Can’t Grow Up” from their newest album Crybaby. The evening’s show featured a wide-ranging selection of Tegan and Sara favorites from multiple eras over two decades, accompanied by the sisters’ characteristic banter. With a discography spanning 10 studio albums, Tegan and Sara managed to run the gamut with deft transitions between old and new. The people in the crowd also spanned a diverse range of ages, with multiple generations represented amongst them. It was fitting that Tegan and Sara commented on the newness of the venue and the joy of being able to make new memories in a new space, despite being in an otherwise familiar place. In with the old, and in with the new; Tegan and Sara made space for both, and the crowd was right there along for the ride.

The Q-Tip Bandits Are A Must-See Experience!

Posted on 09/30/2023 by Christine Varriale

Review and photos by Tanvi Shah

“Thank you for showing us why we call Boston home. This is where we feel most welcome. Thank you for giving us meaning to what we do. We love you so much.” — The Q-Tip Bandits at the end of their epic show at Paradise Rock Club.

The Q-Tip Bandits’ homecoming show at Paradise was a huge success, and I know I wasn’t the only one to lose my voice after singing along all night. Before I get into how and why I lost my voice, I have to shout out the two amazing openers: Maeko and Chance Emerson.

Maeko started the night strong with his catchy songs and even got the crowd involved for his original song, “Click Flash Polaroid” — we yelled “polaroid” whenever Maeko sang “click flash”. We definitely did him proud, because after the song, Maeko exclaimed that The Q-Tip Bandits have the nicest fans! It was a nostalgic moment for Maeko to be opening at Paradise, because he used to come there for music shows in high school. This was my first time seeing him perform, and I thoroughly enjoyed his electronic, rap, alternative feel. Also, I was in the second row and I’m quite short but Maeko made the most intense eye contact with all us fans. He also ran from one side of the stage to the other, making sure everyone was engaged with his songs, especially when he sang “Lila.” This song is about finding your community, which is evident from the lyrics “Everybody’s floating and wading, we’re just here to walk, walk each other home.” Maeko even made us say “what’s up” to the person next to us so we weren’t just random strangers standing next to each other, which felt a bit awkward to do but, in a weird way, comforting afterwards.

Next off, Chance Emerson came to the stage. When I saw his band members, I truly felt that I was at an all-ages show. A group of fangirls gushed excitedly about the band members playing with Chance. Their exact words were, “The keyboard player is so cute!” and they were definitely Gen Z (they were using Snapchat while I, a millennial, was using Instagram…sigh). Chance also has a history with Paradise — he went there for his first concert alone back in 2015 for Neon Trees! Chance came out ready to rock with his cowboy hat and one hell of a growl in his voice. He had a country-rock vibe, and seeing his set is how I found out I like that genre. Though Chance’s band members were young, they rocked the hell out and brought energy to his set. One of my favorite parts of his set was when he slowed it down for us in the middle of his rock set with his original song “The Raspberry Men,” switching from an electric to an acoustic guitar. The song revolves around when Chance was 18 and thought he knew everything about the world (he said he was happy — and that he was wrong). The other part of his set that is stuck in my head is the outro of his song “Angela,” which the audience yelled the lyrics of acapella — “I just wanna make out with a stranger, lose my mind and kiss until my face hurts.”

After meeting someone new during Maeko’s set and practicing our enthusiastic yelling during Chance Emerson’s set, we were finally ready for The Q-Tip Bandits’ performance. I’ve seen The Q-Tip Bandits at a lot of venues, but this was the first time they had their own intro song — they just keep moving up, they’ve made it in my eyes! In case anyone was wondering, they were color-coordinated — Leo, Claire, Hoyt, and Maclin were wearing some form of mustard yellow, and Dakota was wearing black and white to balance them out. The Q-Tip Bandits started their set with a bang with their original song “Chasing Cars,” which had everyone jumping around and singing along. The highlight of that song for me was Leo ducking to avoid getting hit by Hoyt’s trombone (I wish I had a video of it).

The second song was a new song, “Asking For A Friend,” which will be part of their upcoming EP. Leo’s favorite lyrics are from that song: “Can we dance into the silence and never forget we were golden in this moment? I’m asking for a friend.” Compared to their previous releases, this EP is more indie-pop. The project is about finding one’s way back to being hopeful. “This EP is a little bit of grief, a little bit of love, a little bit of loss, and a little bit of everything,” reflected the band.

To make sure we were in the right headspace for The Q-Tip Bandits’ set, Claire taught us the “baby bounce dance move.” She explained, “Babies just move their body and don’t care about what they look like and what anyone else thinks about them — we want you to feel like that too!”

During one of my favorite songs of theirs, “Tip Toe,” everyone yelled along — clearly, we had some shit to get out of our systems. “Tip Toe” highlights all the band members’ talents so well, and everyone gets their moment — Claire’s harmonies throughout the song and her electric bass with the catchy hook, Dakota’s beats, Maclin’s smooth trumpet lines, and Hoyt’s trombone shining through. The song explores the theme that everyone needs a friend, and it becomes a song about unlikely connections. The highlight of the performance for me was Leo’s vocal solo for the lyrics, “In a tale of ever after, he’ll love you like one of his own.” After the bridge, the whole band crouches down with the electric guitar and bass melodies of the hook. The visual ties into the act of tip-toeing out of the house to go somewhere.

We got to hear some of the songs from the new EP, including “July” and “Olivia,” and they were so good! Fun fact, The Q-Tip Bandits are in LA right now recording the new EP. Stay tuned for their announcements on its release (sometime next year)! In addition to the EP leaning more pop, Maclin is also playing keyboard more and, for some songs, even playing the keyboard AND trumpet simultaneously. I’m very excited to hear the full project! If you wanna catch some of their new songs, The Q-Tip Bandits have a few more shows left, in LA on October 8th and New York on October 20th.

The Q-Tip Bandits are known for doing their version of MGMT’s song, “Kids,” because it has this added level of energy that I’m obsessed with. Maclin started off the cover with a trumpet solo as Hoyt added in some beautiful chords on the keyboard. While we were dancing to the cover, these daisy balloons came out of nowhere, which we lightly bounced as they came near us. This was also a subtle nod to The Q-Tip Bandits’ song “Daisy” from their album Melancholy Flowers.

As we approached the end of the show (cry), The Q-Tip Bandits did one of their saddest songs (another one of my favorites), titled “Happy.” “This song was written in a messy room with a messy heart. As a reminder, the only relationship you have is the one with yourself,” prefaced Claire before starting the song. She was the lead vocalist on it, and the lyrics resonate with me so much. It’s one of those songs that you close your eyes and sing like no one’s next to you. Claire’s favorite lyrics are from this song: “Are you happy? And would you tell me if not? We were so happy, but I think you forgot. But if you’re happy, I’ll be happy for you.” There was a magical moment during this song where the audience sang the lyrics back to Claire.

The “last” song that The Q-Tips Bandits sang was “Willow,” which they put out in 2019. After doing their iconic huddle with the drums, they kicked it off. Maclin used a banana shaker to add some more percussion and successfully threw a second (!) banana shaker to Claire across the stage so they could both use it! This song has some of my favorite coordinated and synchronized dancing with the “Willow Wiggle,” as Dakota calls it. Hoyt and Maclin gave us our moment to shine and counted us in to do the swirly dance along with them, matching the guitar and horn lines.

After the last song, we of course shouted for an encore. So they came back on stage and did a stripped-down song, “Shiver,” that featured Leo on electric guitar with the rest of the band adding pretty harmonies and snaps. The line that stood out to me the most was “Somehow we’ll flow,” which fits with the growth mentality of the band as they continue their musical journey.

Some local artists that The Q-Tip Bandits would like to collaborate with are Couch, who they played their first post-pandemic show with. “They are great musicians and great people,” gushed Claire. Leo said that he’d like to collaborate with Noah Kahan (he lives in Watertown, so I guess technically he’s local), as well as Ripe and Layzi! For the format of their shows, the band has been inspired by a range of artists. Claire has been inspired by 21 Pilots’ live shows, as they try to involve the audience to make the show an experience. Leo, on the other hand, has been inspired by the rhythm section of Red Hot Chili Peppers, as they bring their best selves to the stage. From the local music scene, the band has been influenced by Post Sex Nachos, The Doozers, and Moxie in terms of their sound and the direction the band wants to grow in.

Good news for us Boston fans, The Q-Tip Bandits are playing the House of Blues on December 30th with Pigeons Playing Ping Pong. If you can’t make it to that show, you can support The Q-Tip Bandits by buying their merch, like their very warm flower crew necks, beanies, and octopus t-shirts!

Bully For You!

Posted on 09/28/2023 by Christine Varriale

Photos and review by Greg Wong

On Thursday, September 21, Bully rocked Crystal Ballroom in Somerville. The event marked Bully’s return to the Boston area after opening for The Pixies back in early June.

The event hall steadily filled just in time for a relatively mellow start to the evening with 3-piece alt-rock opener Wombo. Bully dialed up the volume and the distortion as they occupied the stage and dove into the lead track of their latest album Lucky For You. Following an early pause in momentum, courtesy of a broken guitar string, Bully resumed their performance full force. The evening saw band lead Alicia Bognanno wielding her bullish vocals to spur on the show and deliver a setlist that featured the whole of Lucky For You, and a sprinkling of older tracks leaning towards Bully’s debut album Feels Like. There was a distinct contrast between Bognanno’s soft-spoken banter and her forceful singing, but when Bully ended the regular set with the cathartic “All This Noise,” it was a reminder that Bognanno lets the music do the talking. How lucky for us.

Lauren Mayberry Goes Solo at Brighton Music Hall

Posted on 09/28/2023 by Christine Varriale

Photos and review by Greg Wong

On Monday, September 18, concertgoers braved the rainy weather and packed into Brighton Music Hall to see Lauren Mayberry on her first headlining tour as a solo artist. Mayberry, commonly known as the frontwoman of the band CHVRCHES for the last decade, has leveraged that success into a sold-out tour and several shows opening for Death Cab for Cutie and The Postal Service on the 20th year anniversary tour for Transatlanticism and Give Up. On that note, Monday’s show was actually Mayberry’s second Boston performance in less than a week, having played MGM Music Hall at Fenway on the 12th.

Brighton Music Hall was already crowded by the time ggwendolyn began her set, which was a quick performance that nevertheless earned her some new fans in the audience. Lauren Mayberry also gave a notably short set that night, given the unreleased status of all but one of her new songs, “Are You Awake?” She supplemented her setlist with a couple covers: Madonna’s “Like a Prayer” and ‘Til Tuesday’s “Voices Carry.” From the gentle “Are You Awake?” to the assertive closing number “Sorry Etc.,” Mayberry delivered her performance with a practiced theatricality. Overall the evening was a pleasant preview of the upcoming album, and a treat for long-time fans to see Lauren Mayberry in an intimate venue.

Don’t Look Down: Misterwives and Bishop Briggs at Roadrunner

Posted on 09/27/2023 by Christine Varriale

Photos and review by Greg Wong

On Sunday, September 17, MisterWives and Bishop Briggs brought their Don’t Look Down co-headlining tour to Roadrunner. The show was a spectacle of bright visuals, empowered performances, and incredible vocals.
Raffaella began the evening with a breezy set of catchy pop that served as a light warm up to MisterWives’ entry to the stage. MisterWives came out swinging with the punchy tracks “Out of Your Mind” and “Dagger” from their latest album Nosebleeds. They delivered a full set featuring nearly all of Nosebleeds in addition to the MisterWives setlist staples “SUPERBLOOM,” “Our Own House,” and “Reflections.” Frontwoman Mandy Lee bounded seemingly effortlessly back and forth across the stage as she gave a performance that belied her ongoing recovery from a cold.
Bishop Briggs finished up the night with a strong set with a bit of a twist. She performed a balanced mix of her older and newer material, all of which was delivered with the impressive power of her vocals. The real show stopper however, was when the power cut to the amplifiers early during “Baggage.” The end result of those technical difficulties however, was an acoustic performance of “The Way I Do” and an impromptu a cappella accompaniment from the audience. While the equipment hiccups were slowly worked out, Bishop Briggs sang a cover of “Never Tear Us Apart.” Once everything was functioning again, the show smoothly resumed and eventually concluded without further incident. Between illness and equipment failures, both MisterWives and Bishop Briggs were faced with challenges that ultimately highlighted their talents and provided a highly memorable experience. See photos from the show below.

Get Ready to Scream with Wyn & the White Light and Josh Knowles at Rockwood

Posted on 09/21/2023 by Harry Gustafson

By Tanvi Shah

Photo by Louie Crampton (Heidi’s Dog)

Are you ready to bless your ears and heal your soul? Wyn & the White Light and Josh Knowles will be sharing their new music with us at Rockwood Music Hall in Fenway on Saturday, Sept 23rd. Though Wyn has been in the Boston and Boston-adjacent music scene for a few years now, Wyn & the White Light was formed in Feb 2022. The band is New England-based, featuring Wyn on electric guitar, Lucia on upright bass and harmonies, and Heidi on drums and harmonies. When all 3 of them got in the same room and performed together for the first time, their feelings can be encapsulated in their line “Let’s do this again, forever,” and that’s how Wyn & the White Light came to be.

Together, Wyn & the White Light’s sound is “pomegranate-infused haunted soul rock.” In case you didn’t know (I didn’t), pomegranates represent fertility and death, both of which are a large part of the band’s music. “I should’ve gone first,” quipped Josh. “I need a fancy fruit to describe my music!” Josh has also been part of the Boston music scene for many years and, in addition to doing his violin-looping and electronic sets, he’s also been part of a couple bands here and there. Josh is at a point in his artist journey where he’s exploring a new sound that integrates different genres. “Early on, I would describe myself as a singer-songwriter whose music is emotionally evocative and electronic. But I also love my metal screaming, crazy 15-minute jam sessions, and dubstep. For this show, the feel of my music is more high-energy and cathartic.”

Wyn and Josh were supposed to play a show back in 2020, so this is sort of their do-over show with Josh’s new sound and the debut of Wyn & the White Light’s music. “This show serves a dual purpose — We want to re-engage our audience while also celebrating the revival of local music!” exclaimed Josh and Wyn.

Photo by Joe Navas

Josh and Wyn have known each other since 2017, when they bonded at a Lizard Lounge open mic, and they’ve been friends ever since. They officially released a song together, “Concern,” in 2021.

“Our friendship got stronger over the pandemic, so it made sense we wanted to partner for this Boston party,” Wyn recounted, thinking about how long they’ve known each other. “We’re good at encouraging each other and keeping each other calibrated creatively. We have a nice symbiotic relationship,” added Josh and Wyn.

During the pandemic, they started doing weekly creative sessions titled “Hot Garbage Sessions,” where they did different exercises like writing a verse or chorus to keep themselves creatively challenged. “Songwriting sucks (the struggle us artists face everyday), so we decided to not feel good together. The main rule of HGS was ‘it doesn’t fucking matter what the level of output is — we’re doing it!’” This gave Wyn and Josh an opportunity to collab with low stakes. In fact, 2 songs from Wyn & the White Light’s upcoming debut album originated in the Hot Garbage Sessions.

For people who haven’t heard Josh Knowles or Wyn & the White Light before, they are psyched to share their new music with everyone. Josh’s exact words were “Buckle up, baby.” Wyn & the White Light will be performing their debut single as a band, “How the West Was Won,” which will be live on all streaming platforms on Friday, September 22nd — the Autumnal Equinox. So you have one day to learn all the words before yell-singing them on Saturday. Lucia will be opening with an acoustic cactus-folk set and Josh will be doing a DJ set in addition to his musically-evolved performance, so you’re in for a variety of music and genres.

Though Josh got late for our interview — he missed an exit — he hopes that he will get off the highway at the right turn to be on time for the show on Saturday at Rockwood in Fenway. Also, both Wyn & the White Light and Josh Knowles will be incorporating therapeutic and metal screaming into their sets respectively, so rest up and get ready to release some energy on Saturday!

Celebrate The Q-Tip Bandits at Paradise Rock Club

Posted on 09/14/2023 by Harry Gustafson

By Tanvi Shah

Photo by Sassa Studios

The Q-Tip Bandits started their band back in 2018, and since then they’ve become a legend in the Boston music scene (and then some). Nominated for ‘New Artist of the Year 2021’ in the Boston Music Awards, they are definitely not a new artist anymore. The Q-Tip Bandits describe their genre as a combination of indie rock, indie pop, alt rock, and alt pop. The band, consisting of Leo, Claire, Hoyt, Dakota, and Maclin, have been on their summer tour all over the US in honor of their latest single “Tip Toe.” They also represented Boston at Boston Calling this year on the Blue Stage, with their iconic synchronized dancing and color-coordinated outfits. The Q-Tip Bandits’ big summer closer this year is at Paradise Rock Club on Commonwealth Ave this Friday, Sept 15th at 7pm. So you can commemorate the end of a rainy and randomly hot summer with some fun music!

The secret reason the band is touring so much is because they always tour before they drop a new project. You didn’t hear it from me, but The Q-Tip Bandits are going into the studio in the fall to record their new EP. “There is as much a theme as our other collections.” “All our albums are about Leo aging and growing old,” joked Leo and Claire while talking about the upcoming EP.

The Q-Tip Bandits’ show at Paradise is their biggest homecoming and headline show since they played at Brighton Music Hall last summer. “For people new to The Q-Tip Bandits, we want them to feel like they can be silly, goofy, and celebrate this community. When our set starts, you can jump, dance; do whatever you want to do,” Leo said about his plan for the show. He continued, “I am unafraid to look funny on stage and I just want to have a good time!”

The band is excited to celebrate with the new and old community of Q-Tip Bandits listeners, and to share a stage with openers Chance Emerson and Maeko. To The Q-Tip Bandits community, the band said, “This show is going to be a celebration of what we do and the people we get to share this experience with. It’s been a long time coming. We are here to clean your ears and steal your hearts. But, DON’T use Q-tips to clean your ears!”

For those of us who have seen The Q-Tip Bandits before, get ready to dance, sing along, and have a very fun night!They will also have new fall-themed merch at Paradise that’s perfect for the upcoming cozy weather. So come on out to Paradise Rock Club on Friday at 7 pm to celebrate and enjoy The Q-Tip Bandits’ show experience (and hear some of the new songs from their upcoming EP)!

Jeff Rosenstock Embraces Hellmode and Healmode at Roadrunner

Posted on 09/13/2023 by Andrew McNally

By Andrew McNally

I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve seen Jeff Rosenstock live. Per my estimation, his show on Friday at Roadrunner was the minimum 11^th time. It doesn’t help that there’s been so many permutations – solo, with Laura Stevenson, with Bomb the Music Industry!, with Arrogant Sons of Bitches (the final BTMI! show and ASOB reunion show are two of my biggest “I was there!” gigs) – that it’s easy to lose count. At least one of those BTMI! shows was Jeff solo, too. But this time was different. For one thing, he was playing Roadrunner – a fierce rise above the semi-filled small venues he was playing just a few years ago. And, he’s on the heels of his new album HELLMODE, which is his most tempered and “adult” record yet. The record proves that the songwriter can embrace the maturity he’s long resisted while still giving in to punk whims, and the show highlighted this mixing well.

But before we get there, we’ve got openers, because the whole night was a celebration. Up first was Gladie, who by sheer coincidence I was seeing for the third time in a year (previously as support for AJJ and, well, Jeff Rosenstock). The Philly indie-punk band played a number of cuts from their genuinely excellent 2022 record Don’t Know What You’re in Until You’re Out, including “Born Yesterday,” “Mud,” and “Nothing,” as well as older cuts like “Twenty Twenty” and “Thank You Card.” They also debuted an energetic new song “Chaos Reigns.” The crowd – already largely familiar with Gladie – was eating it up. There was already a sizable audience despite Jeff not scheduled to go on for nearly two hours. Jeff’s crowds are unusually wholesome by design, and the love shown to Gladie was special.

On deck after Gladie was Sidney Gish, and let’s be real, if you’re reading Allston Pudding then you’re probably already a Gishhead. The crowd was too, who were all in as Gish played through a hits-heavy set. Though not a native, Gish’s whole career is intertwined with the Boston music scene, so this hometown show was a victory lap for her. As usual, she performed solo on stage, the only backing accompaniment coming from tape. Her set pulled six songs from her album No Dogs Allowed, including a rousing version of “Persephone” and a very fun performance of “I Eat Salads Now,” with age-updated lyrics. She also pulled out a STRFKR cover and, of course, “Presumably Dead Arm,” from her other record Ed Buys Houses. The Boston crowds always love their own, and the homecoming welcome for Sidney was a wonderful set.

As for Jeff, this was the biggest show that his group Death Rosenstock have played in Boston, by a lot. This is likely going to be true for many cities on the tour, as the band aims their ambitions high. To match it, they played a long set, especially by punk standards – a 9:45 start time that ran straight through to the 11:30 curfew. That was enough time for 28 songs, an eclectic mix from records old and new. Four of the first five songs came from HELLMODE, with the NO DREAM banger “Scram!” thrown in for good measure. The whole new album was played throughout the night, with the proper set ending with the album’s final track, the beautiful ballad “3 SUMMERS.” There were a number of the more thoughtful, slower Jeff songs peppered throughout the set, like “HEALMODE,” “I Did Something Weird Last Night,” and “9/10” (which is not to be read as a date but is, coincidentally, the date that I am writing this). The latter is a fan favorite, proving to be one the whole crowd harmonized with. All of this is reflective of the new Rosenstock record, which is his prettiest and most balanced release yet. Jeff’s lyrics have always mastered melancholy, with a keen awareness of the passage of time. But these days, he’s tossed away the specific songs about booze and reluctant immaturity in favor of broader, more applicable themes, and the delicate balance we all walk. The last time I wrote about a Rosenstock show in this capacity was the final BTMI! show – a few months shy of a decade ago. At that gig in Brooklyn, everyone, including the band members, were drinking beyond belief and lamenting an encroaching adulthood. Now, we’re here, and Jeff’s crowds are bigger, more responsible, and younger, with the phrase “Bomb the Music Industry” either a sore subject or one that means nothing, depending on how deep each new fan digs into the Rosenstock catalog.

But Death Rosenstock are playful punks at heart, and it’s impossible for them to not have fun on stage. And as such, it’s impossible for the fans not to revel in it too. The band’s entrance music (different at each show so far) was “Chop Suey!,” and the fans started moshing before the band was even on stage. There was bickering about birthdays, Jeff saying the openers have to be friends with him now, a brief power outage, and jokes about the gig being a BTMI reunion that doesn’t play any BTMI songs. One perennial fan (and personal) favorite “You, in Weird Cities,” Jeff grabbed a saxophone and made his way to the middle of the upper section to play a solo to the fans avoiding the pits on the floor. And there were bangers – “HEAD,” “Hey Allison!,” and “Festival Song” were graced, as was “Leave It In the Ska,” from the tongue-in-cheek album SKA DREAM, a ska rendition of the album NO DREAM. As normal, bassist John DeDomenici provided plenty of entertainment, with his overly-animated expressions and dancing.

What was truly special was the encore – for the first time on the tour, the band closed with part of the WORRY. medley, the best piece of music Rosenstock has ever written. The shortened medley consisted of “HELLLLHOOOOLE,” “June 21^st” (this one is a date), “The Fuzz,” “…While You’re Alive,” and “Perfect Sound Whatever.” It’s a set of songs that are both rollicking and poetically devastating and, when hit with it unexpectedly, my eyes didn’t entirely stay dry. It was the perfect way to cap off a night full of songs that were both raw as hell and emotionally balanced. As Jeff shouted out during the set, shout out to the sad guys. We’re all sad adults now. Nothing’s forever, dude.