During a brief pause in their set last night, And The Kids lead singer and guitarist, Hannah Mohan, asked the audience if anyone wanted to share a secret. No one volunteered, but maybe it was because we were all there appreciating one of the best-kept secrets in the local music scene. And The Kids‘ energy last night at The Sinclair, along with all-star supporting acts Kal Marks and Vundabar, demonstrated that local music is full of talented artists and you don’t have to go far to find it.
In true gig fashion, the show started half an hour late, but a courteous heads up from the staff about technical issues kept the mood light in the audience. The delay allowed the room to fill up in time for Kal Mark’s opening set. I was trying to remember the last time I saw Kal Marks, and frontman Carl Shane confirmed that it’s been a while. After a whirlwind spring tour and a brief hiatus from full-band shows, Kal Marks’ return to the big stage last night quickly made up for that lost time. Shane’s glasses and hat (but not that sweet mustache) went flying off during his first serious head bang of the night. From behind the kit, drummer Adam Berkowitz helped make this comeback truly electric with his enthusiasm and talent as a newcomer to the trio. Shane’s vocals oscillated from nasally bemoaning to raw growling. Bassist Michael Geacone laid down a heavy rumble on songs like “Life Is Murder” and “Everybody Dies” before Shane put his disguise back on and the band walked off stage.
Vundabar strutted on stage next, with frontman Brandon Hagen limbering up in his rolled-up jeans and tucked-in pocket tee. The stretching came in handy, since Hagen and bassist Grayson Kirtland spent most of their set sparring and vogue-ing while the audience went wild. Things did get a little rowdy in the crowd, but they quickly adjusted and crushed skulls were avoided per Hagen’s request. Friends and fans of Vundabar drank up all the gang vocals (and PBR), basking in the summer glow of songs from Vundabar’s last album, Gawk. From “Oulala” to “Worn/Wander” the crowd was with them, as if they were across the river in Lower Allston for the evening. Vundabar have been on the road traveling with And The Kids for a string of dates in the US and Canada, and last night’s set was their last stop together and a warm homecoming. But don’t worry; you can catch Vundabar at ONCE in Somerville next month.
Each act performed as three-pieces last night, although And The Kids’ lineup reduction was unintentional. Keyboardist Megan Miller is stuck in Canada, and Mohan, along with drummer Rebecca Lasaponaro, and bassist Taliana Katz have been continuing their tour without her.
Before And The Kids took the stage, the audience did a little reshuffling, with some of the younger attendees bailing or shrinking back to make room for a slightly older crowd. And The Kids captivated everyone right out of the gate with “Picture,” a powerful track off of their album Friends Share Lovers. Released about a month ago, Friends Share Lovers has been making waves with songs like “Cheers for Babies” and “Strange To Be.” Last night was their record release show: Boston Edition, but And The Kids played some older songs as well, like “No Countries,” a synth-inspired up-tempo jingle which they dedicated to Miller. Their set got more and more playful as the night went on, including a visit with Mohan’s adorable dog and a toilet paper streamer party, effectively TP-ing The Sinclair at the end of their set and during their one-song encore. The Western Mass. band have been rising up the ranks, quickly becoming a must-see act no matter where they play.
