Boston Calling

Far after all the year end music "best of" lists are published, I finally get around to pushing out my thoughts and a few pics from the cool first year Boston Calling music festival from 2013.  And as 2014 chugs along, I'm in the market for a new music experience that meets my complex algorithm of availability, desire and budget .  Of course, calendars are tight, weekends are dearly guarded but it's mandatory to make it to one large, genre-busting, throw down festival in a cool spot.  Hmm, the New Orleans Jazz Fest, a two weekend extravaganza with headliners Eric Clapton, Public Enemy, Aaron Nevillie, Trombone Shorty, Santaana, Phish,  Bruce Springsteen, John Fogerty, Arcade Fire and loads of New Orleans jazz just might fit the bill.

The reference to the Clash’s seminal 1979 album automatically created high expectations for Boston’s first crack at a downtown music festival in…forever.  Although the Hatch Shell on the Charles River, a few blocks away from the city center hosted a number of rock n roll events in the past (I must tell the story of the Green Day show that turned ugly another time), this might be the first multi-stage rock ‘n roll event held in the city.  Check out a modern take on the Clash's classic by some of our best rockers of this era.

The chosen festival locale, Boston’s City Hall Plaza, best known for its famously ugly architecture and home to city politicians and pop-up pro sports championship celebrations, would have to do.  With its vast open space filled with cracking red brick and bleak structures formed from some warped architect’s vision of the future, City Hall Plaza would suit, primarily because of its direct access to local public transport and ability to coexist with nearby shopping, sporting and tourist attractions.  And you could put a rented fence around it and charge $100 per day.  Not exactly Central Park or the Embarcadero (or Indio, CA) but it was surely a better option to be here than relegated to the suburban hinterlands alongside an interstate at an industrial park or stadium.  Yes, being downtown among it all would definitely work.

Who did what to whom?

Caspian kicked it hard.  A really nice start to the festivities with a local band I had never heard of in a sub-genre of rock that I am relatively unfamiliar with; post-rock.  Probably more suited for a club atmosphere but a worthy early introduction to festival activities.

Walkmen were more polished than I expected. The lead singer belted out anthems with the best of them and generally sounded kick-ass good.  Their tunes were catchy and enjoyable and I especially liked the clear, powerful lyrics.  Here they are at London Calling not Boston Calling in 2012.

We could not catch Youth Lagoon as we were too busy being underwhelmed by the perks (?) of the VIP area and associated high cost.  Access to an area of City Hall Plaza that provided no view of the smaller stage and a distant view of the main stage, some seating, a few heaters and a modestly attended bar were not enough to justify the big ticket premium.  Just not everything I would have expected, however, when a reasonably priced VIP area becomes available for any show, I strongly consider.

Big surprise for me was Dirty Projectors.  I loved their edgy guitar sounds mixed in with the sweet vocal harmonies of their two beautiful vocalists. I had heard a few of their songs and liked them but just could not imagine how they’d perform.  Well, let’s just say it worked for me.  Here's a representative peek at them pulling it off at the Pitchfork Festival in Chicago in 2012.

We had to miss Ra Ra Riot. That’s just the way things go at these things.  I heard good things about them but I didn't actually hear anything.  Another time, perhaps.

Andrew Bird was very good. Not his mostly stunning self but damn good. I’ve seen him a few times in more intimate venues and have loved him.  The stage and the time slot could have been better and I believe he played at the Sasquatch Festival the evening prior in Portland, OR.  To see classic Bird, check out this live performance at KEXP.  Someone commented on the video clip aptly: "Eargasm"

Of Monsters and Men sounded good from afar but I think we made a brief exit and got geared up for the National.  Sorry, they sound pleasant and fun but maybe a bit too paint-by-the-numbers alternative for me.  Am I being close minded and judgmental here?

The National killed it. I love their stuff and after reading about how fired up Aaron Dessner and the rest of the band was for this show, I was hooked.  They sounded polished, they looked great, the crowd was into it and they definitely delivered.  With such a great catalogue of anthems, how could they miss?  This tiny desk performance is worth a peek.

The HuffingtonPost article describes some of the show’s background, challenges and ultimately its successes.  It’s also cool to note that the city seemed to move on along at its own pace without really caring, and I mean that in a good way, about what the college kids were doing on City Hall Plaza. And college kids they were.  Maybe 20,000 of them and all were pretty fired up to have a bunch of good bands playing in one flawed yet reasonable location.  Fired enough to get a fall version of the classic and hopefully warmer weather some of the small wrinkles smoother over.

Well, it worked so well that they decided to announce another one during the show for 3 months away and it looks to be a pretty good take.  Boston (or Cambridge's) own Passion Pit will headline and although not a great fan, they seem pretty worthy.  The other headliner, Vampire Weekend, indie rock darlings that I'm not on board with, at least promise that all of those college kids with bread to spare will make it out to the next festival installment on the bricks of City Hall Plaza.  Hopefully, the fall weather will accommodate and it will survive as an annual event.