[dropcap]W[/dropcap]ith the inaugural Boston Calling Music Festival riding sold-out momentum heading towards City Hall Plaza this weekend, there are ways for people around town to take part without actually going to the festival itself. A trio of loosely affiliated events have sprung up around the clubs, providing good-time nightcaps for the day performances this Saturday and Sunday. Here’s where to find us once the sun sets:
CHARLI XCX @ Great Scott
The UK’s future queen of electro-pop has been touring with Marina & the Diamonds, but with Marina booked for Boston Calling, the co-writer of Icona Pop’s mega-hit “I Love It” is filling the down time by playing a club gig in Allston. The joint should go batshit when Ms Charlotte Aitchison launches into her 2013 Song of the Year contender, “You (Ha Ha Ha).” 9pm 21+ $15
BAD RABBITS (DJ set) @ Good Life
At 1pm on Saturday, Boston Calling officially kicks off with some local love by Kimmel-favorites Bad Rabbits. Nine hours later, just as fun. finish the job at City Hall, the Rabbits descend on Good Life downtown for their American Dream Memorial Day Weekend Bash, with guitarist Salim Akram (aka DJ Ask A Black Dude) joining Brek.One in the DJ booth, spinning hip-hop, boogie funk, and dance cuts in the upstairs room. We’re likely to hear a few jams off Bad Rabbits’ American Love LP, which last week topped the iTunes R&B chart right after its release. Buy these guys a drink; this will be a *party* in the truest sense. 10pm 21+ $10 ($5 before 11pm)
THE WALKMEN @ The Sinclair
So you might be standing around at City Hall on Sunday afternoon, watching New York’s the Walkmen play “The Rat” (do they still play the Rat? I hope they still play “The Rat”), thinking to yourself, “Man, I saw this at the Middle East a few years ago, I wish I was at a club hearing this song again.” Fear not, young buck: the Walkmen close out the weekend’s festivities with an official Boston Calling “aftershow” at the Sinclair in Harvard Square. You might have a lot of nerve asking for a favor, but with no school the next day, it’s possible to extend the Boston Calling love well towards midnight. 9pm 18+ $25