ONCE Ballroom isn’t a basement venue, nor the bedroom of cramped Allston flophouse, nor a decades-old favorite of the Boston scene (just yet). But for Bellows, it’s the best place to play a gig (and grab and a taco, probably) in the area. Which, to be honest, is high praise, especially because the project’s Oliver Kalb also tours frequently in the area with Ó (formerly known as eskimeaux).
So as Bellows get set to play the Boston area again, the location is no surprise.
“As always, it’s at my favorite venue in your already cool city, ONCE Somerville,” Kalb writes on Facebook, barely containing his excitement for Bellows’ upcoming gig this Sunday (July 16) with BIG UPS, Lilith, and Hextet. “It’s gonna be a really special one y’all.”
Kalb’s orchestral dream-pop outfit — or “glo fi” group, for short — released its most recent palliative LP, Fist & Palm, in September, but the live music video for the album’s seasonal ode “Spring Summer Autumn Winter” just dropped last month via Spaze Sessions, the YouTube channel of Syracuse basement venue Space Camp.
Given their musical company, Bellows is on the underground up-and-up; Kolb has ties to Ó, who has ties to Frankie Cosmos, who has ties to Porches… and well, you get the idea.
The show on Sunday will offer a gratifying peek into the who’s who of basement indie, with the added musical therapy of Bellow’s pacific arsenal of tunes. And we highly doubt that it will have a sordid ending.
BELLOWS + LILITH + BIG UPS + HEXPET :: Sunday, July 23 at ONCE Ballroom, 156 Highland Ave. in Somerville, MA :: 7:30 p.m., 18-plus, $10 in advance and $13 at the door :: ONCE event page :: Advance tickets