Editor’s Note: Chances are, by now, we’re all aware that Boston Calling is happening this weekend across the sprawling Harvard Athletic Complex in Allston. But Vanyaland Music Editor, Boston Victoria Wasylak is filling us in on what’s happening inside the festival, covering the sights and sounds from the grounds to the stage and everything in between. As she covered Saturday’s Day 2 (May 28), a few of the live performances really stood out, and those are highlighted below. Be sure to check her report on the festival’s best selfie locations, and keep it locked to our continuing coverage throughout the weekend. — Michael Marotta
Julie Rhodes
As years past have proven time and time again, at Boston Calling, the undercard is king. Or should we say queen? Before festivalgoers were forced to evacuate the Harvard Athletic Complex due to severe weather, women ruled the stages on Saturday, starting with Boston’s own Julie Rhodes.
Before the thunder, Rhodes brought her Electric Company to the Red Stage in a (likely coincidental) stroke of irony. As her blues brightened the then-overcast afternoon, she belted a sun spell using her 2016 tune “In Your Garden” — or maybe it was more of a rain spell. “It ain’t wrong to want a little more sunshine,” she crooned, beckoning to the sun’s hidden rays, before adding “I ain’t ashamed to want a little more rain.” As it turns out, the weather gods granted Rhodes with both.
Hinds
Heavenly harmonies. Saccharine vocals. Wispy guitar riffs soft as a cloud. Then, the kicker, courtesy of singer and guitarist Carlotta Cosials on “Riding Solo”: “But if I get sentimental / It’s cuz I FUCK-ING miss you!” For a band who churns out crush-worthy confections, Hinds’ live performance on the Green Stage packed a surprising wallop. The skies cleared for the Spanish quartet on cue, as if to align with their summery garage pop. Even their jangly cover of The Clash’s “Spanish Bombs” sounded plucked from their own flowery catalog of originals.
“It’s so fucking sunny, I can’t see shit,” Ana García Perrote said as she squinted down at her keyboard. That’s what we call a damn jinx. Hinds literally stole the sunshine upon their departure from the Green Stage, and following Red Stage performer Celisse was cut short by Boston Calling’s orders to evacuate.
Charlotte Sands
Seven years ago, there was another blue-haired rising pop starlet who kicked off a stage at Boston Calling. Maybe you’ve heard of them — they go by Halsey, and their hurricane started brewing in the same way as Charlotte Sands’ hype did yesterday. As Sands opened the Delta Airlines Blue Stage on Saturday, it was hard not to draw comparisons between the two singers and their ability to pen anthems about wearing your identity on your sleeve. Halsey called her battle cry “New Americana,” and Sands titles hers “Dress,” but we reckon their upward trajectories will be shockingly similar.
Orville Peck
Actually, this is his first rodeo. After joining the original 2020 Boston Calling lineup, Orville Peck’s BC debut has been a long time coming, but the masked balladeer came out guns-a-blazin’ on the Delta Airlines Blue Stage yesterday, undeterred by the two-year wait and a 20-minute weather delay.
The South African singer provided the calm after the storm, wrapping festivalgoers in his deep, hypnotizing drawl, as he breezed through seductive selections from his 2022 album Bronco and past releases Pony and Show Pony. (Notice a theme?) Ever the man of mystery, Peck’s gallant personality radiated from underneath the golden fringe grazing his face. His cheekbones might be his best-kept secret, but he clued fans in on a different revelation: The only thing better than Orville Peck strumming the guitar is Orville Peck pouring his heart out on the piano, as he demonstrated with his swoonsome 2020 deep cut “Drive Me, Crazy.”
EARTHGANG
EARTHGANG wants more from — and for — a crowd than to simply pump their hands in the air. The duo of Olu and WowGr8 demanded that fans rub their fingers together last night, making the universally-understood money gesture to manifest “everything you need and want in 2022 to happen.” The pair’s high-energy performance at the Delta Airlines Blue Stage was the closest thing to a pep rally the Harvard Athletic Complex had witnessed all weekend. “We having fun on this side,” they encouraged the crowd to chant on “This Side,” lest folks waffling between EARTHGANG’s and Run The Jewels’ concurrent sets needed a nudge towards their interactive workshop on positivity.
Run The Jewels
We’re not saying that Run The Jewels could have stolen Nine Inch Nails’ second headlining set, but… Run The Jewels absolutely could have stolen Nine Inch Nails’ second headlining set. Picture this: The first few guitar notes of “Nobody Speak” tumbled from the speakers at the Red Stage and thousands of people did the awwwww shit sigh often heard in nature before a group performs an absolute banger. Last night marked the rap duo’s third-ever Boston Calling set, and their grip over festivalgoers has grown as tight as the fist in their logo. Trent, Atticus — no disrespect, but Killer Mike and El-P technically have more BosCall creds now. Consider yourselves lucky Run The Jewels didn’t run the final set.