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We Rocked Out at Boston Calling Music Festival May 23-25, 2014 [Zumic Live Review + Photos]

Karl-Lydie Jean-Baptiste

by Karl-Lydie Jean-Baptiste

Published May 27, 2014

Boston-Calling-Music-Festival-May-2014-Zumic

As someone who grew up in the Boston area and spent many weekends enjoying the activities at City Hall Plaza, I wasn’t entirely sure how Boston Calling would work. Now, after experiencing it, I know the holiday weekend festival is a well-oiled machine. The short transitions between acts meant more dancing, and numerous local vendors ensured all of your long weekend needs were met.

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The Neighbourhood sang "Jealou$y" and "Lurk" from their upcoming mixtape at Boston Calling

This year, Boston Calling packed 23 acts into three days. Each day, 22,000 music lovers filled the fenced-off area in the center of the city. The festival managed to provide a healthy mix of seasoned musicians like Death Cab for Cutie, Built to Spill, and Modest Mouse, while including newer acts like The Neighbourhood, Bastille, and Boston natives, Magic Man.

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Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros frontman Alex Ebert at Boston Calling

It was a breezy 54 degrees on the first night as Cass McCombs took the stage, but that didn’t stop beach balls from soaring over the crowd. Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros frontman Alex Ebert had enough energy for everyone. He kept the crowd alert by coming off the stage to greet them and dancing with the photographers in front.

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Day 1: Jack Johnson at Boston Calling

Before Jack Johnson’s performance, new Boston mayor Marty Walsh came out with words of encouragement for the already excited crowd. The night ended with a duet between Johnson and current tourmate Ebert singing “Rocky Raccoon” by The Beatles.

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English band Maximo Park made their US festival debut at Boston Calling
Day two included the US festival debut of English alt-rock band Maximo Park. Canada's Walk off the Earth performed their impressive one guitar cover of Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used To Know.”

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Jenny Lewis at Boston Calling

Wearing retro sunglasses and a rainbow-colored suit that matched her guitar Jenny Lewis included two Rilo Kiley songs -- “Close Call” and “Better Son or Daughter” -- in her set.

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Frank Turner had the crowd doing jumping jacks as he sang "Recovery" at Boston Calling

Frank Turner made one fan’s dream come true, when he brought him on stage to play the harmonica solo for “Dan’s Song.” A little rain didn’t stop The Decemberists from performing a career-spanning set, and two new songs, “Lake Song” and “Philomena.” Death Cab for Cutie brought the night to an end with the calming “Marching Bands of Manhattan” as the last song of their encore.

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Day 3: Tigerman WOAH! transported the crowd down south at Boston Calling

As the sun broke through the clouds, The Box Tiger kicked off the final day of Boston Calling. Then Tigerman WOAH!, hailing from Lynn, MA, transported the crowd down south with their raspy, banjo-driven folk rock.

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Kurt Vile and the Violators at Boston Calling

After The District left the Red Stage, Kurt Vile and the Violators delivered a relaxing set, starting with “Wakin on a Pretty Day.”

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Built to Spill at Boston Calling

Veteran rockers Built to Spill were all about their music. There was very little banter with the crowd as lead singer Doug Martsch delivered most of the lyrics with his eyes closed.

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Bastille at Boston Calling

With only two more acts until the end of the night, Bastille made sure to keep the energy at an all-time high. As usual, Dan made his way through the crowd singing “Flaws” and he coordinated jumping during “Of the Night,” which is a mash-up of “Rhythm of the Night” and “Rhythm Is a Dancer.”

Boston-Calling-May-2014-Modest-Mouse
Modest Mouse closed out the third night at Boston Calling

Long Island's Brand New kept the crowd's momentum going with their heavy rock sound. It wasn’t long after Brand New wrapped up that those who had been waiting since noon began chanting “Modest Mouse!” After a Memorial Day tribute led by the US Airforce Heritage of America Band playing “The Star-Spangled Banner,” it was time for the headliner.

Throughout the day, those who aren’t in the path of the speakers tend to relax and hang out like they’re at the beach. However, when Modest Mouse took the stage, there was no sitting. It was time to dance. They closed out the last day of Boston Calling with songs that spanned their 20+ year career, but most came from their Grammy-nominated album, Good News For People Who Love Bad News. After the 3-song encore, which ended with "Satin in a Coffin," some people lingered in the hopes that the night wasn't over. But as those who knew better walked away, the screens on either side of the stage displayed Boston Calling’s Fall lineup as if to say, “See you in September.”

Passes for the next installment of Boston Calling are currently available on Ticketmaster. The lineup includes Sky Ferreira, Twenty One Pilots, Nas featuring The Roots, and The National.

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Day 2: Boston natives Magic Man started the day at Boston Calling
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Warpaint at Boston Calling
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Phosphorescent at Boston Calling
Boston-Calling-May-2014-Tegan-and-Sara-2
Tegan of Tegan and Sara at Boston Calling
 
All photos by Karl-Lydie Jean-Baptiste.

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artists
Bastille Brand New Built to Spill Cass McCombs Death Cab For Cutie Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls Jack Johnson Jenny Lewis Magic Man Maximo Park Modest Mouse Phosphorescent Tegan and Sara The Decemberists The Districts The Head and The Heart The Neighbourhood Walk Off the Earth Warpaint
genres
Alt Rock Americana Indie Pop Rock
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