Like every other festival, Boston Calling had to cancel in 2020, but it’s returning to Memorial Day Weekend at the Harvard Athletic Complex, Friday-Sunday, May 27th-29th:
FRIDAY, MAY 27th
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Green Stage |
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Nine Inch Nails, 9:00 PM The most successful and well-known industrial band ever, Trent Reznor’s Nine Inch Nails (QRO photos) are legends in quality as well. The group was loud & angry in debut Pretty Hate Machine and “Head Like a Hole” before grunge was a ‘thing’, and has kept up that spirit ever since. Yes, they inspired countless imitators, but NIN themselves never fell into a Downward Spiral. The iconic nineties act (QRO spotlight on) managed to stay relevant in the new century/millennium with such creations as the inspired underground viral alternate reality game/marketing campaign Year Zero, but went into hiatus in 2009 while Reznor worked on other projects, such as the Oscar-winning score for The Social Network (and American version of Girl With a Dragon Tattoo), work on Dave Grohl’s Sound City documentary (QRO soundtrack review) and …Like Clockwork (QRO review) by Queens of the Stone Age, plus new group How To Destroy Angels (QRO album review). But the unholy Nine Inch Nails has risen again, from 2013’s excellent Hesitation Marks (QRO review) to 2020’s Ghosts V: Together & Ghosts IV: Locusts. Be sure to catch NIN (QRO photos) headlining Boston Calling (QRO photos headlining a ’22 festival), as it’s an experience you will never forget, guaranteed. |
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HAIM, 6:10 PM Sisters Este, Danielle, and Alana Haim, along with drummer Dash Hutton (QRO photos at a festival), only started putting out music in 2013, but have already been turning heads (QRO photos), thanks to great single “Don’t Save Me” and debut full-length, Days Are Gone (QRO review). They come back to Boston Calling (QRO photos at a festival) for a third time (QRO photos at a festival), after the release of 2017’s follow-up Something To Tell You (QRO review) and 2020’s excellent Women In Music Pt. III (QRO review). Oh, and Alan became a movie star this year with Licorice Pizza… |
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The Struts, 4:05 PM Everything old is new again, so embrace the unabashed glam classic-rock revival of The Struts (QRO spotlight on). In 2020, they (QRO interview) recruited a murder’s row of guest stars as they brought “Another Hit of Showmanship” (QRO review) with Strange Days (QRO review), and now back to Strut at Boston Calling (QRO photos at a festival). |
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Grandson, 2:30 PM Canadian singer/songwriter Jordan Edward Benjamin comes Boston Calling as Grandson, behind 2020’s Death of an Optimist (QRO photos). |
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Delta Airlines Blue Stage |
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Avril Lavigne, 7:40 PM The pop-punk queen of the early aughts (QRO photo gallery), Avril Lavigne’s “Let Go” was the best-selling album of the twenty-first century by a Canadian artist, with singles like “Complicated” and “Sk8er Boi”. And she’s kept on rocking, most recently with a return to her punk roots in this year’s Love Sux (QRO live review the week prior). |
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Oliver Tree, 5:50 PM DJ/rapper Oliver Tree hit it up in 2017 with “When I’m Down”, and has worked with the likes of Whethan on “Freefall” (QRO review). Now he comes to Boston, behind this year’s sophomore full-length Cowboy Tears. |
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Also: Paris Texas, 4:35 PM Mob Rich, 3:25 PM Pom Pom Squad, 2:20 PM |
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Red Stage |
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RÜFÜS DU SOL, 7:20 PM Sydney’s RÜFÜS DU SOL – a group, not a person – come to Boston Calling behind 2018’s Solace, which ‘only’ hit #2 in their native Australia, unlike prior Aussie chart-toppers 2016’s Bloom and 2013’s Atlas. |
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Cheap Trick, 5:00 PM Boston Calling celebrates some classic rock with Cheap Trick (QRO photos). Certainly classic (QRO photos), with songs like “I Want You To Want Me” and “Surrender”. While never as big in America as they are in Japan (epitomized in their Live at Budokan album – QRO live review of 35th anniversary performance), they’re still one of our classics (QRO photos at a festival), and even have new material like 2017’s We’re All Right! (QRO review). |
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The Backseat Lovers, 3:10 PM Utah’s Backseat Lovers (QRO live review) make like Mitt Romney and come to Massachusetts (or did he go the other way around?). |
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Paris Jackson, 2:00 PM Come early to Boston Calling to catch Paris Jackson, the daughter of the King of Pop, Michael (which would make her the Princess of Pop?…). |
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Tivoli Audio Orange Stage |
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Born Without Bones, 6:55 PM Avenue, 5:20 PM Miranda Rae, 4:10 PM The Chelsea Curve, 2:55 PM |
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SATURDAY, MAY 28th
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Green Stage |
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Nine Inch Nails, 9:00 PM Unfortunately, The Strokes had to cancel last minute due to a COVID outbreak, but do not fear – Nine Inch Nails are gonna play a whole new second set! They were already filling in for Foo Fighters on Friday (R.I.P., Taylor Hawkins), and now they’re doing double-duty, because they’d rather die than give COVID control. |
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Black Pumas, 6:40 PM Eric Burton and Adrian Quesada have quickly launched into the big-time as Black Pumas. Their psychedelic soul brought them a Grammy nomination as Best New Artist, and their 2019 self-titled debut was nominated for Album of the Year. They’ve even played the inauguration activities for President Joe Biden and last year’s Tibet House Benefit (QRO live review), albeit virtually, but since then they’ve been active on the road (QRO 2021 photos), including festivals (QRO photos at a festival), now coming to Boston Calling (QRO photos at a ’22 festival). |
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HINDS, 2:15 PM From all the way over in Madrid, female foursome HINDS (QRO photos at a festival) have been charming folks on both sides of the Atlantic with their cheery, if not very original, garage-rock, like on 2020’s The Prettiest Curse. |
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Delta Airlines Blue Stage |
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EARTHGANG, 7:30 PM Atlanta hip hop duo EARTHGANG (QRO photos) is rappers Olu (a.k.a. Johnny Venus) and WowGr8 (a.k.a. Doctur Dot). They released a trio of EPs before 2019’s acclaimed Mirrorland, and now come to Boston Calling. |
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Orville Peck, 6:10 PM While it’ll likely be quite hot at Boston Calling in this global warming extended summer, don’t expect the unknown cowboy Orville Peck (QRO photos at a festival) to take off his signature fringe mask, which has gotten him a ton of attention (including from none other than Lady Gaga). So, check out Peck (QRO photos at a ’21 festival) live to see whether or not he’s all mask, no cattle…
Also: Charlotte Sands, 2:20 PM |
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Red Stage |
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Run the Jewels, 7:40 PM El-P blew up the Brooklyn rap scene with 2013’s Cancer 4 Cure (QRO review of release party), and brought about his team-up with Killer Mike (QRO photos at a festival) for 2012’s ‘Into the Wild’ tour. Mike & P have deepened that connection (QRO photos at a festival), working together as Run the Jewels (QRO photos at a festival) for four critically acclaimed records, most recently 2020’s critically- and commercially-acclaimed Run the Jewels 4. It’s been really enjoyable watching this duo just love life as they get bigger & bigger, as they come back to Boston Calling (QRO photos at Boston Calling ’15) for a third time. |
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KennyHoopla, 6:00 PM Cleveland rapper KennyHoopla (QRO photos at a festival) asks, How Will I Rest in Peace if I’m Buried by a Highway? |
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Also: Celisse, 3:00 PM Julie Rhodes, 1:30 PM |
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Tivoli Audio Orange Stage |
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Van Buren Records, 6:55 PM Dutch Tulips, 2:55 PM |
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SUNDAY, MAY 29th
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Green Stage |
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Metallica, 8:40 PM The definition of heavy metal and the most successful band in the genre, Metallica (QRO live review) are pure headliner. The band (QRO photos) that has given us …And Justice For All, the blackest album cover since Spinal Tap, St. Anger documentary (and… Lulu – QRO review), and split ears worldwide (QRO photos). They (QRO photos) come to headline Boston Calling behind 2016’s Hardwired… to Self-Destruct, but don’t worry, they also play from classics like …And Justice For All (QRO remastered edition review). And while they can certainly do intimate events (QRO live review from intimate ’21 show – QRO photos at an intimate show), you know you want them epic. |
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Glass Animals, 6:05 PM Out of Oxford and discovered by Adele’s producer, Glass Animals (QRO live review) bring their more mixed indie (QRO photos outdoors) on 2020’s Dreamland back to the road (QRO 2021 live review – QRO 2022 photos) to Boston Calling (QRO photos at a festival). |
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Cults, 3:50 PM When Cults (QRO photos) broke out in 2010 with infectious single “We Go Outside”, they’d achieved the near impossible: being famous without anyone knowing anything about them (QRO photos outdoors). Since then, the wall of silence has broken down (QRO photos), with the catchy sixties male/female duo recruiting a band (QRO photos outdoors at a festival), playing South-by-Southwest (QRO photos), and signing to major label Sony for 2011’s Cults (QRO review). But even if you’ve got a face (QRO photos outdoors) to put to the un-Google-able name (QRO photos at a festival), they’re still a hook-laden band (QRO photos at a festival), who come back to Boston Calling (QRO photos at Boston Calling ’13) behind 2013’s Static (QRO review) and 2020’s Hosts (QRO review). |
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Also: Peach Tree Rascals, 2:15 PM |
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Delta Airlines Blue Stage |
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Goose, 7:35 PM From just down in Connecticut, jam festival mainstay Goose (QRO photos at a ’22 festival) hit Beantown at Boston Calling. |
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Ripe, 5:50 PM Jam out with Ripe at Boston Calling (QRO photos at a ’21 festival). |
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Japanese Breakfast, 4:35 PM The solo project of Michelle Zauner (QRO photos at a festival), Japanese Breakfast (QRO photos outdoors) already brought Soft Sounds from Another Planet (QRO review) in 2017, and last year wowed the world with Jubilee (QRO review) and Crying in H Mart: A Memoir, including a wonderful return to touring (QRO 2021 photos) with her beautiful show, gong included (QRO photos at a ’22 festival). |
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Also: DJO, 3:25 PM Cliff Notez, 2:15 PM |
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Red Stage |
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Weezer, 7:15 PM For a long time, the new output from Weezer (QRO photos at a festival) like 2010’s Hurley (QRO review) and Death To False Metal (QRO review) or the previous year’s Raditude (QRO review) wasn’t up to their nineties classics (and 2008’s red album-covered self-titled – QRO review – couldn’t hold a candle to the blue- and green-covered earlier Weezers – QRO blue Weezer live review – or Pinkerton – QRO deluxe edition review), but they still played those nineties classics like “My Name Is Jonas” (QRO video), “Say It Ain’t So” (QRO video), “Buddy Holly” (QRO video), “No One Else” (QRO video), “Surf Wax America” (QRO video), “Falling For You” (QRO video), and “Dope Nose” (QRO video), which can even lift later pieces like “Islands In the Sun” (QRO video) and “Beverly Hills” (QRO video). And their live show (QRO live review) – especially outdoors (QRO live review outdoors) headlining a festival (QRO photos headlining a festival) – has stayed great (QRO photos at a festival). 2014 also came Everything Will Be Alright In the End (QRO review), their best record in years & years (QRO Everything live review), then another Weezer, 2016’s white one (QRO review), another good one (QRO White Album live review). They’ve been releasing at a pretty steady pace, with 2017’s Pacific Daydream (QRO review), 2018’s Teal covers album (QRO review), 2019’s Black (QRO review), last year’s OK Human (QRO review) and big rock Van Weezer (QRO review), even this spring’s SZNZ: Spring EP (QRO review) – plus dude, Hurley (QRO photo). And their live show encompasses it all & more (QRO live review). They come back to Boston Calling (QRO photos at a festival) after last year’s epic summer baseball stadium ‘Hella Mega Tour’ (QRO live review). |
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Modest Mouse, 4:55 PM Washington State’s Modest Mouse (QRO photos) broke through to mainstream success in 2004 with Good News For People Who Like Bad News, and followed that up by adding Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr for 2007’s We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank (QRO review) – unfortunately, Marr left to join the even younger Cribs and then solo. But they’re still big and great outdoors (QRO photos at a festival), and in 2015 finally put out their first new record since Sank, Strangers To Ourselves (QRO review). They will come to back to Boston Calling (QRO photos at Boston Calling ’14) on tour (QRO 2021 live review) behind last year’s great The Golden Casket (QRO review) and single “We Are Between” (QRO review). |
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Also: Horsegirl, 2:50 PM Oompa, 1:45 PM |
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Tivoli Audio Orange Stage |
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Cam Meekins, 6:50 PM Crooked Coast, 5:20 PM Aaron and the Lord, 4:05 PM Paper Tigers, 2:50 PM |
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