The Boston Calling music festival returned to the Harvard Athletic Complex in Allston Friday-Sunday, 12 years after it debuted at City Hall Plaza in Boston.
Some 21 bands/musicians performed each day on four stages. The biggest names played on the Green Stage, with up-and-comers and some blasts from the past on the Blue Stage. Local acts were featured on the smaller Orange Stage, and talented Berklee College of Music students shined at the indoor Arena Stage.
Here’s a look at some of this year’s memorable moments.
DAY 1 (Friday)
The rain held off until Sheryl Crow arrived on stage about 5:45 p.m. The precipitation did little to dampen the enthusiasm of her and her fans. Crow and her crackerjack longterm bandmates performed an hourlong singalong set that featured many of her biggest hits, including “If It Makes You Happy,” “All I Wanna Do” and “Are You Strong Enough To Be My Man.” It was ironically comical to hear her sing “Soak Up the Sun” while the rain intensified. When Crow removed her leather jacket, revealing a Bruce Springsteen tee-shirt, the crowd whooped and cheered. “I don’t know… Springsteen for president?”, she asked; it was the day’s only political statement. My favorite set of the day.
The showers continued as headliner Luke Combs arrived on stage after a 20-minute rain delay. “When it Rains it Pours” and “Cold as You” were appropriate fan favorites early in the country superstar’s 90-minute set. Combs, backed by his excellent, red-hot band, aced his cover of Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car.” Rising country star Megan Moroney, wearing a Red Sox jersey, joined in on “Beer Never Broke My Heart.”
Maroney appeared to be the day’s fan favorite. Hundreds of young women — sporting the singer’s blue-and-white “Am I OK?” tee-shirts, cowboy hats and boots – sang along to every word. The Georgia singer-songwriter, pretty in a pink outfit, delivered a solid, well-honed hourlong set.
Rap group TLC dropped out at the last minute “due to an unexpected medical circumstance.” Given the weather, comments about “Waterfalls” are permitted. Boston country rockers Dalton & the Sheriffs came to the rescue and made the most of their opportunity.
While country music ruled at the Green Stage, the sound of soul and gospel dominated on the Blue Stage. Infinity Song, a family band from New York City, delivered smooth 4-part harmonies and were terrific. Thee Sacred Souls, an 8-piece outfit from California, were magical, blending smooth harmonies with R&B and doo-wop flourishes.
Rapper T-Pain covered songs by diverse acts including Journey (“Don’t Stop Believing”), Pitbull, Flo Rida and DJ Khaled. Excellent!
On the local Orange Stage, Manchester, NH, band Megan From Work, led by charismatic frontwoman Megan Simon, wowed with a fun set of pop punk. Rapper Latrell James of Boston displayed an easy charisma and seems destined for a great career.
DAY 2 (Saturday)
More rain. Ugh! Unexpectedly, two of the day’s quieter acts – Lucius and James Bay – won my heart.
Lucius, an indie folk/pop band featuring lead vocalists Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig, drummer Dan Molad and guitarist Peter Lalish, were blissfully awesome. Wolfe and Laessig met at Berklee College Music, are Newport Folk Fest favorites and have also contributed vocals and performed with Joni Mitchell, Roger Waters, Brandi Carlile, John Prine, Mavis Staples and other stars.
James Bay, the award-winning British singer-songwriter who is best known for hits “Hold Back the River” and “Let it Go,” is also a darned good guitarist and commanded attention throughout his hourlong set.
Many of the day’s acts brought back happy memories of early 2000’s rock radio. Headliner Fall Out Boy (“This Ain’t a Scene, It’s an Arms Race” and “Sugar, We’re Going Down”), Avril Lavigne, The Black Crowes and All Time Low delivered crowd-pleasing sets. Cage the Elephant continues to create edgy, vibrant music and likely won a few new fans.
DAY 3 (Sunday)
Cloudy, but no rain. Yay!
Ever-reliable headliner Dave Matthews Band closed the festival on a winning note, playing fan favorites and tossing in covers of Cameo’s “Word Up,” The Isley Brothers’ “It’s Your Thing” and Dylan’s “All Along the Watchtower.”
Vampire Weekend, also on the main Green Stage, now boasts seven members and were solid in an hourlong set, blending new tunes with fabulous oldies such as “Oxford Comma” and “Diane Young.”
Californian Remi Wolf overcame early microphone feedback issues – after 10 minutes of amusing improvised banter to pass the time – to provide a thrilling set of uptempo soulful pop music.
The Blue Stage featured performances by glorious rabble-rousers Tom Morello and Public Enemy.
Morello, guitarist for Rage Against the Machine, was overtly political, standing up for hard-working Americans. The large crowd sang and clapped along to Woody Guthrie’s powerful, timely “This Land is Your Land.” Springsteen’s “The Ghost of Tom Joad” and John Lennon’s “Power to the People” also were rallying cries. Fists were raised in solidarity. If President Trump was incensed by Springsteen’s comments to concertgoers, he’d likely have a brain aneurysm after hearing Morello’s pronouncements.
Public Enemy’s Chuck D and Flavor Flav, accompanied by two DJs, still bring the noise. “Fight the Power,” a call to action against racism and oppression, remains a powerful and provocative anthem. In July, the duo will perform at Newport Folk, long a champion of inclusivity and freedom of expression. It should be amazing.
Three bands unknown to me were so impressive I’ve started a deep dive into their music. Two are Boston-based and would be great additions to the Newport lineup in 2026.
Nate Perry and Ragged Company, a tight quintet with rootsy Americana/Springsteen flavors, delivered a toe-tapping, butt-shaking 30 minute show. Copilot, a folk-rock 6-piece band, features three lead singers and a collection of well-written/well-performed songs.
The third band, Goth Babe, led by Tennessee native Griff Washburn, created a late-afternoon dance party at the Green Stage. Two sidekicks fleshed out the sound (programmed percussion and synth keyboards) to create a winning atmosphere. It was the weekend’s most enjoyable performance.
