From Boston Calling 2024: Saturday Sound Bites

The Castellows

The Georgia-born band of sisters Eleanor, Lily, and Powell Castellow were the first act to grace the Green Stage on Saturday at Boston Calling. After a faulty start riddled with mic issues, the trio bounced back with ease. Their southern roots blossomed in tunes like “I Know It’ll Never End” and a cover of Levon Helm’s “Hurricane,” both which included rich three-part harmonies. Powell’s banjo came in hot with impressive fingerpicking that was matched by the energy of Ellie’s lead guitar. Along with the shake of Lily’s tambourine, the trio brought their unique twang to the second day of the music festival.

Bad Rabbits performed at Boston Calling on Saturday, May 25. By Courtesy of Gwendolyn M. Ibarra

Bad Rabbits

As the sun beat down on the Happy Valley Red Stage at the Harvard Athletic Complex, Boston-born Bad Rabbits had the home advantage. The band’s highly-anticipated return after their last appearance at Boston Calling eleven years ago was a testament to their growth and the refinement of their sound. The group is composed of members Salim Akram, Santiago Araujo, Fredua Boakye, Sheel Davé, and Graham Masser. Throughout the set, lead vocalist Boakye jumped around the stage, swinging a keffiyeh wrapped around his mic stand in the air. Amidst a swath of country music acts, the band’s alternative rock and rap sound shone.

After an afternoon of hillbilly and folk music, the Texan musician Tanner Usrey brought Southern bluegrass and rock ‘n’ roll to the Allianz Blue Stage. By Courtesy of Gwendolyn M. Ibarra

Tanner Usrey

“This is a song about making up,” Tanner Usrey said before the first strum of his two-step ballad, “With You.”

After an afternoon of hillbilly and folk music, the Texan musician brought Southern bluegrass and rock ‘n’ roll to the Allianz Blue Stage. Usrey’s band reminisced on the sounds of greats, from Stevie Ray Vaughn’s epic guitar to George Strait’s honky-tonk. Usrey’s deep voice during “Take Me Home” complemented the guitars with moving belts and solos. The performance was a perfect fit for the country fans in Saturday’s audience.

Bostonian band Paper Lady performed at Boston Calling on Saturday. By Courtesy of Gwendolyn M. Ibarra

Paper Lady

The haunting sound of indie-rock band Paper Lady provided a change of pace in the middle of Saturday’s country lineup. The band consists of Bostonians Alex Castile, Will Davila, Kenzo Divic, Rowan Martin, and Alli Raina, who were joined by live member Brady Dallas Jones. During the track “Eve,” the band played spectacularly as the piercing cry of lead vocalist Raina cut through the powerful sounds of the keys and guitar. Raina’s blazing attitude was akin to Lewis Carroll’s Red Queen — an archetype that the band further embodied during their cover of Jefferson Airplane’s “White Rabbit.” The effervescent spectacle of Paper Lady’s chemistry culminated in a grand finish complete with dissonant, epic shredding from the guitars.

The final artist to perform on the Allianz Blue Stage was Saturday’s headliner Jessie Murph. By Courtesy of Gwendolyn M. Ibarra

Jessie Murph

The final artist to perform on the Allianz Blue Stage was Saturday’s headliner Jessie Murph. Just moments before the sun went down, Murph’s elaborate stage design of stacked speakers and lights illuminated the audience. As she scaled the speakers, Murph held fans’ attention with an earnest smile. At times, she paused the set to wave and acknowledge her deep connection to her fanbase. Where her vocals faltered, Murph’s stage presence and warmth persevered.

“Anybody here got an ex from Texas?” asked Murph.

“Well, this is for you,” she said before singing the track “Texas.” Lyrics of heartbreak, cowboys, and love were caught between punctuated by moments of rapping and pauses in songs that tiptoed between soul, R&B, and rock.

—Staff writer Gwendolyn M. Ibarra can be reached at gwendolyn.ibarra@thecrimson.com.