Touring in celebration of her new album, Say a Prayer to the Gods of Getting Going, Squirrel Flower (Ella Williams) played Crystal Ballroom in Somerville along with touring partner youbet. Fans who braved the night’s dreary nor’easter were rewarded with youbet’s energetic and expressive rock cuts (notably featuring two onstage shaker players), as well as Squirrel Flower’s headlining performance.
Squirrel Flower’s set mostly featured songs from her latest record, but deep cuts like “Not Your Prey” from 2018’s Contact Sports and “Red Shoulder” from 2020’s I Was Born Swimming were interspersed throughout as a treat for longtime fans. Live features from Williams’ family members singularized her Somerville show. The studio version of the album’s closing track “Weightless, Untethered” features bass from Williams’ father, Jesse, who joined the band onstage for the song’s live rendition. She followed his bass performance by adding her siblings into the fold, closing the memorable night out as their family band, uncommon rat.
