Been Stellar managed to alter reality riff by riff during their show at Cafe 939 in Boston. The indie rock band transformed the atmosphere with their dreamlike performance, making it an unforgettable memory for everyone who attended.
Basking in the electric blue stage lights of the venue, Been Stellar made a soul-touching impression through one of their hit songs “Pumpkin.” With their signature hazy, reverbed instrumental tone, they captured the feeling of a memory and flooded it into the ears of everyone at Cafe 939. Looking around, every person there was completely lost in the music, dancing as if they were the only person left on Earth, moshing to the pace of the beat. This phenomenon followed throughout every song, the intensity only growing. Sam Slocum’s singing was passionate, and the way he melted into the mic made it hard to look away. His raspy vocals sent shivers of nostalgia that night, perfectly portraying an edgy, youthful telling of the passing of time that “Pumpkin” focuses on. Every instrument felt in sync with the music, seamlessly blending the sound of the bass, guitar, drums, and vocals into a beautifully hazy dream. Even Slocum’s use of the tambourine, often resting around his arm like a bracelet, fell perfectly into place within Been Stellar’s puzzle. Nico Brunstein, along with Slocum, both made a cute shoutout to their family members that were supporting them within the crowd. The concert felt intimate, especially knowing that they were not only performing for the people of Boston, but for their loved ones as well.
Upbeat, rebellious songs like “Manhattan Youth” switched up the vibes in between their more mellow songs. Embracing their New York origins, it felt as if Been Stellar brought a piece of NYC into Boston. The fast paced drums, coupled with the patterns of the electric guitar had everyone dancing along. At one point, people started grabbing stranger’s hands to mosh together. Been Stellar brought out a new side of the crowd, forcing people to experience the performance not only on an individual level, but also as a group of humans enjoying music simultaneously. A favorite moment of the show was during “Kids 1995”, when Slocum sings the line “Who takes that second? / Or a minute?” There are only a few moments where he smiles during the performance, and this was one of them. He sings those two questions with a slight smirk on his face that felt so endearing and real. Maybe he was lost in the memory of the song, or maybe he simply just felt a rush of joy from the act of performing, but this little smile made the music feel so human.
At one point, Been Stellar shouts out one of the songs towards someone in the crowd who had been dancing so enthusiastically throughout the show, clearly showing how the band takes the time to appreciate their fans and recognize their crowd instead of solely just performing. It’s super important during concerts for a band/artist to create a safe space for people to be who they are without fear of judgement, to forge a bond with the crowd, and to mold the environment with their music – and that is exactly what Been Stellar did.
Nothing felt robotic or boring – it felt real and raw. The adrenaline of the music was running laps throughout the venue and the veins of the attendees the whole entire time.
