One of Mass’ newest music festivals returned to Somerville with a powerhouse line-up. Davis Square was full of eager fans and exciting local music, making for an unmissable event.
Saturday was a massive day for Nice, A Fest. Nice has been going on since 2021 and has been getting better since. Prioritizing local bands, Nice has been a fantastic way for Boston and the surrounding scenes to come together and shine a light on the abundant underappreciated talent and an excuse to bring some of the city’s legends back home.
Indie Rock Rollercoaster: PILE
Searing guitar riffs and dynamic drums dominated the city blocks surrounding the main stage, gravitating festival-goers towards the main stage. Boston band Pile played old and new songs, starting mellow with “Worms.” They then built up the energy with the heavy-hitting and raucous tracks like “The Jones,” whose vaguely bluesy rhythm gave the song a swing. Pile repeatedly gave love to the city with shoutouts to the band’s hometown in between sets. The crowd lit up when they played the fan favorite “Prom Song,” from 2012’s “Dripping.” The band’s two guitarists, Rick Maguire and Matt Connery, played opposing guitar solos that seamlessly melded into one another. Fans swayed while banging their heads to this electric setlist.
“Sorry Mom”: BAY FACTION
Bay Faction vocalist James McDermott embodied the indie sleaze ethic when he took the main stage after Pile, donning blackout shades, black jeans, and a tank top. Their set matched the energy, with a sound ripped straight out of 2010s indie-pop. The Boston natives roused the crowd with an uptempo dance beat paired with toned-down vocals. The angsty-party vibes carried through their set as they played bops like “Are You In The Mood?,” McDermott stopped to apologize to his mom before playing the messy “Sasquatch.22.” The band’s infectious drums and melodic guitar made it impossible not to dance.
Crying in the Sunshine: PALEHOUND
Palehound soothed the crowd with their signature bare-bones indie sound on full display on the main stage. The lead vocalist and guitarist, El Kempner, took center stage, showing off their skills while tugging at heartstrings. They played “Room,” whose gloomy mood translated unexpectedly well to a live setting. Drummer Larz Brogan gently carried fans as Kempner delivered serene and melancholic lyrics with a repeating riff. The band played “Good Sex,” keeping the pace. The constant beat mimicked a heartbeat as Kempner’s spoken lyrics captivated the crowd, all swaying in sync. Despite taking place in a packed, repurposed parking lot, the set still had the feeling of intimacy you get from sitting around the campfire singing songs with friends.
Back and Better Than Ever: VUNDABAR
Indie-pop legends Vundabar were the final set on the main stage, where they blew the crowd away with throwbacks and unreleased work. Their set began as the sun was setting, like an unofficial start to the party. The band had a casual and fun stage presence, joking between songs and fixing sound levels mid-intro. They played fan favorites, including ”Ash in the Sun,” and “Alien Blues.” Their fuzzy and occasionally twangy guitars sounded surreal as they were served to the audience over complex but catchy drums. The stage lights went wild as the crowd sang and hung on to every word of the song. Fans chanted for an encore a few minutes after the set, prompting the band to give them what they wanted. “We are so back,” said lead singer Brandon Hagen as he brought the band back out to play some unreleased tracks. Fans ate up the upbeat debut, leaving them exhausted from the non-stop dancing.
Unexpected Powerhouse Performance: OVLOV
Due to unforeseen circumstances, Grass is Green could not make it, so renowned indie rock band Ovlov swooped in to save the day, shocking fans. The Connecticut band appeared at the Crystal Ballroom after Gymshorts’ set. They jokingly referred to themselves as “the replacements,” playfully avoiding informing the crowd of their true identity. Regardless of the last-minute nature of their set, they still put on a crazy show. One of the opening tracks was “Grape,” a gritty and dissonant song that cements their shoegaze reputation. They played some of their well-known songs as well, like “Strokes,” which livened the crowd, dancing, pushing, and shoving under the flashing green lights.
Late Night Mosh Pit: BURP.
To close off the night, Lowell band Burp. took the stage. Despite starting well into the evening, beginning their set at 11:15, fans were still energetic. “Can I play another bad song for you?” asked lead vocalist and guitarist Leo Folan before leading into “Do You Notice,” which starts slow but builds to explosive verses and riffs. The crowd pushed and banged their heads to songs like “Sorry About Joe,” an upbeat yet aggressive song that had some audience members skanking. They closed with “When You Come Around,” whose screamed outro was a perfect finish to a day of mind-blowing music from local artists.