Whether a headliner or first timer, a local or out-of-towner, every act that played the Boston Calling Music Festival, from May 23 to 25, arrived prepped and ready to put on their best performances for audiences of thousands.
While concertgoers saw the performances, what they didn’t see were the countless hours of rehearsal and preparation devoted to making the festival a success.
Members of an indie rock band from Oklahoma, Wilderado, preferred being underprepared for the event.
“It never goes the way you want,” said Max Rainer, guitarist and lead singer. “Don’t expect much, and everything is so much better.”
Rainer said the band’s goal is to make the audience “feel at home” with them.
Guitarist and vocalist Tyler Wimpee said booking festivals can be “run and gun.” Thus, Wilderado curated their Boston Calling setlist by choosing songs that best represented the band for audience members who don’t know who they are, he said.
“There’s no way to please everyone, and you hate to say it, but the only real way to do it is please yourself,” Rainer said. “Hopefully, it comes across as a holistic experience, not just about playing karaoke on your own.”
For indie pop group, I Don’t Know How But They Found Me, the members live in separate states. Though the band doesn’t rehearse together often, they bond through a pre-show ritual.
This is referred to as a “bird-up,” where the band members shake hands, link their thumbs to create a wing shape and move them up into the air to mimic wings flapping, singer-songwriter Dallon Weekes said.
Weekes said it’s important to prioritize individual practice and trust that everything will come together.
For other performers, it’s a lengthier process.
Maggie Hall, singer of New England-based Americans-pop band Copilot, said the band has long aspired to play Boston Calling.
“It’s a dream,” Hall said. “It’s always been a bucket list [item], something we’ve been hoping [and] striving for, and the fact that we’re here together means a lot.”
Ever since the band got the call to perform, they spent a lot of time practicing at The Record Co, a local production studio
Prior to each set, every member of Copilot puts their index finger into the center, like an all hands-in cheer before a sports game, signifying the band’s goal for their first track to hit one million streams.
“We’re manifesting, all right?” said guitarist and singer Ry McDonald.
Art rock band Sidebody began practicing, building their set and preparing their setlist after receiving word eight months ago that they would be performing, said drummer, singer and bassist Martha Schnee.
Schnee said Sidebody crafted a special set for Boston Calling, playing off the festival’s name with a literal phone theme. The band wore handmade costumes by designer Emma Fritschel, which were inspired by the bright colors of children’s television shows and old phones.
Vocalist Hava Horowitz wore a sash with a hotline number that read “Call me,” inviting fans to call in and share their Boston-based stories. The band plans to turn those stories into a song, Schnee said.
“Boston Calling. They called,” Schnee said. “They called us.”
With friends and family at the festival to watch them play, Copilot singer and tambourinist Jake Machell was elated to perform at Boston Calling.
“You’d think with the amount of times over the last handful of months that people have been like, ‘Are you stoked for Boston Calling?’ that answer might change a little bit. It [hasn’t],” Machell said. “It’s just gotten more crazy and more exciting. I’m as excited now as I have ever been.”
Kate Kotlyar contributed reporting.
