Chili Peppers coming, Model/Actriz going
CALLING KIEDIS
It’s way too easy to slam Boston Calling for inviting Red Hot Chili Peppers and some other band from the ’90s—Foo Fighters?—to headline their spectacular in 2020. Everybody knows it is a cornucopia of corny—including fans of those bands. Trust us, we know a lot of them, and what’s clear is that the team behind Boston Calling wants to know a whole lot of them too.
Hey, it’s not like the whole fest will be a throwback endeavor, and you kind of have to admit that after paying God knows how much money through the years for their kids to hit Boston Calling, it’s only right that mom and dad get a chance to smuggle their recreational weed onto the Harvard grounds, even if only for this season. What’s more likely, though, is that we’ll see nostalgic streaks like this every half-decade or so, as it reminds us a bit of the 2014 lineup with the Roots and the Replacements.
Like we said, we know some old folks too.
MODEL/ACTRIZ PICKED FOR SXSW
We recently checked in with Horse Jumper of Love about their being selected as an official South by Southwest pick, and so it was only proper to follow up with esteemed noise unit Model/Actriz, the only other act from these parts chosen to play the massive career-boosting bash in Austin next March.
When did you find out that you got picked?
We played an Alt Citizen zine release show in New York in August with perennial fave Dreamcrusher, and shortly after they asked us if we were interested in playing at their showcase for SXSW.
What was your reaction? Is this something that you were kind of expecting?
We were waiting around to be plucked from obscurity and then we got the email we’d been picked. We actually tend to keep our expectations pretty low, [quoting musician Dan Radlauer] “expectations are the seeds of disappointment.” We were pleased.
Have you played unsanctioned SXSW shows before? Or even been down there just to check out other acts?
No to both. We’ve been to Austin once and our friend Maddo (who drove from Houston for a show) was denied entry, which was a bummer but the other four people inside were pretty cool.
What does an opportunity like this mean to you?
We’re not cashing checks before they’ve been written. We’ve got a long to-do list.
How do you plan on preparing for the haul to Austin? Think you’ll drive? Fly? Hitchhike?
We’re writing new music and it better be fucking good so hopefully that’ll make the drive feel shorter.
What kind of set do you intend on bringing there?
The set will be almost entirely new.
AND THE PERFORMERS ARE…
Disclaimer: DigBoston is once again nominated for a Boston Music Award in the Music Publication of the Year category. Further disclaimer: We’d love the BMAs even if our only reason for attending was the live music. Here’s the lineup for Dec 11: Lord Felix, Future Teens, Jefe Replay, House of Harm, Najee, Janey, $ean Wire, Optic Bloom, Hawthorn, Jiles, Brandie Blaze, Roy Juno, and more. Plus a very special tribute to Ric Ocasek and the Cars.
We’ve written about several of them already, including deep features on Brandie Blaze and Jefe Replay, and we look forward to covering the rest in the coming months. Until then…
BOSTON MUSIC AWARDS AT HOUSE OF BLUES, BOSTON. 12.11. LIMITED TICKETS STILL AVAILABLE AT BOSTONMUSICAWARDS.COM/TICKETS.
Dig Staff means this article was a collaborative effort. Teamwork, as we like to call it.
