Kate and I went to the Boston Calling Music Festival on the Harvard Campus during Memorial Day Weekend. We went on Sunday only and I bought tickets after it was announced that The Killers were the headliners on Sunday and that The Heavy Heavy were also performing on Sunday, two of our favorite bands!
I ended up getting us VIP tickets and it was well worth the cost. VIP gave us access to exclusive viewing areas closer to the all of the stages, airconditioned bathrooms with running water, VIP bar area, and in the VIP free water and soft drinks. The water was cans of liquid death, not what I expected but whatever it was free. Talking to others Sunday was the most attended day, the GA section was packed, and we never would have gotten as close as we did nor would we have been able to move around the grounds like we wanted too.
The set up has 4 stages, with Green being the primary followed by Red, Blue, and Orange. Red and Green were next to each other and would not have bands playing at the same time, Orange was for locals and Blue was on the other side of the grounds and had bands performing at the same time as Red & Green so you had to choose. The only band we wanted to see on the blue stage The Revivalists were moved to the Red stage, so we only watched acts on the Red and Green. What was cool is from either the Green or Red Stage VIP you could see the other stage, and the music was coming out of the speakers in both areas so you could hear everything as well.
We got parked and walked the half mile to the entrance, we got in the VIP entrance line about 1245, 15 minutes before doors opened. We got in and checked the grounds and headed to the Green Stage VIP area in preparation for The Heavy Heavy.
Stefan Thev was the first act of the day at 1:40pm on the Red Stage, they were just ok.
The Heavy Heavy were on the Green State at 2:20pm and only had 35 minutes but there absolutely killed it playing songs we loved and we got a new song as well! Their set was not long enough for me.
We headed to the food area next to get lunch and then to locate the VIP tent for our free beverages. We ended up sitting on a hay bale in the shade for a while to cool down, it was wicked hot!
We headed over to the Red stage VIP area to and caught the majority of Chappell Roan who was on the Green Stage from 4:05 - 5:05 she was fantastic which surprised Kate & I as we were not familiar. The crowd loved her as well and were very into everything! We did listen to a few of her songs the next day, and she is better live in our opinion.
Next we watched the majority of the Revivalists on the Red Stage who performed from 5:15 to 6:15. We made our way back to the Green Stage VIP for the remainder of the event
Megan Thee Stallion was on the Green Stage from 6:25 to 7:25, she went a little over. She is not my style of music but the audience LOVED her. She has not band, she sang to a supporting track with back up dancers, twerked and slapped her ass a lot and cursed up a storm. She put on a hell of a show and has amazing cardio.
Hozier was on the Red Stage from 7:35 to 9:05 and I'm glad I got see him live, but his stage show was kind of boring, and his 10 plus minute Ted Talk was unnecessary. I wouldn't go see them again.
The headliners of the day and of the weekend were The Killers on the Green Stage, we were about 40 feet from the stage, had no one crammed around us and and had an amazing time. Georgie from The Heavy Heavy was with a few members of The Revivalist just a few feet away from us enjoying The Killers as well.
The Killers hit the stage at 9:15 and finished up near 11pm. They were awesome, they are tremendous live have so much energy and we have the best time at their shows. This is our 4th time seeing the Killers. Just a few feet away from use during the Killer's performance was Georgie from The Heavy Heavy and a couple members from the Revivalists.
The walk out after the show was VERY rough on our feet and legs from standing all day. The roadways were shut down so it looked like a protest march with everyone walking down the street to get to where they parked or the public transportation.
We got to the van, I had prepaid for parking at a garage in February and paid $8, they were charging $35 that day, which is great for Boston. We got home after 2am. I would go back to Boston Calling again but only if the line up all day was amazing, and I would definitely get VIP again.
Set Lists
The Killers
All These Things That I've Done
Spaceman
Jenny Was a Friend of Mine
Caution
Smile Like You Mean It
Shot at the Night
Run for Cover
Somebody Told Me
On Top
(Interrupted by Brandon due to someone in the audience needing assistance)
For Reasons Unknown
A Dustland Fairytale
(with "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" by Charles Hart cover outro)
Runaways
Read My Mind
Dying Breed
When You Were Young
Encore:
Human (Electro)
Mr. Brightside
Hozier - Unreal Unearth Tour
Eat Your Young
Jackie and Wilson
To Be Alone
Dinner & Diatribes
Francesca
Like Real People Do
From Eden
Cherry Wine
Work Song
De Selby (Part 2)
Would That I
Too Sweet
Nina Cried Power
(with Melissa McMillan) (LONG history lesson about revolution etc beforehand)
Almost (Sweet Music)
Movement
Take Me to Church
Megan Thee Stallion - Hot Girl Summer Tour
HISS
Ungrateful
Thot Shit
Freak Nasty
Megan’s Piano
Gift & a Curse
Say I Yi Yi
(Ying Yang Twins cover) (Ying Yang Twins song)
Hot Girl
Kitty Kat
Cobra
Plan B
Cognac Queen
Big Ole Freak
BOA
Sex Talk
What's New
NDA
Don't Stop
Body
Savage
The Revivalists
Good Old Days
Don't Look Back
Criminal
It Was a Sin
Down in the Dirt
All My Friends
How We Move
Keep Going
Time to Pretend - (MGMT cover)
Wish I Knew You
Kid
Chappell Roan - The Midwest Princess Tour
Femininomenon
Naked in Manhattan
Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl
Love Me Anyway
Picture You
HOT TO GO!
After Midnight
Casual
Red Wine Supernova
Good Luck, Babe!
My Kink Is Karma
Pink Pony Club
The Heavy Heavy
Jamming Intro
Man of the Hills
Go Down River
All My Dreams
Real Love Baby - (Father John Misty cover)
One of a Kind
Miles and Miles
Stefan Thev
I can't find a set list
Until Next Time!
