The Middle East is already a wonderful place to see a band-- decent acoustics, a great atmosphere, pretty friendly staff, etc. All it takes is a solid group of performers to make an excellent night. The show on May 19th brought just that.
The tour, headlined by Straylight Run, brought bands Lovedrug and Good Old War to Boston for the evening. Local band Fly Upright Kite started the night off the right way with a solid set of their emotion-filled rock. Good Old War brought incredible energy and fun to the stage; the trio's bouncing and dancing got the crowd very involved in their acoustic, folksy songs. Lovedrug put on a wonderful set as well, though the lead singer seemed unhappy with some of the crowd's response to his newer songs. The band's mix of piano with indie/alt rock was entrancing, though, and set the stage for Straylight Run's headlining set.
Straylight Run's John Nolan, as usual, put on a wonderful show. His powerful lyrics, backed by the emotion of his voice, held the crowd's attention for the 60+ minutes the band performed. Straylight fans were treated to a surprise, as well, when former member Michelle DaRosa made an appearance and performed with John on several songs. The crowd responded well, and John's banter with the crwod made the show feel even more intimate.
Overall, the night came together to form a magnificent show to be appreciated by fans of any one of the bands performing.