Bad At Drawing practices its crosshatch technique at Midway Cafe on Wednesday, 2 August 2023.

Human Mascot, Four, and Vivra Vera sandwich the four-stack bill.

It wasn’t a night of firsts. But thirds and fourths? Sure.

Both Vivra Vera and Four are fairly new to the show circuit, though the latter group made the point that they’ve been a band for a few years already. It was Covid-19, as they tell it, that waylaid live performance for them as it did for so many.

What a relief to be able to return to the clubs, theaters, and concert halls after pandemic layoff.

Some people are at pains to highlight that we’re not out of the woods yet, despite officials calling an end to the public health emergency in May. If you were immunocompromised before then, you’re still immunocompromised now.

But it’s clear from the available data that Covid-19 related hospitalization and death tolls have shrunk considerably in Massachusetts and beyond.

What a thing to write: “...death tolls have shrunk considerably.”

Pour one out for people as well as the music venues that didn’t make it.

Vivra Vera

Was it the fourth show for Vivra Vera or thereabouts? In the grand scheme of things, four performances don’t rank as a lot. But consider how many bands live and die before they make it to their first gig, never mind their second, third, or fourth.

The Boston-based whirlybird throb rockers played uptempo numbers with a thrilling kind of build, build, build song mechanic. You might not be sure at which point exactly that your ears hooked into these songs (some bands go for that conspicuous “pay attention….now!” moment). There’s a cumulative propulsive quality to the music that works its magic over time.

Shout out to the doomy digressions. Extra points for solid vocal duets.

Four

Was it the third show for Four? (Played in 4/4 time. In standard-as-fuck tuning.) If true, Hump Day News would have now reported on 66.6% of their gigs, which is a massive level of coverage, impossible to sustain.

When we last covered Four it was in the backroom of the Silhouette Lounge. The band filled in for Weatherless, who dropped out of a bill with metal demi-gods Between Skies and a pair of math rockers from Charm City, Modern Fuzz and Science Penguin.

On both bills at the Sil and Midway Cafe, Four rated as the most mellow outfit. The band crafts mostly medium tempo indie rock with the classic quartet breakdown of two guitars, bass, and drums. There’s a certain relaxed lilt to the performance that gives off vibrations of Pavement or Beach Fossils or Bong Wish.

Bad At Drawing

Bad At Drawing bring a kind of high energy hype rock with a solid rhythmic undertow. Shades of dance punk at times. Does the drummer also play for Weatherless? If you missed their set at Midway Cafe, catch another local gig up at Hope Fest on September 2.

If you made their set at Midway Cafe, catch Bad At Drawing at Hope Fest anyway. 39 bands, 4 venues, local vendors, beautiful Salem…

Hope Fest 2023

Hope Fest

Now That’s What I Call Hope Fest (Vol. 5)

Now That’s What I Call Hope Fest (Vol. 4)

Now That’s What I Call Hope Fest (Vol. 3)

Now That’s What I Call Hope Fest (Vol. 2)

Now That’s What I Call Hope Fest (Vol. 1)

Hope Fest 2023

Human Mascot

It’s a well-known fact that the Boston Celtic’s mascot Lucky the Leprechaun is the only human mascot in the NBA.

Lucky doesn’t need to hide behind a plush mask. Plus, without the bulky costume, he’s able to pull off some sick dunks between plays. Take that Clutch the Bear, G-Wiz, and Stuff the Magic Dragon.

The headliners Human Mascot played to a room that was as crowded as it was all night, serving up a tight, rhythm-driven, up tempo set of hard-rocking post punk. Some mathy tendencies here and there. Credit the band for pulling a good crowd in the fourth slot on a Wednesday night. No one heading home early at the hump day gig.