Maris channels astronaut energy at Royale on Saturday, 9 November 2024.

Melt and Hush Club sandwich the triplestack bill.

Was local indie rock outfit Hush Club a late add to the bill? The band wasn’t listed in some of the usual spots you look at to, you know, find out who’s playing the show. Unassuming fans would’ve wandered into Royale, maybe thinking they were early for the 7PM show start, to discover that the surprise opener had been playing since 6:15PM. Hump Day News captured the last eight seconds of their set, which included a lovely pitch to visit them at the merch table.

Ground Control to Major Maris…

When Hump Day News covered Maris at this year’s Boston Calling, we wondered whether the hi-energy popper was “sporting a Ziggy Stardust look.” Something about the supernaturally fiery crop of hair on top. Not to be outdone, Saturday’s gig hit the launch button with Maris in full astronaut garb. Or quasi-full, modded for enough flexibility to permit all requisite contortions for the self-proclaimed “aerobic dance enthusiast.”

The LA-based artist (who is originally from Missoula, Montana, just like Laura Palmer’s cousin from Twin Peaks) found her way to California to follow her music dream. Isn’t that just the classic story? You get the sense that she’s put in the real grind-to-shine because all the little details of her set sparkled like a luxury car lot on Presidents Day. The outfit, the choreography, the props, the stage blocking, the pit work, the banter. A performer’s performer, who knows how to turn on a crowd.

At one point a bra got tossed up on stage. First things first, it’s wonderful that bras still get tossed up on stage in 2024. You could write a dissertation on what the gesture is supposed to mean these days. Or at least a one-off article for Bust.

Maris is the kind of entertainer who will take a deli slice of turkey, one moldy potato, half a bottle of Bac’n Bits, and turn it into a first-class Thanksgiving Day meal. The Royale gig was a stripped-down production, compared to a fuller Boston Calling lineup, trotting out just herself on the mic, a whirlwind drummer, and a whole lotta backing tracks. That’s more than enough for Maris to work with, and she leaned into the bit, goofing on an inflatable guitar prop when the backing tracks launched into a six-string solo. The crowd ate it up.

The pop quartet Melt had been advertising a QR code on the stagescreen all night – something about fans getting to choose the playlist for their headlining set. All the songs? Some of the songs? Not sure.

Seems like a particularly “pop music” gesture, a democratic gesture. You can’t imagine the same gimmick in other genres. Like, follow the QR code to vote for your ultimate jazz, industrial, techno, or whatever set. Maybe you could see it at a jam band concert.

Part of what you pay for in certain kinds of music is a level of seriousness from the artist, which precludes a product of their art, like a setlist, being picked like Lotto balls popping out of a popcorn popper.

Certain kinds of music, but not all kinds of music, and definitely not pop. Pop’s for the people.

The band is touring their new album If There’s A Heaven, out now.

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