Speedy Ortiz started its set accompanied by a light drizzle, which did little to discourage the modest, early-afternoon crowd from sticking around. The Massachusetts quartet’s frontwoman Sadie Dupuis took note: “I can’t even get out of bed when it’s raining, much less go to a music festival.” Speedy Ortiz did both and then some.
The Northampton-based Nineties throwbacks are coming off a tour in support of April’s Foil Deer, which explains the well-rehearsed, fast-n-loose performance so many other bands trip over. Still, that crush of guitar and bass masked one of the best lines penned this year in “Raising the Skate”: “I’m not bossy, I’m the boss/ Shooter, not the shot.”
Although Dupuis helms the ship as both singer and guitarist, songs like “Puffer” touted impressive bass line by Darl Ferm, proving that the band holds on rock solid when Dupuis isn’t at the center. And with Speedy Ortiz’s kind of sophisticated post-grunge, that’s important.
Although a lot of midsize bands freshly seasoned by the road might let weather woes and an early set time derail them, Speedy Ortiz seemed genuinely invested in their set. That could be, in part, due to Dupuis’ ties here. While simultaneously plugging a Waterloo Records signing, she revealed that she used to work there while living here and also slinging Austin’s Pizza.
This article appears in November 6 • 2015.