I Just Read About That…

[ATTENDED: September 12, 2024] Speedy Ortiz

I saw Speedy Ortiz a month and a half ago at Milkboy, a small club where I literally was standing behind Sadie Dupuis as she climbed the stairs to the stage.   She had hurt her elbow and this the first time she’d played her guitar in public (for one song).

Then they were invited to open for Silversun Pickups.  I didn’t know they were the openers when I bought the ticket, and I was pretty excited about that–while I love seeing a new band that’s good, it’s even more fun seeing a band I’m really familiar with (this was my fifth time seeing them).

That show was like an Easter Egg for fans.  Seeing them as an opening band was a little different.   Although not hugely different.  Their setlist was very similar to Milkboy (first five songs the same) and they simply excised a few others to shorten the set.  They also ended with the song that Sadie played guitar on for us at Milkboy.

Dylan Baldi had played guitar for Sadie at Milkboy, but they were back to a four piece for this set.    Guitarist/keyboardist, all around Speedy guy, Andy Molholt was doing some good rockstar stuff (it was funny seeing them on a big stage) like kneeling to solo and leaning back to back with Sadie.  Audrey Zee Whitesides was on bass.  I was a little bummed t hey didn’t play the song in which she screams and growls (possibly Scabs?) but her backing vocals were fierce anyway.

I’ve said this before, but I feel like drummer Joey Doubek, who joined for this new album, might be too heavy for them.  He plays really loud and sometimes that’s all you can hear.

Although I think that might have been the sound system.  Opening bands always seem to fare poorly when it comes to sound systems, and this case was no exception–they sounded echoey and cavernous.  Even when they spoke between songs, it sounded like a huge delay was put on their voices.

But it was still fun to see them and I’m really glad I caught them in July.

¥ Rabbit, Rabbit (2023)
⇓ Twerp Verse (2018)
€ from Foil Deer (2015)
♠ from Major Arcana (2013)
⊗ from Sports EP (2012)
[single] from (2012)