Photos by Joanna Gleason
Review by Jean Senat Fluery
On December 13, 2024, MGM Music Hall in Fenway welcomed Lake Street Dive. The band composed of vocalist Rachael Price, bassist Bridget Kearney, drummer Mike Calabrese, keyboardist Akie Bermiss, and guitarist James Cornelison, returned to their roots in Boston.
The show started at eight with the opener Trousdale arriving onstage. Wearing bright, monochrome outfits that matched the stage’s lighting décor, the charming female group consisting of Quinn D’Andrea, Georgia Greene, and Lauren Jones gave a phenomenal performance in Boston. The trio who is often compared to The Chicks and The Staves was terrific.
The group based in Los Angeles performed a collection of their original folk music before playing a cover of Fleetwood Mac’s famed song, "The Chain".
After a short break following Trousdale’s performance, at 9:10 p.m. Lake Street Dive came on stage. Performing against the backdrop of a brightly colored arch, the band based in Brooklyn played a series of songs with the melody reinforced by a bunch of instruments including trumpet, bongos, melodica, tambourine, and triangle — to name a few. From a relaxed rendition of “Better Than” to an upbeat “Party on the Roof,” the band kept the audience engaged and showcased Lake Street Dive’s world class range. Lake Street Dive’s energetic production got the crowd moving throughout the entertaining show. It was a terrific night of music.
Originally formed in 2004 at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, the band members released their first Signature Sounds Recordings album, Lake Street Dive, in November 2010. In September and October 2011, they traveled to 13 states and played in 22 venues. In 2013 and 2014, they played over 300 gigs in over 175 different cities, spread between 43 states and eight countries. Their Bad Self Portraits tour sold out in 40 venues at the start of 2014. In 2015, they performed at 98 venues touring in Australia and New Zealand. In 2018 the group released their second album Free Yourself Up.
At MGM Music Hall in Fenway Lake Street Dive produced a tremendous show enlightened by a spectacular stage presence. Rachael Price, the lead vocalist, walked into the audience as she sang “Dance with a Stranger.” And during “Hypotheticals,” one of Lake Street Dive’s top songs, she invited the crowd to sing the iconic lyrics, “hypothetically yes, theoretically forever.”
The sold-out show was exceptional. The venue was spectacular. The acoustics were amazing. Both bands played magnificently. As a professional photographer and a fan of live music it was a memorable moment of joy, love and great pleasure: A show that I would never forget.
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