Speedy Ortiz performs at CMJ Music Marathon 2013 in New York. Photo by Joe McCabe, heyreverb.com.
Anyone who has followed from the band’s earliest days knows how satisfying the growth and rise has been. After winning love and and praise with debut full-length “Major Arcana,” the musically brainy and brawny foursome upped its game to deliver a sophomore album that didn’t find them in a slump. “” showed us a band fully upright and in fighting shape.
That was reflected in Speedy Ortiz’s show at the on Saturday night. Opening sets came courtesy of tourmates Alex G and Palehound, and local Accordion Crimes, who accompanied Speedy Ortiz and Ex Hex at the Hi-Dive last year and got a shout before “Mr. Difficult” — “it’s about how difficult it is to not see Accordion Crimes every day.” During that last show in Denver, Sadie Dupuis’ vocals were often frustratingly soft and easily drowned out in the tsunami of guitar. This time Dupuis’ voice rang loud and clear, ensuring her smart and poetic lyrics didn’t get upstaged. In a set that mixed new material with shots of old favorites — “Graduates,” “Raising the Skate,” “Tiger Tank,” “Puffer,” “Plough,” “Ginger” — Speedy Ortiz sounded more confident than ever and took just enough melodic liberties to make things interesting without warping songs fans love as written. Dupuis really cut loose vocally for “My Dead Girl” and the band blazed through “American Horror” to close the set with a show stopper.
Dupuis and bassist Darl Ferm recently about how important it is to them to play for younger crowds, and it was easy to see why on Saturday night. The 16+ show had its fair share of teenagers, and one kid in particular was at the edge of the stage moving with an enthusiasm usually reserved for more danceable music. If he was inspired to start his own band as good as Speedy Ortiz, the world will be a little bit better.
