On Sunday, Boston Calling went back to school
Get Starting Point
A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday.
Enter Email
Sign Up
Ezra Koenig of Vampire Weekend.
Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff
Advertisement
Across the grounds, Vampire Weekend brought its bright college rock to the Green Stage. And on the midway, Berklee's curated lineup on the revived Arena Stage inside the Bright-Landry Hockey Center won some new fans for artists such as the powerhouse singer Aniyé, who bills herself as 'Ya Favorite Soul Sister.'
Copilot, an exuberant group of friends who came together from various other college-era musical projects, anchored the day's lineup of local bands on the Orange Stage. Their soulful trio of lead vocalists (Maggie Hall, Ry McDonald, Jake Machell) combined to build an overall vibe like a millennial version of Delaney & Bonnie.
Advertisement
Before them, Nate Perry & Ragged Company previewed a busy summer with their sure-footed roots rock, while the all-female band Vivid Bloom beguiled with a heavy, effects-laden brand of shoegaze.
Jakob Nowell performs with Sublime.
Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff
The
'The sun will come out again,' he said.
In fact, the sun did make a fleeting appearance, aptly during a set from the Florida-based beach-party band the 502s. Their relentless zeal, epitomized by their song 'Something's Gonna Go Our Way,' felt like a tipsy detour into Margaritaville.
Griff Washburn of Goth Babe.
Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff
Combined with Goth Babe's upbeat set on the Green Stage — which wrapped with main man Griff Washburn tossing inflatable promo rafts (Pop-Tarts, Cheez-Its) to an enthusiastic fan base — it seemed, for a moment there, as though spring break had broken out.
Morello, accompanied by his current electric band, brought the crowd back to reality with an hour-long set that was calculated to tick off the White House.
'Welcome, brothers and sisters, to the last big event before they throw us all in jail,' he said from beneath the bill of his black Malcolm X hat (those '90s again).
Advertisement
Beginning with 'Testify,' Rage's wrecking-ball anthems got plenty of air time in the form of multiple instrumental medleys. Morello played a searing slow blues, paid tribute to the late Chris Cornell (his band mate in Audioslave), and covered his friend Bruce Springsteen's 'The Ghost of Tom Joad.' He brandished his guitar like a rifle and brought on Chuck D for a cameo. His drummer paid tribute to Boston, wearing a Modern Lovers T-shirt.
'We learned an old college fight song for the occasion,' Morello said when he was almost done. 'Killing in the Name,' from Rage's 1992 debut, is a song about police brutality with an all-purpose refrain about refusing to obey. The mob bounced up and down, middle fingers raised.
Dave Matthews performs on the Green Stage during Boston Calling on May 25, 2025.
Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff
Matthews's headlining set was not without social commentary — 'We should stop calling them leaders and start calling them 'misleaders,'' he said. But his 110 minutes onstage were dominated by his veteran band's proficiency and his own bittersweet lyrical theme, which amounts to 'Let's live life to the fullest, because we're all gonna die.'
'Tripping Billies' and 'What Would You Say' certainly fit the bill. 'Madman's Eyes' made a statement inside the fatefulness: the song is about mass shootings.
Alongside their own material, Matthews and his band offered their time-tested version of Bob Dylan's 'All Along the Watchtower' and a fun showcase for sideman Rashawn Ross on Cameo's party song 'Word Up!'
'Did we have a good time or what?' Ross chanted, deadpan. At least we could say we gave it the old college try.
James Sullivan can be reached at
.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
44 minutes ago
- New York Post
Kenshin Kamimura convicted of indecent assault, but avoided jail time in Hong Kong
Japanese pop idol Kenshin Kamimura was found guilty of a charge of indecent assault on a female interpreter in a Hong Kong court on Wednesday before some emotional fans. Kamimura, a former member of a Japanese boy group named ONE N' ONLY, was arrested in the southern Chinese city of March. In the same month, his contract was terminated due to a serious compliance violation. In April, he pleaded not guilty. 4 Japanese pop idol Kenshin Kamimura was found guilty of a charge of indecent assault on a female interpreter in a Hong Kong court on Wednesday. AFP via Getty Images He allegedly touched the interpreter's thigh repeatedly during a celebratory dinner at a restaurant. During the trial last month, the interpreter testified through a live video link that Kamimura had invited her to a bathroom elsewhere. After she dismissed the request and told him she had a boyfriend, Kamimura continued to touch her thigh, she said. The defense argued the interpreter exaggerated her claims, and the alleged bathroom invitation might not have been based on improper motives. Judge Peter Yu handed down the conviction on Wednesday, saying Kamimura touched the interpreter in a caressing manner that implicitly carried a sexual undertone and had indecent intent. 'The defendant's acts are obviously disrespectful toward women,' Yu said. 'Such behavior should be condemned.' 4 Kamimura, a former member of a Japanese boy group named ONE N' ONLY, was arrested in the southern Chinese city of March. AP In pleading for a lesser penalty, the defense said Kamimura previously had a promising future and paid a heavy price. After the verdict was announced, a few of Kamimura's fans wept in the courtroom. But Kamimura looked relieved and hugged his courtroom translator when the judge issued a fine of 15,000 Hong Kong dollars (about $1,900) and no prison term. The maximum penalty for the charge is 10 years of imprisonment. The singer's supporters, including some from Japan and mainland China, formed long lines inside the court building to secure a seat in the main courtroom before the hearing. 4 Judge Peter Yu handed down the conviction on Wednesday, saying Kamimura touched the interpreter in a caressing manner that implicitly carried a sexual undertone and had indecent intent. AP After the hearing, they waited outside to see Kamimura, who did not speak before leaving in a car. Others from mainland China who attended said they were not fans but wanted to learn more about the case, especially after seeing criticism of the female interpreter online. University student Betty Zhong from the Chinese city of Shenzhen said she was not a Kamimura fan but attended the court hearings in Hong Kong because a friend likes the J-pop idol and she wanted to know what happened. 4 Fans of J-pop performer Kenshin Kamimura wait outside the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts in Hong Kong on Wednesday, August 13, 2025. AP She said she was surprised Kamimura was charged during a visit to Hong Kong. 'News reports are not so comprehensive. When I come here, I can understand it holistically and the explanations from both sides,' she said. Kamimura is also an actor who appeared in several TV dramas, including the boys' love series 'Our Youth' and the popular drama 'Ossan's Love Returns.'
New York Post
44 minutes ago
- New York Post
Ex-Kroger CEO ordered by judge to reveal ‘embarrassing' details in lawsuit involving singer Jewel
A Cincinnati judge has ordered former Kroger CEO Rodney McMullen to provide a written account of why he abruptly left the grocery giant in March — potentially exposing details the executive's attorneys have called 'completely irrelevant' and 'embarrassing' in a lawsuit that involves singer Jewel. The circumstances surrounding 65-year-old McMullen's surprise resignation have become a point of interest in a lawsuit unrelated to his exit. Jewel — the songstress known for 90s hits like 'Foolish Games' and 'Hands' — has together with a business partner sued Kroger over the company's annual Wellness Festival, claiming they were central to launching the event and are owed damages over alleged contractual problems. 4 Former Kroger CEO Rodney McMullen (seen far left) has been ordered to reveal details of his exit from the company as part of an unrelated lawsuit brought by singer Jewel (seen second from left). Getty Images for The Wellness Experience by Kroger Their lawyers argued that delving into details of McMullen's resignation could be relevant to his credibility if he appears as a witness and could inform the court's view of what they describe as an 'allegedly corrupt corporate culture at Kroger.' McMullen's legal team pushed back, calling the questions 'completely irrelevant' and 'embarrassing,' but the judge ordered him to answer in writing. The Aug. 1 directive from Hamilton County Common Pleas Court Judge Christian Jenkins required McMullen to submit a sworn explanation by Aug. 8 that details the reason for his exit and identifies others involved, according to the court's order. It wasn't immediately clear whether McMullan had complied with the order. The Post has reached out to McMullen's lawyers for comment. Whether any written account from McMullen becomes public will depend on a later ruling about its relevance to the case. The judge can keep it under seal if he decides it matters to the lawsuit, or exclude it entirely if it does not. McMullen stepped down after more than a decade leading the Cincinnati-based grocery company, following what Kroger described as an investigation into his 'personal conduct.' 4 Rodney McMullen, former Kroger CEO, has been ordered to explain the reasons behind his sudden resignation. Bloomberg via Getty Images The company did not elaborate at the time. As part of his departure, McMullen forfeited all unvested equity and bonuses — $11 million in total, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. McMullen earned $15.7 million in 2023. 'Usually a CEO has downside protection if they leave,' Eric Chaffee, a corporate law professor at Case Western Reserve University, told Fortune. 4 Jewel performed on stage in Cincinnati in 2021. Jewel and a business partner have sued Kroger over the company's annual Wellness Festival. Getty Images for The Wellness Experience by Kroger 'The fact that he was willing to give that up may provide some insight that what went on here was something he did not want revealed.' Chaffee told Fortune it is 'somewhat invasive' to probe a CEO's departure, but noted that Kroger itself linked the resignation to 'business ethics,' which can make the line of inquiry easier to justify. In civil litigation, he added, attorneys commonly try to 'test that individual's credibility… to figure out whether they behave in an ethical manner.' 4 Jewel shares the stage with then-Kroger CEO Rodney McMullen at the company's wellness festival in Cincinnati in 2021. Getty Images for The Wellness Experience by Kroger Chaffee pointed out that US courts strongly favor openness. There is, he said, a 'strong preference that the public has access to judicial proceedings — not just to be nosy, but because transparency makes for a fairer legal system.' The judge will ultimately decide how much of McMullen's account the public can see, if any. Kroger's sparse explanation left room for speculation when McMullen resigned, and the new order renews interest in what the company and its former leader have chosen not to disclose. 'There's a cloud that's left by his departure,' Chaffee told Fortune, 'but companies sometimes decide that's better than the damage that could come from disclosure.' For McMullen, silence may also be a rational choice. 'It might be something embarrassing to him personally, to a family member, or something that could have future repercussions for his career,' Chaffee told Fortune. Executive careers can hinge on public perception, and 'if you're a CEO and there are news reports out there that you've done something you shouldn't have, getting another top job can become very, very difficult,' he said. The Post has sought comment from Kroger, McMullen and Jewel.
Newsweek
an hour ago
- Newsweek
Woman's Cats Welcome a Kitten— Viewers Obsessed With Unbreakable Bond
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Prepare for your heart to melt over two loved-up cats who have stolen the internet's attention after footage of them doting on their tiny kitten racked up over 2 millions of views. Niko and Maki, known on TikTok as @Nikoandmaki, have garnered over 410,000 likes in just 24 hours since August 12. The viral clip shows the pair snuggled up together in a carrier before their owner reaches in to reveal their new addition. Overlaid text reads: "My two bonded cats made one kitten and they love it so much." In the caption, the Bangkok, Thailand-based owner explains that Niko, the father, was eager to be by Maki's side throughout labor. "During the birth, I had to hold Niko back from trying to enter the box so many times. I wasn't sure how he would react to the tiny kitten," the owner wrote in the caption. Two screenshots of the cats cuddling and the white kitten can be seen between them. Two screenshots of the cats cuddling and the white kitten can be seen between them. TikTok/@nikoandmaki "Niko was really adamant about going in so we let him and watched closely. He immediately snuggled up to comfort Maki and it was such a sweet moment. He smelled the kitten a few times and decided he loves it too." The couple's devotion has charmed viewers around the world. "[Going to] be the most securely attached kitten to ever exist," one person commented. Another joked about the kitten's squeal: "Mom is like 'did you seriously just wake the baby?'" The owner replied: "[I was] just making sure Niko wasn't crushing the baby." A third commenter said: "Mom looking at you like "excuse me, I have limited time to sleep with this baby around." A fourth popular comment with more than 43,000 likes read: "They're in a very happy marriage, I can tell." Newsweek reached out to @nikoandmaki for comment via TikTok. We could not verify the details of the case. Can Cats Really Fall in Love? The affectionate display has led some to wonder whether cats can truly be "in love." While the video suggests a resounding yes, science says otherwise. According to Catster, a website offering expert advice on feline care and behavior, cats do not mate for life or form long-term romantic bonds like humans. Mating is typically brief and does not require emotional attachment. However, some cats do develop strong social bonds, enjoying each other's company, cuddling, and coexisting peacefully. Signs of feline friendship include mutual grooming, cuddling, play fighting, or even simply ignoring one another without conflict. Play fighting—especially among kittens—requires trust, indicating the cats feel safe and comfortable together. Whether or not Niko and Maki's relationship meets the scientific definition of love, their sweet family moment has convinced thousands that, at least in spirit, it's the real thing. Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@ with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
