Sammy Rae & The Friends brought The Get Down Tour to MGM Music Hall at Fenway in Boston on Saturday, Nov. 7, and the night was as much a party as a show. Melt opened, and they were fantastic. Their sound fit Sammy’s perfectly, and by the time they came off stage the room was warmed up for what followed.
Sammy Rae is a performer through and through. The vocals are incredible, but it’s her stage presence that carries the night. She talked a lot between songs about what each one means, which gave the set a personal feel even in a room this size. She had a big band behind her, including a few horns, C-Bass on drums, and the usual guitar and bass. Negah Santos, whom I’ve caught with Lake Street Dive more than once, joined on percussion for the whole set.
The night had a political side too, with the midterms still fresh from the week before. Sammy played a couple of protest songs, Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs” and a cover of the Climax Blues Band’s “Rich Man,” where Melt joined the band on stage. That one was incredible live, and I hope we get a studio version someday. She also spoke about HeadCount, the nonpartisan voter registration group that has supported the tour. By her account, every state on the tour where HeadCount showed up either stayed blue or flipped blue, a big victory everyone in the room could celebrate.
It was a joyful, high-energy night, and a great reminder of why Sammy Rae & The Friends keeps growing their already dedicated fanbase.
MELT
SAMMY RAE & THE FRIENDS
