The Beaches bring a true sellout crowd to Roadrunner in Boston

There’s sold-out, and then there’s really sold-out. On Wednesday night at Boston’s Roadrunner, The Beaches showed they’re the kind of band that makes a room feel like it’s about to burst at the seams. The last time the Toronto four-piece rolled through town, they topped out at The Royale. Before that, they were just another opener hoping for a few new fans. This time, they had the biggest club in the city on lock, and I’ve never seen it so packed.

It makes sense. If you know The Beaches, you know exactly why. Their rise has been quick, but it hasn’t been luck. It’s been a steady build of infectious songs, chaotic charm, and a fanbase that’s as loyal as it is loud.

The set was stacked with moments that showed why the hype feels so earned. Midway through, guitarist Leandra Earl stepped away from her guitar to sit at the piano for “Lesbian of the Year,” pausing first to share that she only came out five or six years ago. It’s a move she credits her bandmates for encouraging. Later, the inevitable eruption of “Blame Brett” united casual and diehard fans in a chorus so loud it nearly drowned out the band themselves.

Frontwoman Jordan Miller carried the night with her usual mix of humor and bravado. At one point she wore a “Jocelyn” sash like a badge of honor before diving into the crowd to hand it off. In a sweet twist, she bypassed the chaos and gave it to a disabled fan in the ADA section. A moment of sincerity in the middle of the raucous set.

And if anyone thought the night would wind down gently, they were wrong. The Beaches bookended their show with “Last Girls at the Party,” opening and closing on the same runaway anthem. The lyrics are a mantra-like countdown that insists the night isn’t over, hitting with even more power the second time and turning the encore into a full-circle victory lap.

At this point, it feels silly to talk about The Beaches “hitting their stride.” They’ve been doing that for years. They’re just finally playing the rooms they’ve long deserved. A selfish part of me hopes they don’t climb much higher, that I can still see them in packed clubs instead of cavernous arenas. But let’s be honest: with the momentum they have, they’re destined for festival headlining slots and arena tours before long. Their music is simply too infectious to be contained.