Boyish at Brighton Music Hall, 9/17/23

Boyish formed in 2016 when the duo met at Berklee College of Music. India Shore and Claire Altendahl were aspiring singer-songwriters, and after receiving not much attention at auditions for showcases at the university, they found each other at the right place and at the right time.

Their first album Carnation came out in 2018 and was dedicated to the DIY basement music scene in the city of Boston. Once they left college, they worked on trying to find a more authentic approach to their music, which resulted in their 2020 album Garden Spider. But when Shore and Altendahl, along with the rest of the world, were forced to quarantine due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they were able to exercise their creativity and find the sound they have always wanted to find. Their 2021 EP We’re all gonna die, but here’s my contribution explores themes of love, queerness, heartbreak, and the booming apocalypse. Their sounds were further explored in their newly released EP Demon Boy, experimenting with faster-paced songs, more intricate guitar patterns, and testing the limits of Shore’s vocals, which she has proved to us that she is ever-growing. Even though they just released this EP during the first week of September, they have already been receiving praise from media outlets, calling their work a renaissance of the indie-pop genre.

Ever since then, the duo has been featured in many acclaimed and respected publications, helping them gain a larger following, along with exposing them to different audiences, and expanding their fanbase. They’ve even had the opportunity to work with artists such as King Princess, and have had the chance to open for artists such as Hippo Campus, Remo Drive, Spill Tab, Claud, Ella Jane, and many more.

I was able to attend this show with my friend Megan, which made it an extra special night. There was already a huge line outside the venue as the Uber dropped us off, so we both knew we were in for a treat. As always, going to a new venue is both exciting and nerve-wracking. You don’t know the space, you don’t even know if you’re going to like it, and you might not know anyone there, but as intimidating as that sounds, it might just be the best thing about it as well; it's a new space, a new environment, filled with new people and new adventures (at least that’s how I see every concert: as an adventure).

We got there around 7 p.m., and doors opened around 7:30 for the 8 p.m. show, giving the concertgoers more than enough time to settle into the venue. In the meantime, my friend Megan and I waited in line and listened in on other people’s conversations about how excited they were to see Boyish. At 7:30 we made our way into the venue and the space already felt very welcoming simply because of the lighting design. I am always a big fan of good lighting, especially at a music venue, since it plays such a big factor in setting the mood for the space and the show. I soon said my momentary goodbye to Megan and made my way over to the press pit.

At exactly 8 p.m., the lights on stage dimmed, and Boyish made their way onto the stage. They started off the night with their song “You Wanna Hurt Me,” which was a great way to get the crowd moving, filling up the venue with lively drum patterns, bright rhythm guitar, and stunning vocals that bounced off the walls of the space. The choice of songs that followed up was perfect for the night, never straying away from keeping the crowd engaged and moving. Shore and Altendahl’s stage presence was vibrant, using up all the space they were given and engaging the public in a way that few people can do. After the first couple of songs, Shore decided to check in with the crowd, making sure that they were doing well and enjoying themselves. They both gave a couple of anecdotes from their time at Berklee College, which resonated with the crowd. Shore, later on, announced one of her favorite songs, or as she put it, one of the best songs she has written alongside Altendahl, titled “July.” It started off very mellow, but as the song progressed, there was an obvious build-up to the chorus, although I don't think anyone expected it. During the chorus, Shore starts belting out lyrics, but it was much more of a controlled scream, almost like a mix between Björk in her song “It’s Oh So Quiet” and a horror movie screech, and you can tell it is coming from her soul.

They entertained us and moved us for the rest of the night with their energetic performance. You can really tell that the duo enjoys performing for people, sharing their music with the world, and hoping that their message gets out to the people who need it. It comes from a very genuine place and I’m happy that it comes across in their stage presence, which made the experience even more special.

Even as their set ended, their energy never faded, if anything ramping up for their final song, which was an energy-filled performance of “F**K YOU HEATHER,” one of their most streamed songs. As the song ended, they both said their thank yous and their goodbyes, and just like that, it was over.

I talked to Megan and asked her about her thoughts during the Uber back home. She said that she hadn’t really heard much of Boyish’s music before, but she wanted to go to the concert with me. “I was pleasantly surprised with how much energy they had on stage; I had listened to some of their songs before the concert and was curious as to how they would present themselves on stage, and it was great to see so much energy coming from the stage,” she said. I am happy I was able to share that moment with her, along with the rest of the people at the show. I can’t wait to catch them again in Boston, hopefully singing along to some new tunes.