2nd Edition of In Between Days Festival Takes Things Up A Notch

Now that the dust has settled, it's a great time to look back and reflect on the second edition of the In Between Days Festival. Held for the second year in a row at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Quincy, this year's festival took things to an entirely different level with not one, but two stages that provided more bands than ever before, and introduced the model that allowed a seamless transition from one band to the next with no gaps in between. This year's crop of performers provided equal representation for local acts and high tier acts.

On the local level, Dutch Tulips rocked the house and delivered a blistering set that showed the faithfully gathered concertgoers there just who they were, and what they're capable of. Their bombastic, high energy indie rhythms definitely left an indelible mark in attendance, and kept them fresh in their minds also. Singer-songwriter Carissa Johnson was another welcome addition to the lineup with her tireless work ethic on frenetic display with a high energy set that shows just how laser focused she is at everything she does, and definitely provided for an energetic and closely watched set. Portland, ME's own Weakened Friends was a jaw dropping, blissful set that saw the trio remain focused and locked in like you wouldn't believe, and saw the crowd grow substantially all throughout the set.

As the day turned into night, New Zealand based indies The Beths brought their delightful accents, in between song banter, and their indelible blend of indie rock to the masses that was probably the first introduction of the group to many concertgoers, and definitely made me instantly curious as they kept my attention and focus squarely pinpointed on them. Emo godfathers Sunny Day Real Estate were glorious to say the least, and were definitely one band that were on my bucket list with their impeccable set that brought out the classics from their legendary album "Diary", and brought in some new fresh faces from the crowd as well. The night was rounded out by Modest Mouse, one of their first performances after the tragic loss of their drummer Jeremiah Green to cancer late last year that saw the band deliver a eclectic and mesmerizing set. After leaving the festival a little early to beat the traffic, I heard them play "Ocean Breathes Salty" from a distance as I was driving and it was perfectly fitting being right by the water, imprinting me in my brain that this festival was an exhilarating and mesmerizing experience from beginning to end.