Sweet Pill turn up the heat at Underground Arts

With freeze warnings on the horizon over the weekend, Friday night at Underground Arts offered a sweaty break from the approaching cold. Headliners Sweet Pill were joined by Wax Jaw, Remember Sports, and Midfield across two stages in the basement venue for a night of nearly non-stop moshing. 

Five-piece pop-punk band Midfield kicked off the evening in Underground Arts’ Black Box, opening with a set that included “Someway, Somehow,” a song that they released earlier this month. Their music was a fitting start to a night built around loud guitars and even louder crowds.

Remember Sports took over the Main Stage next, playing their second set of the day after a stop at WXPN’s Free at Noon. The band was making its first appearance at Underground Arts, playing several songs from their February album, The Refrigerator. Their set was a slight change of pace, with melodic guitar lines and songs that were just as suited to a good head shake as the night’s heavier performances. “Bug” was a standout for me, with the band’s guitar-driven sound anchored by frontperson Carmen Perry’s distinctive, slightly raspy vocals.

Next up was Wax Jaw, shifting the crowd back into the Black Box. Fresh off their first European tour, Wax Jaw were welcomed home with open arms. It’s been just over a year since the release of their debut album It Takes Guts!, with much of the set pulling from the album. They are a fun band to watch perform, with each member seemingly in constant motion and each show bringing something slightly different to the table. At Underground Arts, vocalist Shane Morgan showed off dance moves in the middle of the stage while others jumped down to wade through the crowd, making it easy to lose track of who was where. Every so often, a guitar head would nudge you in the back as a member made their way through the audience, only to reappear onstage moments later. At one point, the band instructed the crowd to get low before sending everyone jumping back into the air. By the time their set wrapped, the crowd was more than warmed-up for Sweet Pill.

I’ve heard Sweet Pill’s live show described as organized chaos, and watching fans push forward and throw themselves into the music, I understood why. Moshing started almost as soon as the music did, and staying at the front quickly meant that you were being jostled around by sweaty bodies. Despite the fervor in the room, Youssef remained firmly in control. Midway through the set, she called for a stretch break, joking about the aches that come with spending nights at shows, especially since her 31st birthday was just days away. The crowd obliged before the band returned to the music. The band also told the crowd they were “going to slow things down” in the middle of their set, but the room had other ideas, with crowd surfers still being lifted up overhead. 

For all the chaos, Sweet Pill’s set also made room for a more serious moment. Youssef took a break between songs to reflect on the state of the world, reminding the crowd that even when so much feels beyond our control, we can each choose to lead with empathy, understanding, patience and kindness. It was a direct, earnest message that was well received with cheers. She then went on to introduce “Letting Go,” sharing that it was the band’s favorite song on the album, one centered on embracing change.

Between the thrashing instrumentals, Youssef’s commanding vocals and a crowd that barely let up, the set captured the cathartic release that makes Sweet Pill such a force to see live. As the band brought the night to a close, Underground Arts offered a fitting send-off into the weekend.