Live Shows: TELL, D-Tension and the Secrets, The Daylilies, and Charming Arson, The Middle East, Cambridge, MA 2/9/24

Friday saw the release of TELL's new album, Life in Reverse. It also saw the band play a killer quadruple bill of local bands that included D-Tension and the Secrets, The Daylilies, and Charming Arson. It was one of those nights that was jam packed with shows, but after going to this one I had zero FOMO.

Charming Arson were the only band I was completely unfamiliar with going into Friday night's show. To me they seemed like a band that formed in college back in the 90's and played the on campus pub a bunch as well as every house party. And one that never broke up and played when the members could all make it work out. That isn't meant as a dig, because the result was pretty great. They're a solid alt-rock band that were having a bunch of fun on stage and might have had the most dedicated fans of the night.

TELL played next, and as much as I like Life in Reverse, I absolutely loved their live show. Live they had an unexpected ferocity, and the new songs have a completely different life to them on stage. "Sweet Life" in particular had this edgy meets catchy sound that is just perfect. Unfortunately I'm completely unfamiliar with their back catalog, but one song they played (which they said was about someone having an affair with a "MAGA head") was particularly biting and firey. Hopefully having a new album gets them out more and more.

The Daylilies are a legendary Boston band. Even if you've never heard them (and you most likely have) you've heard of them. The band was debuting a new line up that includes Amy Gee (ex-Linnea's Garden and Tysk Tysk Task) on bass. They brought a little glam and fun to the alt-rock sound, kind of like an alt-rock goes New Wave thing. They definitely showed why they're one of the most beloved bands in the city.

D-Tension and the Secrets closed out the show. D-Tension is primarily known as a rapper, and decided to try out alt-rock recently, and he's just been knocking it out of the park. With the Secrets, he's adopted a funky take on alt-rock that adds just enough of a new feeling to the genre that it almost takes a few songs to adjust. As someone who always likes artists that defy genres, D-Tension's new project is quite welcome.