Live Shows: FACS, Landowner, and Major Stars, Deep Cuts, Medford, MA 4/11/25

FACS are one of the most solid bands around these days. Their version of stripped down post-punk mixed with a little psychedelia translates perfectly to a live show. I saw them maybe six years or so ago at ONCE in Somerville, and I've been dying to see them again. It hadn't worked out, but luckily when they came back to the Boston area on Friday, I finally had the chance to see them again.

FACS took the stage Friday night and proceeded to melt the entire audience's faces off for their entire set. Their sound is experimental and not at all mainstream, but oddly accessible. Focusing on the just released (and excellent) Wish Defense, the trio have mastered the art of letting the music speak for them. Little to no stage banter, FACS focused on their music. "When You Say," the set's opening track, set the mood for their set perfectly. Another personal highlight was their new album title track, "Wish Defense," which was epic live. The music was dark and moody, and endlessly engaging. A FACS show is somehow laid back and intense at the same time, making for a truly thrilling experience.

Western Massachusetts' Landowner opened the show. A band I've wanted to see for a while, they didn't disappoint. Their version of post punk is a more indie rock based version that is oddly dance friendly. Their music inspires you to dance and move, but it's at such weird and jerky tempos that it's nearly impossible to not dance in the most awkward way possible. That certainly didn't stop the audience from trying. Plus, singer Dan Shaw's mannerisms on stage are very Ian Curtis-esque, and that's never a bad thing.

Opening the show was Major Stars, a band I know by name but I've never seen before. Their vocalist was out of town, so they went back to their earlier, instrumental songs. Their sound was gloriously chaotic, and reminded me of The Jesus Lizard infecting The Stooges, but then forming a jam band. Seeing an instrumental set was a complete highlight of my musical year so far, so I'm very curious what a set including their singer is like.