Live Shows: Mike D 5D, Royale, Boston, MA 8/30/26

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August 6, 2007 was the last time Beastie Boys played Boston. I was there, in the very last row of the Bank of America Pavilion, and it was an amazing show. We all know what happened after that, and I thought those songs were lost forever. When I saw that Mike D was showing up at his sons' band's shows, and then started playing solo shows, I was hopeful, but didn't know what that meant. Last Friday saw the release of Mike D's first solo album, the really great Thank You, and he returned to Boston for a show at Royale.

Unsurprisingly, Mike D 5D focused on their just released album Sunday night. That doesn't mean that Mike D's previous band was ignored. There was plenty for those that had never heard the songs on Thank You, or were there only for Beastie Boys classics. Opening with "Hello Brooklyn," they also played "Looking Down the Barrel of a Gun," "Remote Control," and a one song encore of "So What'cha Want." The new songs held up with the favorites, and "Crypto" and "Switch Up" being highlights. They even played the album closer, "Thank You," which was an odd but interesting mix of acoustic and drum and bass.

The songs on Thank You are different from Beastie Boys classic songs, and are much more electronic based. But it's been fifteen years since Hot Sauce Committee Part Two was released, so obviously their music would progress. Who knows what Beastie Boys would have sounded like in 2026 if they had continued? Mike D is still am engaging performer, and knows how to work a crowd. He seemed reinvigorated Sunday night, and clearly loves playing with his two sons. Plus, they received a mayoral proclamation earlier in the day that August 30, 2026 was Mike D 5D day. Unless a fan never progressed past Licensed to Ill, everyone went home happy.

One note for Sunday night's show. On some Beastie Boys classics, Mike D only performed his verse, which makes sense but was a bit jarring. Intended or not, it helped remind the audience what was lost, and even if Mike D is back making music, it will never be the same as it was.

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Mama's Broke - "How it Ends"

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