The Marias In Boston | Hidden Beats

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The Marías in Boston, MA

On August 11th, 2024, The Marías brought their “Submarine” Tour to Boston’s MGM Music Hall at the iconic Fenway Park. The large, standing-room venue was packed with eager fans, many of whom had witnessed their shows at the much smaller Paradise Rock Club in 2022. But now, hot off the release of their sophomore album, Submarine, the band from LA had clearly graduated, filling out the new venue. Their success is undoubtedly a testament to their unique blend of influences and innovation. With a fusion of dreamy indie pop, jazzy influence, and hints of vintage Latin rhythms, The Marías defy easy categorization, instead offering an experience that is distinctly their own. Fronted by the enigmatic María Zardoya, whose airy vocals blend effortlessly between sultry whispers and powerful crescendos, the band provides one-of-a-kind instrumentation that compliments María’s lyricism and showmanship.

Automatic

Three-piece, LA-based Rock band, Automatic was the first to take the stage. Driven by funky synthesizers and charging vocals, the all-female band finds their sound between socially aware post-punk and spaced-out sci-fi. The band, composed of Izzy Glaudini on synths, Lola Dompé on drums, and Halle Saxon on bass, relied on a minimalist production to let their music shine above all. Minimalism was a theme in their performance, using nearly their entire time on stage to play song after song off their most recent release, “Excess”. Without even a lead guitar, the core of Automatic’s unique sound lies in the combination of the vocal artistry of all three band members. Acting almost robotic at times, the band mixed a lively, pop sound with commentary on capitalism, consumerism, and alienation, providing a thought-provoking start to the night, perfect for the crowd of young, indie-music lovers.

The Marías: The Main Event

In a dramatic manner, fitting to their sound, the Marías drew anticipation to a peak with their drawn-out intro. Accompanied by dreamy tones reminiscent of a submarine’s sonar and flashing blue strobes, the instrumentalists of the band entered to raucous applause. Immediately jumping into “Hamptons,” off their recent album, their silhouettes excited the crowd, still waiting for the beloved María to take the stage. At last, the massive orb that dominated their set design lit up blue, revealing the lead singer. Screams of excitement shook the audience, and they only drew louder as she appeared at last atop a platform light by a huge beam of light. Fans were struck by the impressive visuals– it was clear that just as much care and attention were put into the experience of the live show as was put into the album they are promoting.

With a 26-song set list, The María’s gave fans a long night of beautiful music and impressive visuals. Beginning with some of their biggest hits like “Run Your Mouth”, the band quickly transitioned to some of their songs written entirely in Spanish like “Un millón,” “Ay No Puedo,” and “Lejos De Ti”. Leaning into their Latin-American heritage and bilingual discography, María spoke to the audience in both English and Spanish. Naming Latin American countries in almost a patriot role-call of different nationalities of fans, it was clear that their audience feels very connected to their shared Latin heritage.

Highlights

While the dramatics of The Marías’ music and set design were undoubtedly major highlights of the show, the band offered the audience a few surprises that only increased the excitement throughout the night. The first moment came during the intro to their set, with María inciting the packed crowd to jump with her like a hard-core show. Her fans, of course, obliged, and she quickly set the tone for the night, demonstrating how she can command a room of nearly 5000. Another fan-favorite moment was the band’s cover of “Love Fool”, which they seamlessly blended with their own song, “Ruthless”. The few crowd members who weren’t singing along throughout the whole night now had no choice but to join the chorus in the palpable joy that filled the venue. The most cinematic and visually stunning part of the night came towards the end of the show, right before the encore, when the rest of the band exited the stage, leaving just María to perform “If Only,” a haunting ballad. The lead singer splashed in a bathtub of water while she showcased the emotional power behind her soft, airy vocals. A true climax of the night, this moment left fans in awe of the work of theater The Marías create in their live performances.

In Conclusion

With the release of their sophmore album, “Submarine” The Marías have made it clear that they have found their sound and identity in music– one that resonates with fans across the world. With stunning visuals that perfectly complimented the band’s dreamy sound, their stop in Boston showcased a highly thoughtful piece of performance art. Fan were left wanting more, excited for what is to come for The Marías’ rise to stardom.

Catch the rest of The Marías tour on their website here: https://www.themarias.us/shows

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