{"id":442098,"date":"2026-02-01T03:46:10","date_gmt":"2026-02-01T03:46:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/442098\/"},"modified":"2026-02-01T03:46:10","modified_gmt":"2026-02-01T03:46:10","slug":"something-in-the-way-fest-2026-live-updates-from-roadrunner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/442098\/","title":{"rendered":"Something in the Way Fest 2026: Live updates from Roadrunner"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tConcert Reviews\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tThe two-day festival is bringing indie and alternative rock bands from across the country to Boston\u2019s Roadrunner venue.<\/p>\n

\"Febuary
\n\tFebuary perform at the Something in the Way festival Saturday at Roadrunner. Ben Stas for Boston.com\t<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBy Darin Zullo<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tupdated on January 31, 2026\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

6 minutes to read<\/p>\n

An all-star lineup of indie and alt-rock bands from across the country is making its way to Roadrunner Boston Jan. 31 and Feb. 1 for the second annual<\/a> Something in the Way festival.<\/p>\n

Hosted by Run for Cover Records and The Bowery Presents, the weekend is jam-packed with two dozen bands performing back-to-back. With so little time to cover so much musical ground, the Brighton venue has a two-stage setup so there\u2019s no delay between sets.<\/p>\n

Live from Roadrunner, below are all the festival updates and reviews you\u2019ll need. Check back often for more updates, photos, and videos!<\/p>\n

Angel Du$t tests the crowd\u2019s power<\/p>\n

Angel Du$t<\/a> was a force to be reckoned with. The energy was so nonstop that you\u2019d be forgiven for thinking their 45-minute set was one long song.<\/p>\n

The Baltimore-based hardcore band was ready to unleash everything they had from the second their set time began. Led by Justice Tripp\u2019s abrasive vocals, it took no time at all for audience members to rush the stage.<\/p>\n

The diving and surfing had already begun with Febuary\u2019s set, but the hyped crowd found a way to up the ante. As fast as the rapid-fire drum beats and wild tempo changes, dancing audience members leaped on stage and did flips back into the crowd.<\/p>\n

Tripp was just as amped up, and he jumped and kicked his way around the stage. He knew just how to talk to the crowd to keep the energy high.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow do you f\u2014ing feel?\u201d he screamed. \u201cHow do you f\u2014ing feel? Make some noise!\u201d<\/p>\n

Tigers Jaw will be around<\/p>\n

Capping off the night\u2019s shorter half-hour sets, indie emo band Tigers Jaw<\/a> had something to offer for fans new and old. With two decades of history behind them, the band proved its worth as one of the festival\u2019s more established acts.<\/p>\n

Tigers Jaw first established itself as an emo band, but over time, it has more closely embraced the indie rock genre. They\u2019ll be following this sound on to their new album, \u201cLost on You,\u201d which is slated for release March 27.<\/p>\n

To celebrate the new album, the band will be going back on tour. During Saturday night\u2019s set, Walsh announced that this tour will include a show at The Sinclair in Cambridge.<\/p>\n

\u201cBoston, thank you so much,\u201d Walsh said. \u201cWe\u2019ll see you soon.\u201d<\/p>\n

GUV wants everyone to have a good time<\/p>\n

Musician Ben Cook and his power pop project GUV<\/a> brought some levity to contrast with the darker tones of some of the day\u2019s other bands.<\/p>\n

\u201cY\u2019all ready for us to rock?\u201d Cook said. \u201cBoston, what\u2019s up?\u201d<\/p>\n

Spanning pop to rock to punk, GUV had a varied vibe that made them sound like The Clash on one song and The 1975 on the next. Rather than droning tones or screamy vocals, the band focused on simple riffs and infectious melodic hooks.<\/p>\n

GUV\u2019s more positive attitude was definitely a change of pace, but Cook handled it with ease. He gave shout-outs to his bandmates, lent his scarf to an audience member, and called a particularly enthusiastic dancer on stage to hype everyone else up.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not seeing enough movement,\u201d the crowd member called.<\/p>\n

After hearing this voice of the people, the audience showed Cook the energy he was looking for. True to the optimism he conveyed through GUV\u2019s songs, he showed his gratitude as he closed out the set.<\/p>\n

Momma centers the day with a versatile sound<\/p>\n

Marking the halfway point of the festival\u2019s first day, Brooklyn-based indie rock band Momma<\/a> gave concertgoers a chance to breathe and feel the music.<\/p>\n

With the sun down and Roadrunner\u2019s floor filled,\u00a0Momma\u2019s smoother, more flexible sound mixed some pop influences in with its indie rock flavor. Vocalist and guitarists Etta Friedman and Allegra Weingarten bathed audiences in trippy, lush guitar tones.<\/p>\n

The band put most of its focus on the music and chose to communicate its politics more through actions than words. Friedman announced that the proceeds from all Momma merchandise sales at the festival would go to the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota<\/a>, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free legal representation to low-income immigrants in the state.<\/p>\n

How Much Art wants to be your local band<\/p>\n

Newly formed post-punk band How Much Art<\/a> took things in a new direction instrumentally. While the acts before them had a vibe mostly built on screeching guitars and thumping bass and drums, the six-piece group of New Englanders introduced some supple synth sounds to their mix.<\/p>\n

Frontman Pat Flynn, who previously made a name for himself in the bands Have Heart and Fiddlehead, formed the band<\/a> last year. Despite being around for less than a trip around the sun, Flynn and his bandmates have already established a devoted fanbase.<\/p>\n

How Much Art\u2019s sound served as a solid middle ground between the other acts so far. Their melodies were catchy enough for the audience to chant along, yet their sound was hard enough to prompt more stage-diving and crowd surfing.<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you Massachusetts, we\u2019re your local band,\u201d Flynn said as the band finished its set. \u201cWe want to play in your kitchen. We want to play in your bedroom.\u201d<\/p>\n

Febuary unleashes a screamy wall of sound\"\"Febuary \u2013 Ben Stas for Boston.com<\/p>\n

Las Vegas-based screamo band Febuary<\/a> wasted no time in turning up the volume. Playing in Boston for the second time, the four-piece group brought out a hardcore sound that the crowd was clearly hungry for.<\/p>\n

Within seconds, a mosh pit formed in the crowd, and with every song, the pandemonium escalated. By the time Febuary finished its set, audience members were running on stage and diving into the crowd in pairs.<\/p>\n

Vocalist and guitarist Rila Ogawa let out blood-curdling screams as drummer Abby Walker unleashed blast beats on the kit. To keep the intensity up, the band oscillated between barrages of noise and moody, tension-building passages with whispered vocals and droning minor chords.<\/p>\n

Febuary found itself embroiled in controversy last year when its ex-bassist claimed<\/a> she was kicked out of the band for \u201cnot being emo enough.\u201d The other members have repeatedly refuted that claim, and their performance Saturday felt like a cathartic release of their frustrations.<\/p>\n

Following the example of previous acts, Ogawa echoed other bands\u2019 cries of \u201cf\u2014 ICE\u201d and \u201cfree Palestine.\u201d However, with so much political and personal tension, she seemed to be having trouble expressing it in words.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re at a really f\u2014ed-up time in the world right now,\u201d Ogawa said.<\/p>\n

\"\"Teen Suicide \u2013 Ben Stas for Boston.com<\/p>\n

Orlando-based indie-rock band Teen Suicide<\/a> took a different approach, honing its outrage on specific federal agencies.<\/p>\n

\u201cF\u2014 ICE forever,\u201d lead vocalist Sam Ray said. \u201cF\u2014 the IDF, f\u2014 the CIA, f\u2014 American imperialism, and f\u2014 capitalism.\u201d<\/p>\n

Graham Hunt keeps the political outcries going\"\"Graham Hunt \u2013 Ben Stas for Boston.com<\/p>\n

Taking it back to the main stage, Graham Hunt<\/a> made an impact as the first solo act of the day. With a more straightforward indie rock sound than Her New Knife or Gollylagging, the Midwestern musician and his backing band seared through a set of tightly-written tracks.<\/p>\n

By the time Hunt made the stage, Roadrunner was already starting to fill up. He made sure to note this dedicated turnout in between songs.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s crazy that so many people are here at 2:45,\u201d Hunt said.<\/p>\n

Perhaps inspired by Her New Knife\u2019s outspokenness, Hunt handed out his own dose of commentary on international politics and the Trump administration\u2019s current immigration efforts.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m super excited to be here in Boston,\u201d Hunt said. \u201cThat said, f\u2014 ICE and free Palestine.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her New Knife: \u2018ICE is a criminal gang\u2019\"\"Her New Knife \u2013 Ben Stas for Boston.com<\/p>\n

Philadelphia-based alternative shoegaze band Her New Knife<\/a> kicked things off. The band formed in 2020 by lead vocalist Edgar Atencio, guitarist Ben Kachler, bassist Carolina Schooley, and drummer Elijah Ford while the four of them were students at Florida State University.<\/p>\n

Starting at 1:30 p.m., Her New Knife knew that the biggest crowds wouldn\u2019t form until later that night. Atencio made sure to thank the dedicated fans who showed up early to see them play.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are Her New Knife,\u201d he said. \u201cThank you for being here so early, it\u2019s really nice to see you.\u201d<\/p>\n

With hushed, sinister vocals and heavily distorted guitars, Her New Knife had the formidable job of setting the tone for the rest of the day. By the end of their half-hour set, they proved that they were up to the task.<\/p>\n

Before they left the stage, they made their feelings clear about the current state of national politics, condemning Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).<\/p>\n

\u201cICE is a criminal gang,\u201d Atencio said. \u201cGo vote or buy guns. Thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Boston-based indie rock act Gollylagging<\/a> followed that act with its own dose of droning guitars, proving that they could bring just as much energy from the secondary stage.<\/p>\n

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