Nice Guys played ONCE – 8/7

Allston mainstays Nice Guys headlined a wild bill in Somerville last Saturday with Zip Tie Handcuffs, Boston Cream and Rick Rude.

With a slew of killer shows and an outdoor expanse that feels a little more inviting than a crowded club these days, ONCE’s summer space at Boynton Yards has emerged as the marquee attraction for greater Boston’s tentative 2021 live music summer. Last Saturday’s quadruple header was a prime example of why.

Dover, NH indie rockers Rick Rude opened things up, and from there out it was Boston all the way, spanning the art-punk disco theatrics of Boston Cream to Zip Tie Handcuffs‘ garage-psych jams and a genuinely unhinged, guest-assisted closing set from Nice Guys. It was a showcase of some of the finest weirdo rock the northeast has to offer, with every set one-upping the photogenic qualities of the last. You can see plenty of evidence of that in the gallery below.