The Canadian indie rock band Calpurnia, fronted by Stranger Things’ Finn Wolfhard, kicked off their latest tour in Portland, and to say the city was excited to welcome the band is an understatement. Fans were seen as early as 8am camping in line in front of the historic Crystal Ballroom. The venue normally has the floor area split down the center with all ages on the left, leaving the right side and balcony reserved for the 21 and over audience. Instead, the floor was opened up and left only a small corner of the room and balcony to the parents of audience that filled and nearly sold out the venue.
Above an assortment of amps rested a miniature marque that read “HELLO PDX WE ARE CALPURNIA,” with a black curtain draped behind the stage. The minimalistic set approach allowed the band to be the focus of the attention, and thrive in their energetic and enthusiastic performance. With audience interaction and quips on Portland throughout their set, the love between Calpurnia and their fans was mutual. For those who waited in line nearly 12 hours it was a night they will never forget.
Though Calpurnia as of this show only has released 2018’s EP Scout, they made the most of their time and filled their set with unreleased music and covers such as Weezer’s “Say It Ain’t So.” Though they are still early in their music careers, Calpurnia shows a lot of promise and talent with their blend of modern indie and classic rock coupled with their simple and melodic lyrics. As Calpurnia defines their sound and footing in the industry, their already large and devoted fanbase will grow even more as they prove to be a band to know and be recognized.
For more information on Calpurnia, including tour dates, visit their website.
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