Fastball At The Middle East

Written by: Bhumika

On April 24, the Middle East Restaurant and Nightclub in Boston, Massachusetts, became a nostalgic venue as Fastball made its comeback with a new album titled “Sonic Ranch,” slated to release on June 21. The atmosphere was sentimental from the moment the band embarked on stage, making it clear the audience was in for a musical treat.

Opening the night was Kier Byrnes & The Kettle Burners, a country band with rootsy sounds, that warmed up the crowd with each beat and riff. The band expressed their gratitude to share the stage with the legendary headliner and left the crowd wanting more.

As the lights dimmed, Fastball took center stage to remind the audience they may have been away but they are thrilled to be back on tour. Lead singer Miles Zuniga immediately engaged the audience with his melodic voice and effortless charm.

The setlist was carefully curated to let the audience celebrate their tunes across the decades. The band started with “Fire Escape” and ended with “Sooner or Later.” A favorite was “America,” which was performed midway through the set. Miles shared the song is an effort to celebrate the goodness he sees in each city the band tours, which is in stark contrast to the headlines that dominate the news cycle that focuses on the country drowning.

It was clear the audience was filled with fans that have followed the band from the early days, singing along to the lyrics and swaying to the rock tunes. Certain fans also had their devices held up to record their favorite song.

In the end, the band’s chemistry cannot be ignored. Both Tony Scalzo who was on bass and Joey Shuffield on drums were in step with Miles to create a nostalgic and celebratory mood on a Tuesday night in Boston. One could not tell me that the band had taken a hiatus – veteran musicians leaving it all on the stage.