REVIEW: Pleasure Pill and Benches in Boston
WRITTEN BY LAUREN CHENETTE
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Photo by Lauren Chenette
Sonia is a dynamic live music venue in Cambridge, Massachusetts, that quickly established itself as a key spot for emerging talent and eclectic sounds. Housed in an intimate 350-capacity hall, it offers a close-up experience where audiences can connect directly with performers, creating an electric atmosphere flowing through every gig. As part of the expanding Middle East Restaurant and Club, Sonia taps into the Middle East’s rich roots with rock and underground indie acts throughout the Boston scene. This connection to a shared local live music legacy and its fresh energy make Sonia a must-visit venue for anyone looking to catch the next wave of emerging indie rock music.
Pleasure Pill kicked things off with an explosive kind of swagger similar to the golden age of Britpop, but with a much sharper and more modern edge. Their set was a confident blend of jangly guitar hooks, strong, compelling vocals, and a raw basement indie feel. Frontman Jonah Paz owned the stage with an effortless cool–completely entrancing the crowd. Whether he was tossing around the tambourine or leaping across the stage, the buzzing atmosphere of the venue was kept alive and electric from start to finish. Tracks built like fireworks, with choruses that begged to be sung and danced along to. By the final song, the whole room had a single understanding: Pleasure Pill weren’t just playing music, they were throwing a party we will all be talking about!
Benches followed with a set unfolding in a more alluring, dreamlike energy that felt both intimate and immersive. Shimmering guitar lines layered over warm, resonant basslines drew the audience into a shared emotional space. The guitars roared and whispered in perfect harmony, creating waves of sound that continuously pulled the crowd in. Anson Kelley’s vocals were nuanced and haunting, blending into the instrumentation to create a lush sonic backdrop. The songs felt conversational yet still intense, almost like a delicate present for the audience. Each track seemed to invite listeners into a quiet reverie, a space where vulnerability and strength coexisted. By the end of Benches’ set, the room was soaked in a lingering sense of calm intensity, leaving the audience captivated and eager for more.
Both bands were incredibly engaged with the crowd, breaking the usual performer-audience barrier with genuine warmth. They were even manning their merch tables before and after sets, chatting with fans while having an overall humbleness that truly heightened the sense of community within the venue. It was clear that both the venue and the bands cared about the music on stage, but also about cultivating a space where artists could connect with fans on a real level. By the end of the night, it was clear that Sonia was a cultural hub for rising voices and underground acts.
The energy from Pleasure Pill’s lively celebration to Benches’ hypnotic reverie made for a night that truly captured the heart of the Boston indie scene’s spirit: raw, intimate, and alive.