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Boston Calling 2025 had a grand finale on day three with performances from The 502s, Sublime, and Dave Matthews Band.

The 502s

The 502s, an indie folk group hailing from Florida, were all smiles as they started their set at Boston Calling. Circling around each other as a tropical background flooded the stage’s screens, they began to jump and sing “If Good Times Were Dollars.” The band kept up this lively energy throughout the set, with lead singer Eddie Isola taking charge to direct the crowd. Joe Capati on the horns was especially lively, doing a lot of crowd work. “You want to sing with me a little bit?” he asked at one point, doing a call and response with his saxophone.

The set was packed with songs, many of them named after women — like “Olivia,” “Magdalene,” and “Hey Julia.” “We just want to play as many songs as we possibly can for you guys,” Isola said, explaining the fast pace that kept the songs coming. Although the speed of the set sometimes felt dizzying, it was held together by the entire group’s obvious passion.

The last track, “Just A Little While,” was infectiously rowdy, as the band urging the crowd to jump with them caused an uproar. The lively energy of this final song encapsulated the upbeat atmosphere that The 502s cultivated throughout their entire set.

Sublime

A cacophony of barking dog noises filled the air as Sublime took the stage at Boston Calling. Two huge blow-up dogs flanked the stage, representing the band’s dalmatian mascot. As the noise quieted down, the background of the stage began to show footage of California as the band started to play its chill music. Jakob Nowell, the band’s current lead singer, swayed at his microphone, displaying quiet confidence that matched the low-key atmosphere of the first songs.

“It’s a special day for my family,” admitted Nowell as the set entered its midpoint. “Today we celebrate the life of my father.” May 25 marked the 29th anniversary of Bradley Nowell’s death, the original lead singer of the band who died of a heroin overdose in 1996. “He couldn’t be here, but we’re happy that you are,” Nowell said. Nowell’s callouts to his father infused the performance with palpable emotion, bringing the crowd together.

Nowell slipped into the role of band leader with ease, charming the crowd with a smile as he grooved along with his bandmates. During “April 29th, 1992 (Miami),” he customized the lyrics to include “Boston, Massachusetts,” eliciting a cheer from the crowd. He kept promising that the sun would soon show itself, and when rays of sunshine finally burst through the crowds, he paused to let the audience scream its approval.

The music itself was excellent, sticking true to the original studio tracks while also giving room for improvisation and jam time. “Doin’ Time” was especially groovy, and “The Ballad Of Johnny Butt” felt free-flowing. The final song “Santeria” was the standout, though, making the crowd sway along and sing together. Altogether, Sublime’s set was chill yet compelling, showing that Nowell is doing right by his father’s legacy.

Dave Matthews Band

“It’s unseasonably cold as a motherfucker here,” Dave Matthews quipped as he began his headlining set at Boston Calling. It indeed was a freezing night in Boston, but still the crowd cheered alongside his rock hits. Matthews’ comedic capabilities were on display at the concert, as he took moments to comment on the weather, set, and even his outfit. “This is the only jacket I could find. I think it’s old,” he said, generating laughter in the sprawling audience spread out across the Harvard Athletic Complex.

While Matthews had some jokes, the real focus of the show was the interplay between his vocals and the talent of his band. The group played their iconic ’90s tracks like “Tripping Billies,” “So Much to Say,” and “Crash into Me.” However, they also allowed time for each song to turn into an explosive jam fest that highlighted the group’s improvisational abilities. Long instrumentals helped bridge the gaps between songs, creating an immersive and flowing experience.

Matthews himself kept taking moments to speak to the audience. Besides making jokes, he also mused on his beliefs about the current state of the world. “I think we should stop calling our leaders ‘leaders.’ We should call them misleaders,” he said after the end of a long batch of songs. He called for hope and unity in our current times before spotlighting each of his bandmates and then launching into his next batch of tunes.

An especially powerful performance was his mashup of Bob Dylan’s “All Along the Watchtower” and Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven.” The band was able to turn these tracks into a haunting medley that rocked Boston Calling. Altogether, the set was a testament to the band’s prowess as a live group.

—Staff writer Hannah E. Gadway can be reached at hannah.gadway@thecrimson.com.