Last year at about this time, Speedy Ortiz – the clever quartet from Northampton, MA – played its way into my heart at The Firebird and put on one of the best sets I saw in 2015.

Sadie Dupuis of Speedy Ortiz, June 2015, St. Louis

Darl Ferm of Speedy Ortiz, June 2015, St. Louis

Devin McKnight of Speedy Ortiz, June 2015, St. Louis

With apt comparisons to independent-minded trailblazers Pavement and Liz Phair, Speedy Ortiz has revealed itself in recent years as a wholly smart, original, and caustic rock band.

Much has been made about front-person Sadie Dupuis’ academic pedigree. (She’s attended M.I.T. and Barnard, and carries an MFA in poetry from UMass Amherst, I think.) And yes, I find that personally impressive as a poem dork and a word nerd, like so many of my show-going sistren.

But after the week we’ve had, y’all…it must be said that Speedy Ortiz just rocks faces during live performances. Maybe what we need is a hearty dose of loud, artistic expression right now.

The sweeties at Pagan Productions have offered IWTAS followers not one but TWO pairs of tickets to Thursday’s Speedy show at The Firebird w/ Choir Vandals and new local act Sunday Candy. 

Leave a comment below by Thursday morning to be entered to win a pair. (Include with your words a real human first and last name and an email address that you check on the reg, please.)