Halfway through their tour across North America, Niis made a visit to Boston. Performing at the Middle East Club, they are thrashing through their first headlining tour. The timing is perfect as they celebrate their debut LP Niis World. Released in March 2025 through Get Better Records, the album pits dark, looming notes from bassist Izabella DeVroende with singer Mimi SanDoe interchangeably whispering and growling the vocals.

The rubber banding, push and pull of those tones is reflected in the live set. SanDoe saunters in her knee-high, heeled leather boots for the verse portions of many songs and then perches herself atop the speakers in a spider-sprawled pose. The venomous poses accentuate her guttural tone. Each syllable has an emphasis through her dynamic performance. On this particular evening, SanDoe’s agility shown even more true. While belting out the chorus of one track standing atop a speaker, she slipped and fell about six feet to the floor. “Did you all see when I nearly just died?” asked SanDoe. Hardly anyone seemed to notice, however, due to her landing with such a composed pounce.

Chunky guitar riffs fuel the narrative of the Niis tracks. Ryan McGuffin steers this aesthetic with Gibson. With his towering kicks, the point comes across snarling loud and clear. Niis drummer Jonathan Salvo played at times with such a relaxed composure that he rested a leg across his drum kit. But like a greyhound, he was seemingly saving energy for the cataclysm of rhythms to come.

Skipping over a brightly tagged corner of the club’s load-in area for post-show photos, McGuffin declared, “We don’t really like color, anyway.” The absence of color in many instances does seem to allow the striking orange and red tones of SanDoe to further make a statement. As she whips her long tresses during the show, it adds a volatile aspect to the performance. It can be an emblematic summation of their set—pure cut, orchestrated chaos.

Pollyanna of New Jersey are supporting the tour with Niis. The band blend pop-punk and grunge aesthetics. And like their name, which is defined as irrepressible optimism, singer Jill Beckett bares a huge smile and goofiness through much of the set. Even when leading the audience in some “fuck you” chanting, the snarl is done in a saturated release of joy.

Boston locals JVK opened the show. With a howling, powerful voice and glam vibes across the stage, they kicked things off with high energy.

NIIS

Pollyanna

JVK