Homecoming

As 2024 draws to a close, Boston’s own Bermuda Search Party is exactly where they want to be – preparing for two nights at The Sinclair, a far cry from their early days playing basement shows. The milestone caps off a transformative year for the band, one marked by changes both deliberate and unexpected.

“We are very excited to have a lot of new elements in our set that are fresh and exciting to us,” shares vocalist Claire. “I think our excitement for the new songs and for the new set is going to translate to fans and audiences – more dancing, more energy, all the good stuff.”

“We’ve got a new intro track that we’re very excited to unveil,” adds Leo, “which features some of my mother’s voiceovers, which is a fun little easter egg to look out for.”

This celebration comes at the end of their Evergreen tour, named after a lyric in their upcoming single “Olivia,” set to release on the first night of their Sinclair run. The tour name carries special significance, as Leo explains: “We wanted to celebrate this idea of taking the warmth of spring into winter, preserving the greenery in our lives and the things that we want to flourish.”

A Year of Change

That spirit of growth and preservation has defined 2024 for the band. The year began with a significant change – dropping their original name, The Q-Tip Bandits, in favor of Bermuda Search Party. “It’s definitely been a year of transition for us, both with the name change and with a lineup change,” Claire reflects. “It did give us a chance to rebrand with a name that we felt fit our band now, as opposed to a name that we kind of just chose and went with out of fun six years ago when we started the band.”

The new name draws inspiration from cryptid legends and the mysterious Bermuda Triangle. “We all grew up with stories of the Loch Ness Monster and Sasquatch,” Leo says. “What better place to bring a search party than somewhere notorious for people getting lost? It’s a reflection of how the music is kind of a journey of looking for ourselves and, in turn, finding others along the way.”

Building Community

This sense of community has been central to the band’s growth. They’ve cultivated spaces where fans can connect not just with the band, but with each other. “We have our little Discord community and other spaces where we can more directly interact and talk with people,” Claire explains. “It’s a lot more of a direct community where other people can also talk to each other, instead of it going through TikTok comments or wondering if the algorithm will show this to people.”

Leo shares her enthusiasm: “I love when one of us pops into the chat, and all these people we’ve met along the way that really want to be plugged in are talking to each other. It’s cool when everyone posts their concert photos, and I’m like, ‘Whoa, I was at that Sammy Rae show,’ or ‘Oh wait, one of you was there?’ To see the music that our fans like through the work they’re doing in the community is really awesome.”

This authentic connection extends to their social media presence, where they’ve managed to turn potential negativity into community-building moments. When an anonymous Twitter user dubbed them “the corniest, most rinky dinky gay ass band out there,” Bermuda Search Party didn’t just embrace the description – they turned it into one of their most popular merchandise items; stickers dubbed “Bermuda Search Party: Your favorite rinky dinky gay ass band.” Claire discovered the tweet during a social media check: “Every few months I go through our Twitter and search ‘Bermuda Search Party’ to see what tweets come up. I found this tweet from like a year ago, and I was like, ‘Oh my god, this is hilarious. I need to share this with the band.’”

Life on the Road

Boston Roots

Their nomination for multiple Boston Music Awards this year validates their evolution while reinforcing their local roots. “Being nominated is just a huge reassurance that this rebrand, that we did, the name change, it reassures that decision,” Leo reflects. “I think there was a lot of fear going into that choice. We were as excited as we were afraid, but it still brought up a lot of fear of like, well, what’s going to happen once we change the name.” Their success at the Boston Music Awards shows fans clearly embraced this change.

The Road Ahead

Looking ahead to 2025, the band promises more new music, including songs recorded in Los Angeles with producer Eric Palmquist (known for his work with Bad Suns and Half Alive). But perhaps most importantly, they remain committed to the authentic, DIY spirit that has defined them from the start.

“These are songs we played in our basements,” Leo says. “These are songs that Claire and I wrote alone in our respective bedrooms, and coming home to Boston and being anywhere in the country where somebody’s singing those words back is just miraculous. Boston is always that reminder that there’s some sort of alchemy or magic happening here that I have always wanted but never could have expected. And even if I’m tired and filled with doubt, I believe in us.”

Catch Bermuda Search Party’s homecoming shows at The Sinclair on December 27 and 28, featuring the debut of their new single “Olivia” and more surprises from the Evergreen tour. Tickets are still available but selling fast.

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