Nearing the end of a 22-date fall reunion tour of North America that kicked off in early September in San Diego, Pavement played the majestic Kings Theatre in Brooklyn this past Sunday, October 2, for the third of four consecutive sell-outs. Often described as one of the most influential bands to emerge from the underground scene in the early-1990s, the indie rockers formed in 1989 in Stockton, California have achieved a cult-like following among its legion of fans.
Arriving just in time for the 6:30 pm doors on a chilly early-October evening, excited concertgoers were spotted congregating in small groups along nearby sidewalks, hastily exiting their Uber beneath the grand marquee or frequenting the bar on the nearby corner of Flatbush Avenue and Duryea Place that doubles as a tattoo parlor. As patrons filed past the security checkpoint, many had a sheer expression of awe on their faces as they witnessed the theater’s ornate, French Baroque style for the first time. The nearly 3,700-seat venue had been restored to its vintage condition and reopened to the public in January 2015, including repairs to the 50,000-square-foot ornamental ceiling.
As the minutes ticked down before the night’s opening act would take the Kings Theatre stage promptly at 8:00 pm, Pavement fans continued to pack the lavish and decorative lobby with gilded walls paneled in American walnut. Many of whom checked out the merch tables, grabbed a drink from the array of bars strategically placed on all levels of the venue, or snapped a cell phone picture of the historic venue’s centerpiece, the console of a “Wonder Morton” pipe organ that was installed in the original Loew’s New York City movie theaters.
Preceded by openers The Goon Sax and Water From Your Eyes on Friday night, and 75 Dollar Bill on Saturday night, Horsegirl would be providing support for their Matador Records labelmate on this night of the residency. The indie rock trio of Penelope Lowenstein (guitar, vocals), Nora Cheng (guitar, vocals), and Gigi Reece (drums) formed Horsegirl three years ago after meeting in Chicago and eventually bonding over their shared love for acts like Sonic Youth and Stereolab. Cheng would announce to the Kings Theatre audience that “Pavement is one of the reasons we started this band.”
Backed by a large video screen resembling a hanging piece of abstract art in a museum, Horsegirl walked onstage bathed in soft purple light as the steadily increasing crowd quietly took to their seats. With palpable, undeniable chemistry, Horsegirl performed a 10-song set filled with guitar feedback and hypnotic melodies from their debut album (Versions of Modern Performance) released this past June. Two of their set numbers, “Ballroom Dance Scene” and “Sea Life Sandwich Boy,” can be found on 2021’s limited edition 7” single (Sonic Cathedral Recordings). As their 35-minute set concluded and by gauging the big round of applause given to these teenage girls who even self-produce their own music videos, it’s a safe bet that Horsegirl is on their way to a very bright future.
After a 30-minute turnover of the stage by Pavement’s crew, the quintet comprised Stephen Malkmus (vocals and guitar), Scott Kannberg (guitar and vocals), Mark Ibold (bass), Steve West (drums) and Bob Nastanovich (percussion and vocals) unassumingly appeared in the dark shadows just a couple of minutes past 9:00 pm. Additionally, for this reunion tour, the band is joined by Rebecca Cole (keyboards and backing vocals), a former member of the Minders and Wild Flag.
Completely mixing up their setlist from each of the previous two nights, the first of Pavement’s 25-song collection was “Major Leagues,” from their fifth and final studio album Terror Twilight (1999). With the exception of Nastanovich, each band member would remain in their respective stage location for the majority of the 1-hour and 50-minute show. Nastanovich, on the other hand, served as a second drummer and as lead vocalist on several songs that often required screaming, and which also found him directly engaging with the throng of die-hard fans standing in the small pit section along the stage apron.
Touring for the first time in 12 years, when they undertook a well-received reunion tour in 2010, Pavement’s third successive Brooklyn show bestowed upon their loyal fans yet another representative sampling of their impressive discography. Accompanied by Malkmus’ humorous and often cryptic lyrical themes, at least three songs were performed from each of their five studio albums released between 1992 and 1999, including “We Dance” (Wowee Zowee, 1995), “Cut Your Hair” (Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain, 1994), “The Hexx” (Terror Twilight, 1999), “Stereo” (Brighten the Corners, 1997) and “Here” (Slanted and Enchanted, 1992). Pavement fans were also treated to tracks selected from five of their early- to mid-1990s EP releases, including “Gangsters & Pranksters” (Pacific Trim, 1996).
With only a few minor hiccups and far more highlights, all six band members were in prime form. However, with the crowd standing all night long, but still relatively subdued overall, one of several stand-out moments included the raucous crowd sing-a-long during the pre-chorus of “Range Life” – “Don’t worry, we’re in no hurry. Schools out. What did you expect?” – taken from the aforementioned Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain studio album. During the evening, Nastanovich would also praise Horsegirl as a “fantastic band,” while Malkmus later offered thanks to all the people who work at Kings Theatre, “they’ve all been really nice” [during our stay here].
Following an encore break that lasted several minutes, Pavement would not disappoint yet again, performing fan-essential tunes such as “Spit on a Stranger” (Terror Twilight, 1999) and “Summer Babe” (Slanted and Enchanted, 1992). The extraordinary show closed shortly before 11:00 pm with “Stop Breathin” and an epic ‘on his knees’ guitar solo by Malkmus, another track from 1994’s Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain.
The final show of Pavement’s North American reunion tour will be at Austin City Limits Live on October 11. The current leg of the tour will then be immediately followed by an international trek that will take Pavement to the United Kingdom, France, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Ireland, Japan, and Australia, finishing in early March 2023.
Horsegirl Setlist: Electrolocation 2 > World of Pots and Pans > Ballroom Dance Scene > Homage to Birdnoculars > Option 8 > Anti-glory > Live and Ski > Sea Life Sandwich Boy > Beautiful Song > Billy
Pavement Setlist: Major Leagues > In the Mouth a Desert > Two States > We Dance > Harness Your Hopes > Cut Your Hair > Heaven Is a Truck > The Hexx > Frontwards > Home > Stereo > Kennel District > Range Life > Folk Jam > Embassy Row > Fight This Generation > Here > Blue Hawaiian > Motion Suggests > Unfair > Encore: Spizzle Trunk > Spit on a Stranger > Gangsters & Pranksters > Summer Babe > Stop Breathin
Horsegirl
Pavement
Comments are closed.