Harnessing Hopes and Spitting on Strangers

Graphic by Cate Banks

By Patrick McGill

Whenever a band reunites for a run of shows, I always wind up asking myself the same question: who exactly is this for? Is it for the old fans who were there since day one, hoping to get a blast of nostalgia by seeing their favorites back on stage? Or, is it for the new fans who’ve just stumbled upon an artist that speaks to them but happens to be from decades past? Evidently, both kinds of fans are going to be there and, in my case, I found myself somewhere in between. 

I’ve been aware of Pavement since high school but it wasn’t until the early days of the pandemic when I started listening to them. There was something comforting about their nonsensical lyrics and beautiful melodies. I spent hours listening to their live bootlegs throughout the summer, finding their improvisational moments just as impactful as the music they recorded in the studio. Upon hearing they were getting back together, I wanted to see those moments for myself. However, knowing that this would probably be their last tour for a long time my anxiety also peaked. What if I don’t get to hear the songs as they were originally intended? What if there’s too much improv? What if there’s not enough? But, something incredible happened at the Wang Theatre this past Wednesday. Pavement managed to give me, and others in attendance, the best of both worlds.

Beginning the set with “Grounded,” a track off their third studio album Wowee Zowee (1995), frontman/lead guitarist Stephen Malkmus swung his Stratocaster in epic rockstar fashion, setting a playful vibe that carried on for the rest of the night. That carefree tone extended far past the group’s physical performance, though. Despite most of the setlist being played by the books, Pavement proved that they weren’t musically stuck in their 90s heyday. Using a lot of material from their often-overlooked fourth record, Brighten the Corners (1997), the band opens up and extends to jammier territory. The softer tune “Type Slowly” is expanded upon with Malkmus fiddling around with his guitar’s volume knob, creating atmospheric swells that make the song’s already ambient sound feel larger than the venue it's confined to. All of this builds towards the multi-part “Fight this Generation,” where hypeman and percussionist, Bob Nostanovich, takes to the stage shouting the title as a refrain in the bottom half.

Then the lights dim and the intro of the newly popular B-side, “Harness Your Hopes,” begins. The somewhat reserved crowd shaked away their nerves and started to sing along with every tune, feeding the band with excitement. From then on it’s mostly singles and fan favorites, except for the roaring “Half a Canyon,”which hasn’t played hasn’t been played since ‘96. As mentioned earlier, most of these songs are played as you would expect with few added flourishes. What saves it from utter predictability is the addition of new keyboardist, Rebecca Cole. A role often given to Nostanovich due to his ability rather than talent, Cole adds a layer of professionalism to the band’s quirky synth lines. Meanwhile, Nastanovich is finally given free range to be the amazing hype man he always is. Under his control, the crowd unites in massive flurries of energy, especially during the bombastically punk “Unfair” and set closer “Cut Your Hair.”

At their final show in 1999, Malkmus pointed to a pair of handcuffs attached to his mic stand and remarked, “These symbolize what it’s like to be in a band.” What spun from that was the band’s demise, creating the narrative that their final days were built on stress, passive aggression, and general resentment. Based on interviews leading up to this tour, it seemed that even in 2010, when they went on their first reunion tour, these feelings were still there despite some well received shows. I’m very happy to report that, even with a couple of off notes and false starts, that the band actually looked excited to be there while delivering a powerful show for their fans. In short, they not only pulled off the balancing act between old and new but surpassed it, truly keeping their title as one the greatest acts in indie rock.