Pavement wound down their second reunion era with a rarities-packed performance last night (Oct. 1) at New York’s Sony Hall, coinciding with the premiere this week of the pseudo biopic Pavements at the New York Film Festival.
Setting the table for what they were about to experience, fans were greeted with handwritten pieces of paper reading, “in the spirit of the ’90s-era Pavement, particularly Lollapalooza (95), we didn’t often have a game plan or a set list — we don’t tonight but the songs will be pulled from this, out-of-order, buncha Pavement songs. Thank you for your patience and thanks for coming!”
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Indeed, the show featured eight songs from the Stephen Malkmus-led band’s beloved 1992 album Slanted and Enchanted, plus three from the prior year’s Perfect Sound Forever EP and three more from their debut 1989 EP Slay Tracks. The B-side “Easily Fooled” was performed for the first time since 1997, while “Perfect Depth,” from the 1990 EP Demolition Plot J-7, was aired for the first time since Pavement’s original reunion in 2012. Touring keyboardist Rebecca Cole, who has been on board since Pavement’s 2022 reformation, was absent due to commitments in Sweden.
Acknowledging the uncertain future of the band, which first broke up in 1999, the oft-irascible Malkmus at one point announced, “well, that’s the end of our career.” Having earlier led the crowd in happy 100th birthday wishes for former president Jimmy Carter, percussionist/vocalist Bob Nastanovich said during the encore that the appearance would be Pavement’s “last show for a long time.”
“Wylde pave show last night in the west 40’s of manhattan … Loose early 90’s aggregate,” Malkmus wrote on X after the gig.
And while Pavement’s next move is unknown, Malkmus is quickly transitioning into the new band the Hard Quartet, which also features Matt Sweeney, Jim White and Emmett Kelly. The combo’s self-titled debut album will be released Friday via Pavement’s longtime home Matador Records.
As for the Alex Ross Perry-directed Pavements, it will be released theatrically in the U.S. by Utopia and on streaming platforms through Mubi.
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