It was the mid-nineties and I was living in a nothing town, under the noisy flight path of an airport. As a recent high school graduate, I was working double/triple shifts in a coffee shop at said airport just to get OUT OF THERE. I had taken the year off to work as much as possible, feel angsty as hell and hopefully save enough money to put myself on a train around Europe and, subsequently, a move south. My brother had gone off to college just a few months before, and I was only too happy to take advantage of his record collection (remember, these were pre-mp3 days, and actual CDs actually meant something). It was 1995, and a pretty damn good time music wise, particularly for US indie rock. Sebadoh, Guided by Voices, the first Sparklehorse album, Dinosaur Jr, Sonic Youth… and of course Pavement.
“Wasn’t the question you asked me,
it wasn’t the answer I gave,
that made me feel like I was on a train.
Was a distant voice.
Made me make a choice,
that I had to get the fuck out of this town.
I got a lot of things to do,
a lot of places to go.
I`ve got a lot of good things coming my way,
and I’m afraid to say that you`re not one of them.”
pavement ist rad
I remember making mixtapes to listen to on my Walkman (similar to an iPod, just a little bigger), for my back and forth trips to the airport. All the above bands featured on said tapes, and I still clearly remember the feeling I got when listening to Range Life, Father to a Sister of Thought, Here… It just felt magical, unlike anything I’d ever heard before. Lifting me right out of there, off that bus, and into the world. A world the eighteen year old me was so eager to join.
And now it’s 55 years later, and Pavement are back (albeit temporarily). They played their last gig back in 1999 at the Brixton Academy in London, and will be playing their first reunion gig – the first in over 10 years – tonight in Auckland, New Zealand (If you are/were lucky enough to attend, please leave a comment telling us how it was!!) , after which they’ll make their way across the world and hopefully to a town near you.
Pavement, it’s good to have you back!
Pavement – Home (Live)
Pavement – Frontwards (Live)
Pavement – Box Elder (Live)
*
Linkage:
‘Pavement for Dummies‘ (My post from last year, and something of an introduction to the band)
Sneak Behind the Scenes of the Pavement Reunion Tour (Pitchfork)
Rather interesting recent GQ interview with Stephen Malkmus
Pre-order Pavement’s upcoming Best Of album:
UPDATE: here’s the setlist of their first show. And yep, I could definitely live with that 
and a picture!
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I just saw Pavement in Auckland. It was an awesome show. The band hasn’t changed or grown up at all. They were very laid back and cool as they were having fun on stage. The songs where brilliantly performed with some chaotic parts added in just for fun. They played most of their singles but surprised with a lot of songs from slanted.
Hey Mike, thanks a lot! I’ve been anxiously waiting to hear the initial feedback. I was mainly worried about this awkward band-members-positioned-as-far-away-from-each-other-as-possible-going-through-the-motions kinda thing (hello, Pixies). Guess I shouldn’t really be surprised if that wasn’t the case though, since they didn’t seem to hate each other or anything when they split up. Still, good to hear.
I’m already counting down to May, when Letters have no Arms gets to see them too (at Primavera Sound)…:)
Thanks again!
this was an incredible show. my god i can’t say enough. they were loose on stage and all seemed to be having a great time, with an ear to ear grin on ibold’s face the entire show. they were incredibly tight in their playing though which i found a little suprising. i mean i assumed they were gonna be good but thought they would struggle a little bit. there were a couple timing things that they missed slightly but overall the musicianship was incredible. there didn’t seem to be any tension at all between the members. at one point s malk couldn’t read the setlist cuz he was so stoned and the whole band just laughed at him and bob had to come over and help him out. it was hilarious and good natured. all signs point to a great reunion tour. gonna see them again at the sasquatch! festival and am already counting down the days.
Wow, if I was excited before, hearing this and seeing the youtube videos (they do really look like they’re having fun) has only made me even more excited. Bring on May!
p.s. Thanks for dropping by
Hey mate, greetings from the Netherlands !