A SHAMELESS TAMBOURINE
Stuck between the LL Bean boots and the ironic t-shirts of the tragically hip Portland scene.
This was the third-to-last Pavement concert in the United States, and it’s easily one of my favorite live recordings of the band in circulation, both in terms of sound quality and band performance. They’re in fine form here, and Malkmus is super playful, rewriting verses of songs on the spot, and turning “Shady Lane” into a quasi-bluegrass number just for the fun of it. There are the usual pleasures, too — a goofy version of “Stereo,” Bob blasting out his voice on “Unfair” and “Debris Slide,” and stunning takes on “Shoot The Singer”, “Grounded”, and “Here”.
Grounded / Spit On A Stranger / Date With Ikea / The Hexx / Carrot Rope / Rattled By The Rush / Shoot The Singer / Stereo / Major Leagues / In The Mouth A Desert / Billie / You Are A Light / Here / Kennel District / Debris Slide // Father To A Sister Of Thought / Folk Jam / Shady Lane / Unfair
