Photo via Pavement’s Official Facebook

Last night, Pavement performed their first concert in over a decade. The indie icons descended upon The Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles to deliver a 23-song single-set performance stacked full of ‘90s bust-outs. A two-part encore capped the show, the first saw a five-song return from the band, and the night’s final reappearance featured a live debut of Jim Pepper’s “Witchi Tai To.”

The show got underway with a pairing off 1992’s Slated Enchanted, “Our Singer,” and “Frontwards.” Next, the band served up the evening’s first bust-outs, “Embassy Row” and “Black Out,” which had not been played live since 1997. Then, Pavement dug into “Trigger Cut” ahead of 2004’s “Kennel District.”

Fan-favorite “Spit on a Stranger” was played ahead of “Gold Soundz.” Then, Pavement performed three consecutive bust-outs, beginning with “Transport Is Arranged,” last played in Atlanta in 1997, followed by two songs, last gigged in 1996, “Serpentine Pad” and “Motion Suggests.” 

They played “Two States” and “The Hexx” before “Shoot the Singer.” 2004’s “Grounded” was played before 1999 bust out “Harness Your Hope,” a tune which appeared on the ensemble’s 1997 LP, Brighten the Corners. Next, “Silence Kid” was performed, followed by crowd-pleaser, “Cut Your Hair.” 

The single set performance continued with an extended jam on 1997 bust out, “Type Slowly.” “Perfume-V” was played next, then the California natives threw it back to 1992 with “Fame Throwa,” a song that had not been performed live since 1993. “Range Life” was played ahead of the final song of the main set, a 1999 bust out of “Folk Jam.”

After a brief break, the alt-rockers returned to deliver their first set of encores, beginning with “Shady Lane” and “Unfair.” Next, they busted out “Grave Architecture” and “Major Leagues,” both of which hadn’t been played since 1999, and capped it with “Summer Babe.” For their second encore, Pavement began by performing “Here.” Then, for the final song of their long-awaited return to the stage, they debuted a cover of Jim Pepper’s “Witchi Tai To.” 

Last night’s show has been long anticipated. The band was scheduled to return to the road before the spread of COVID-19, which halted their tour plans. Before Monday night’s return, Pavement last played together during their 2010 reunion tour.  

Pavement 
The Fonda Theatre– Los Angeles
May 23, 2022

Set: Our Singer, Frontwards, Embassy Row, Black Out, Trigger Cut, Kennel District, Spit on a Stranger, Gold Soundz, Transport Is Arranged, Serpentine Pad, Motion Suggests, Two States, The Hexx, Shoot the Singer, Grounded, Harness Your Hopes, Silence Kid, Cut Your Hair, Type Slowly, Perfume-V, Fame Throwa, Range Life, Folk Jam 

Enc. 1: Shady Lady, Unfair, Grave Architecture, Major Leagues, Summer Babe

Enc. 2: Here, Witchi Tai To*

Notes: 

* Live debut, Jim Pepper cover