When I headed to D.C. on Tuesday evening to catch Nada Surf at the 9:30 Club, I knew what I was in for. The show marked my fourth time seeing the New York band -- and the third time seeing them at this particular venue. The last time they performed in the area (at the 9:30 Club), they had Calexico's Martin Wenk and Guided by Voices' Doug Gillard supporting them onstage, but Tuesday night's show was the first time Nada Surf were truly performing as a full five-piece band. And while the core trio of Matthew Caws, Daniel Lorca, and Ira Elliot have always sounded bigger than three guys, Nada Surf sounded even more muscular and sonically rich Tuesday night thanks to the increased presence of Wenk and Gillard. I might have gone in knowing what I was in for, but I came out with more than I expected.
Nada Surf have always been the type of band that celebrates the little things in life, making the most out of what you have and where you are. Caws has always been able to draw parallels between the seemingly insignificant and the significant -- don't forget, he managed to write a profound, relatable, and quite compelling song from the point of view of a fruit fly. Live, Nada Surf's observations on life's idiosyncracies roll into an exciting party -- even strangers next to you in the audience feel like comrades on the journey.
During the band's 20 plus song set, there was hardly ever a dull moment as they, primarily, performed cuts from their past four studio albums (The Stars Are Indifferent to Astronomy, Lucky, The Weight Is A Gift, Let Go). Standards like "Killian's Red," "See These Bones," and "Always Love" sounded as great as ever, especially with Gillard adding extra oomph in the pocket. Standouts from the band's new MM-approved album, The Stars Are Indifferent to Astronomy, such as "Clear Eye Clouded Mind" and "Looking Through" were even better live, but other album tracks like "Teenage Dreams" and "No Snow On the Mountain" still lacked the punch live as they do on record. Even so, the momentum never waned, and Nada Surf was consistent as they powered through their hour and a half plus set. But, undoubtedly, the show's biggest and best moment was when the band ended the night with their traditional closer "Blankest Year," supported by tourmates An Horse onstage (this was the final date of the tour). Sure, they close with it every night, but there's no better sendoff or affirmation of the inspiring positivity that defines this band.
Each time I see Nada Surf live, they always seem to get better. Maybe it's the fact that this is a band that finds and shares the beauty in everything we seem to overlook in life. This a band that doesn't play at you, but rather one that plays to you. I said it the last time I saw them, and I'll say it again: everyone should see this band live at least once in their life.
Nada Surf - "When I Was Young" from The Stars Are Indifferent to Astronomy
Nada Surf - "See These Bones" from Lucky
Nada Surf - "Always Love" from The Weight Is A Gift
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