Since I got to Spain, I haven’t found myself compulsively reaching for my headphones the way I normally do. I’m listening to music constantly at home, from the second I get up to the moment I go to bed, when I’m working, when I’m climbing, when I’m showering, when I’m driving. I only really take breaks to call people, because I have a lot of friends that live far away from me and famously call them frequently.
I’ve been enjoying the uninterrupted time with my thoughts, a white noise kind of quiet that I usually find to be rather uncomfortable. I have a theory that I developed this self-soothing mechanism during the pandemic, when it was very stressful to have to think at all, that caused me to require almost constant auditory stimulation. It’s not the worst thing in the world; I can always find time for a new record or a complete discography dive. I’m lucky in that I can play music without feeling like I’m distracted from my work, especially when I’m reading or writing. I’ve come to feel kind of incomplete without it, as if I left the house without a wallet. I’m less anxious here to stuff the loose space in an experience with intentional sound, bubble wrap that keeps my brain from violently rolling around in its little box. I’ve certainly clocked fewer hours on Spotify since arriving in Europe.
That being said, there is no shortage of music in my life presently. I’m quite enjoying myself at Primavera Sound, despite being uniquely primed for stress in a venue environment due to my work. Performers have consistently said that the audience is especially fun and engaged, and we’ve been rewarded with truly excellent shows. I have so many highlights that I can’t even begin to enumerate them here.
I chose this playlist because it features two of the bands I was most excited to see this weekend. Pavement is in the midst of another reunion tour, much to the delight of their fans who, like me, were children the last time they were on the road. They disbanded with some animosity in 1999, worked on solo projects and the like, did a single comeback tour in 2010, and then disappeared again for ten years. I thought I had missed them, like I’ve missed so many groups that disbanded or simply stopped performing before I was able to see them—Rilo Kiley, Jack’s Mannequin, Cocteau Twins. Pavement appears to be lifting its head once every decade to see if its star is still in the sky.
Of course, it is. Young people still view Pavement as one of the most influential and masterful DIY bands, pioneers of indie rock. Their cult following is generally still kicking and growing all the time; they played a headlining midnight set this weekend. I’ve seen many Pavement tattoos (including a particularly funny “Date with Ikea” one) and many, many Pavement t-shirts. They played back to back hits for over an hour to a rapt audience of thousands. It felt magical, a special thing to witness.
I’m having a Yo La Tengo phase, marked by my recent obsession with “Damage” off of I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One (1997). I’ve been listening to them for years, but casually; now I’m a veritable fan. Their Primavera set was wonderful, if short, full of songs that I didn’t know quite as well. I wasn’t quite as close as I usually like to be—I dashed off to Rina Sawayama directly afterwards—but I chose my spot with the knowledge that I’d be seeing them in the fall, opening for Death Cab for Cutie.
The crowd went absolutely bananas for “Autumn Sweater,” and the band reacted in a very sweet way, seemingly delighted by the excitement. Actually being able to enjoy your most popular song, the one you’re forced to play nearly every night, is a feat, especially for a band that’s been touring for upwards of thirty years. They seemed to be having an excellent time onstage, relishing in the feeling of playing. I am fascinated by their casual demeanor, the way you could walk by them on the street and never know they were critically acclaimed rockstars. They’ve been called the best band in the universe; it’s strange how anonymous they can still be, and stranger still how beloved they are despite their rejection of any sort of expectations of celebrity.
The last song on this playlist is one of my favorites by The New Pornographers. I love this one because of its simple promise, almost anthemic in declaration. I’ve never seen them play, but would love to; they’re on my bucket list of bands. Since being at this festival, I’ve been thinking a lot about how much I would like to curate something like this. I’m currently between weekends, resting up in France with family, but my mind is running with ideas of how I could get my dream lineup. I’m not joking in the slightest. I expect to see you all there.
I hope you had a great time at Primavera Sound, the lineup was amazing!! I find it funny that if the stars aligned we could've met (I had a ticket and had to sell it :( ) but now I'm wishing that you go and make your dream lineup to enjoy it. btw if you need any help you can count on me. I'm not joking in the slightest.