Nada Surf Concert Review: LastNight

Brooklyn Indie Goes Acoustic, Satisfies Intimate Crowd

A calm confidence worked its way through me as I swayed my head and tapped my feet to an evening of music that made me feel like I belonged. Not knowing what to fully expect as neither an avid fan or an engaged listener to their 12 years of work I was won over to the charms of Nada Surf halfway through the first song. Songs that called out to the lonely and hopeful, simple melodies that brought the crowd back to some of that shared innocence we possessed when as teenagers we were introduced to the band through “Popular,” and we were glad to be back in that place, dreamy and fully awake.

It was warm music for a cold night and after standing out in the rain for over a half hour, the sold out crowd nestled inside the Swedish American Hall with coffee and tea for a rare acoustic performance where the band appeared to be very much at home showcasing new songs from their latest effort Lucky to be released tomorrow and a handful of gems sweet enough to help everyone forget about the stiff, discomforting wooden chairs that filled out that Hall.

Guitarist and Lead Vocalist Matthew Caws led the trio through tightly harmonized songs like “What’s your secret,” and “The weight is a gift,” riffing to a theme where love must prevail and the individual gets back on top of life and the accompanying worries.

And the band was almost taken aback by the enthusiasm of every applause following the songs, with little effort and by taking only one request Nada Surf really gave the crowd exactly what they wanted. And for the third song of the encore the whole house was brought to their feet clapping and shouting in unison “Ahh Fuck It, I’m gonna have a party.” And the party need not be extraordinary or very loud, it doesn’t have to be swarming with people or booze either but it could be genuine, simple and thoughtful, and through that grace it will be satisfying.

Critics Notebook:
Personal Bias: The music put me in a really good mood.
Random Detail: My camera battery died so the lovely German girl sitting next to me lent me her camera for some shots.
Better Than: The music downstairs at Café Du Nord that night.