February 9, 2000

London Highbury Garage

Things won't always go your way, you know that. In these moments, go seek some [a]Superchunk[/a]. Because, not only do they know how you feel, they've probably summed it all up in a perfect three-minu

Things won't always go your way, you know that. In these moments, go seek some Superchunk. Because, not only do they know how you feel, they've probably summed it all up in a perfect three-minute punk-pop song.

Tonight, their first London show in two-and-a-half years, Superchunk give us history, 'Slack Motherf--er' and Mower, revved-up locomotives of directionless gen-X ennui. But we also get the highlights from ver Chunk's latest LP, 'Come Pick Me Up'. And while producer Jim O'Rourke's graceful string orchestrations aren't present tonight, the band haven't forgotten that record's air of dynamics and pacing.

They open with 'So Convinced', deftly building from brittle scrapes into a full-blown blast of golden corrosion. And they honour us with the gorgeous 'Hello Hawk', weaving gracefully from sparing verse, through deliciously anticipatory chorus, to fist-pumping instrumental refrain.

Pogoing and thrashing and laying down the shrieking feedback rapture like kids half their age, the only evidence of Superchunk's 11 years down this road lies in the wisdom, the broken heart still beating at the centre of their songs. That melodic wall of noise, the rousing riffs, singer Mac McCaughan's strangled, sylph-like sigh, all add up to some sonic broth for the soul. Something we can all run to when the shit comes down.