We Went There: Hard Quartet at First Ave

I’m not sure if they actually like each other as much as they seem, but I can hope. I have really like the debut, self-titled album from Hard Quartet, the indie-rock super group featuring Stephen Malkmus, Jim White, Matt Sweeney, and Emmett Kelly, dudes who have played in some of our favorite bands of the last 20 years.

Their record is slack rock, Big Star-esqe power pop, fuzzy indie rock and more, all woozily pushed forward by White’s frantic drumming. Malkmus, Kelly and Sweeny all trade instruments and share vocals like a bar band for a 50-something hipster wedding. The record hits all the marks of a record where the sum is greater than the parts, but what about the live show?

It was all of that and more. There were absolute drunken wedding reception vibes from the stage, with the band in dress shirts unbuttoned two buttons two low, too deep into the game to care. They sounded just as loose as you’d want, without losing the thread on their great songs.

They started with a loose jam before melding into “Heel Highway,” delighting the First Ave crowd that skewed older but matched the joyous energy from the stage in response to seeing a collection of musical heroes all jamming out.

The 75 minute set never let up, and it never got old seeing Sweeny, Kelly and Malkmus trade instruments and mic stands, making clear they were all first among equals. Highlights abounded, from a searing “Rio’s Song” to a rollicking “Renegade” to charming, reaffirming “Killed by Death” and “Hey,” the band brought their LP to life. Late set highlights included a slow burn of new single “Lies (Something You Can Do),” the twitchy, funny “Action for Military Boys” and the simmering “North of the Border.” Did I name most of the set as highlights? Yes. It was one of those shows.

Not totally sure where they go from here, but after seeing them live, I hope that the project ends up being something more than a temporary project.

Opening the night were Ryan Davis and Sharp Pins, both of whom minded similar sources as the headliner. Davis, who I knew but hadn’t realized was opening, played burnt soul indie country with a drum machine, highlighting some great songwriting to a sparse crowd that hadn’t started to fill in yet.

Sharp Pins are an energetic trio that leaned heavily into power pop and showcased an energy that helped warm up the crowd for Hard Quartet’s set. I was a bit distracted during their set, but liked what I heard and hope to check them out more.