I’m usually more prompt with reviews and such, but I’ve been pondering the Nada Surf gig for the past week. First of all, it’s undoubtedly one of the best live shows I’ve seen all year. Almost on par with Radiohead, to be honest. And while that may sound like a travesty, Radiohead were fun, technically amazing, but didn’t play all the “old” songs that would have had me leaping on the seats and screaming. The Enemy also played a thrilling set – one of those performances where you realize you’re witnessing something huge, something great – this undercurrent of inexplicable tight energy and transmitted sonic power.

But yeah, Nada Surf. Last time they played here, I barely knew any of their music, save the latest album, and saw their live acoustic set at Newbury Comics in Boston. I also had a job then, but that’s another story entirely. Matt was so close that I felt embarrassed because as he sang, we kept making eye contact. And when you don’t know a guy singing rather romantic lyrics, it’s pretty mortifying to keep looking him dead in the eye, assuming one is straight, single and female and attracted to said guy. (Come on, Matt’s not bad looking) But I digress. The lyrics were thoroughly beautiful, sound calm and not too loud and everything flowed in an easy, pleasant way that felt comfortably charming.

Coming back to the present, Nada Surf took over the Paradise Rock Club on December 2nd to a packed house. Standing on the floor, fairly near the front provided a decent view and the sound wasn’t absolutely ear-splitting. We did have to deal with Random Tall Crazy Dancing Guy and Gal who were both dead center, very tall with mad hair and who kept blocking my view.

The band, however, were relaxed in a “I’ve seen it all before” kind of way, that luckily didn’t extend to their playing. Classics like “Killian’s Red” still managed sent shivers through the crowd, building up to the impassioned, aching refrain, where the narrator’s emotions swung wildly over each guitar strum. The whispers of “Blonde on Blonde”  provided a ghostly nostalgia thanks to Matt’s whispery melody and pretty musical swingyness. Newer tracks from this year’s release “Lucky” were not played precisely AS on the album, which gave the music a certain spontaneity. The band really personalized the tracks and the feeling was that we were present in a more intimate session than a big, full on, 750-person gig. “Weightless” was sped up with harsher guitars and a more grating rhythm, that make it feel slightly angrier than the recorded version. “See These Bones” was played at a faster tempo, preventing the track from being as introspective and soothing as on “Lucky.” The band confidently exhibited their veteran status confident in the fact that the audience would love everything and anything they did. Yet Nada Surf are far from arrogant. They encouraged the audience to participate, swaying back and forth to “Inside of Love;” Matt explained, almost giddily, that the onstage visual of such movement was more than amusing. The band even pulled audience members onstage for the final song, “Blankest Year,” inviting not just a singalong, but full on dancing. Nada Surf may be more than a bit tired of playing their hits over and over for the audience’s delight, but they know there are people in the crowd, seeing them for the first time. And thus, as professionals, the band don’t let their job weigh too heavily on their performance and manage to keep even the oldest material sparkling, if not absolutely fresh.