Apr 30

Apr 30 Review: Pedro the Lion at The Grey Eagle

On stage at The Grey Eagle on April 25, David Bazan, the frontman of Pedro the Lion, paused briefly during the band’s performance of its debut album, It’s Hard To Find A Friend, to express his mixed emotions about revisiting his earlier works, which also included the 2002 fan favorite, Control.

Although he’s enjoyed the recent run of shows during which the trio has performed both albums in their entirety, he also acknowledged how much he’s matured since writing those songs, greatly changing his perspective of those tunes and, especially, the lyrics. Whereas it’s less common for creators working in other disciplines to delve back into past works, it’s expected for musicians to continue performing decades-old songs with an unchanging passion.

Written while Bazan was still in his early 20s, these introspective lyrics contemplate existence through personal exploration of fractured relationships and faith. Older and wiser now, he reflects upon those words with an evolved perspective, no longer holding the same convictions. Most specifically, he disclosed that he no longer believes in the message behind “Promise,” which the trio had performed a few songs earlier.

Regardless of whether the words still ring true to Bazan’s heart, his trio with Erik Walters (guitar) and Terence Ankeney (drums) delivered heartachingly moving renditions of the somber songs. Bazan’s molasses-soaked tongue and melodic bass lines helped ease the melancholy of the tunes and keep the atmosphere light.

Although the song order was slightly altered from the album versions, the set was roughly split between the two albums. With the Control portion serving as the main course, the album's dynamism elevated the set's energy. The album — which hit me like a ton of bricks while I was a naive college student, served as my gateway into Pedro the Lion, and has remained in constant rotation ever since — was just as dazzling performed live 21 years later.

Opening with “Options,” which takes a fatalistic view of marriage and faith, and continuing with the infidelity anthem, “Rapture,” the 40 something crowd was confronted with the songs' brutally honest lyrics, which have only grown more cutting as the fanbase has endured more of life. Maybe it was the euphotic high of hearing the longtime favorites but on additional highlights “Indian Summer” and “Priests and Paramedics” Bazan’s bass had a little extra bounce, Ankeney struck his kit with an additional authority, and the intoxicating buzz of Walters’ guitar screamed more loudly.

Saving It’s Hard to Find a Friend cut “Secret of the Easy Yoke” for last, Bazan thanked the crowd before delivering the last remaining tune. Even after the bounty offered up by the trio — which also included a delightful opening set by Walters, complemented by Bazan on drums and Ankeney on bass — I could have watched them play for another hour.

While fans may long for nostalgia, it's essential to remember that revisiting earlier works can be bittersweet for artists, especially when the material explores personal, intimate topics. Despite hearing old favorites like “Big Trucks” and “Penetration,” it would have brought me just as much joy if they had played newer songs like my 2022 obsession, “Teenage Sequencer.” Fortunately, Bazan won’t have to rely on nostalgia if he keeps releasing albums as strong as Phoenix (2019) and Havasu (2022).

(Photos by Jonny Leather)