Unwound at the Great American Music Hall

by Roy Scopazzi

Over the past decade or so, I feel like I’ve been to a couple of shows involving a rock act from the 90’s or 2000’s that is based around one album that will be played to completion and then followed by a handful of various hits and popular tracks. The issue with that is that unless they’re doing multiple nights with multiple albums or have a large setlist after, it serves as a reminder that “Oh this is the only hit album we had and it’s hit an anniversary milestone so we’re using this to get ticket sales”. This is what makes this tour interesting, because Unwound is able to sell out the Great American Music Hall on the strength of basically only The Future of What, which is celebrating 30 years. That is to say that after performing that to completion (Outside of the instrumental tracks), they followed it up with only 3 songs off of Fake Train and a Repetition song.

Now sadly I was too busy being four or five years old when The Future of What released back in 1995 so I don’t have the nostalgia that might’ve enhanced the show, but looking around me it looks like neither did a lot of other people. The relatively young crowd actually acted as a boon as a decent mosh pit was sustained throughout, a mixture of 20-somethings and 40-50 somethings rumbling around near the center-front of the floor. The energy of new fans and the band itself made me hopeful that there is still a growing Unwound fanbase, and that we might get a 30 year anniversary for Leaves Turn Inside You in 2031. Crossing fingers.

Starting off the night was Street Eaters who had an energy and sound perfect to get the crowd warmed up for Unwound. Also the bassist used a drill with a bit of rope or string to Miserlou his bass to start off the set. Very sick.