I was the perfect audience for Nada Surf’s 1996 hit single, ‘Popular.’ 14 years old, trudging through 9th grade in my over-sized boys t-shirts, I was a late bloomer—the blessed recipient of such sweet poems as “Roses are red/Violets are black/Why is your chest as flat as my back?” “Popular” was the right kind of anthem at the right time and seemed to have the effect of reinforcing the clique status quo while also condemning it; everyone was humming that tune.
As jangle pop masters who physically sustain themselves with easy harmonies and comfortable, upbeat melodies, Nada Surf has been producing just-under-mainstream-success-line albums for the past 16 years. Get an updated dosage of grown-up-indie-angst as they play songs from their new release, Lucky, and consider yourself as such for making it through high school with a minimal wedgie count. (Disclaimer: After I got boobs, I actually became popular).
Thu., Aug. 28, 8 p.m., 2008
