Pavement to headline Matador Records fest in Las Vegas

Michael Mishak

Stephen Malkmus of Pavement at Coachella 2010.

By Spencer Patterson (contact)

Friday, April 23, 2010 | 12:05 a.m.

Pavement to play Las Vegas? Strange as it sounds, it's happening — and that's not all. Iconic indie label Matador Records will celebrate its 21st anniversary with a three-day, band-filled bash in our very town, October 1-3, as teased with this image from Matador's official site.

Though further details haven't been officially revealed — apart from the event's name, The Lost Weekend, and its promoters, Goldenvoice (the folks behind Coachella) and LA's FYF Fest — we've dug up two big pieces of the puzzle.

First, the host venue appears to be the Pearl at the Palms, according to a source with inside knowledge. And, yes, Pavement is set to headline, a figure close to the band has confirmed; the just-reunited '90s alt-luminaries play LA's Hollywood Bowl on Thursday, September 30, and will perform in Vegas that weekend. Take it from someone who caught Pavement's first U.S. show in 11 years last Thursday in Pomona, California, when the quintet slammed out 30 (!) songs in two hours, you want to see these guys before they vanish again.

Oh, also on that Hollywood Bowl bill? The legendary Sonic Youth, whose latest album, 2009's The Eternal, was released by, ahem, Matador Records. Hmm...

If a 21st anniversary sounds less than colossal, consider that Matador last celebrated for its 10th, way back in 1999 (we're guessing the label skipped No. 20 to wait for Pavement at 21). Speaking of that 10th anniversary fest, held at New York's Irving Plaza over three days, the 17 acts on the bill were: Pavement, Yo La Tengo, Cat Power, Mogwai, Cornelius, Chavez, Mary Timony, Bardo Pond, Guitar Wolf, Lynnfield Pioneers, Come, Solex, Red Snapper, Arsonists, Non Phixion, Jega and Khan, with David Cross emceeing. Here's hoping we might hear Chan Marshall's delicate vocals or Mogwai's rib-rocking sonic assault inside the pristine-sounding Pearl.

While we're wish-listing, how about a Guided By Voices classic-lineup reunion, Liz Phair doing all of Exile in Guyville or some Mission of Burma destruction? Maybe a Boards of Canada pop-in? Hey, no one can stop us from dreaming, right?

Something tells us this is gonna be fun. Details to follow as soon as we get 'em.

— Originally published on LasVegasWeekly.com