Live Shows: Superchunk and Tee Vee Repairmann, Crystal Ballroom at Somerville Theater, Somerville, MA 9/12/25

Every time Superchunk releases an album, we all assume it can't be anywhere near as good as the last one. The band has been around since 1989, and surely they have to eventually start releasing mediocre albums, right? Last month saw the release of Songs in the Key of Yikes, their thirteenth album, and it's great. With a new album comes a tour, and when they came to the Crystal Ballroom at Somerville Theater, I knew I couldn't miss it.

What's amazing about Songs in the Key of Yikes was how well these new songs stood up with the decades old classics. The album has only been out for a few weeks, but "Is It Making You Feel Something?" and "Everybody Dies" got just as favorable reaction as classics. What's truly impressive about Superchunk's albums is how a song like 2018's "What a Time to Be Alive" has become as much as a favorite as 1994's "Driveway to Driveway." Can that truly be said of any of our other 90's heroes?

Let's not forget just how great of a show that Superchunk put on. Their live show is incredibly high energy, with the band (particularly Mac McCaughan) bouncing around the stage and plowing through twenty one songs in roughly an hour and a half. At this point in their careers, Superchunk could easily be a legacy act that simply play the favorites while standing there, waiting for the show to be over. But they continue to put on amazing shows with more hunger and energy than bands half their age.

Opening the show was Tee Vee Repairmann, all the way from Australia. They were a perfect opener for Superchunk, playing with a manic energy and obviously having a blast on stage. They combine indie rock and post punk into their sound, and put on a fun show that quickly won over Superchunk's fans. It was their first ever show in the Boston area, and we're hoping they make it back sooner than later.