It’s good to have TV On The Radio back. It had been five years since they quietly stopped playing shows and a decade since they released an album (2014’s Seeds), and people have clearly missed them. After playing a surprise comeback show at a re-creation of Max Fish in September, Fallon last week, and another surprise show at TV Eye on Sunday night (11/24) that was $5 cash admission at the door, they played their first “proper” show back at Webster Hall on Monday (11/25), and they were greeted by one of the warmest welcomes imaginable. The place was as packed as I’ve ever seen it, the screams from the crowd right away were louder and longer than at a usual show, and that energy continued throughout the entire night. You could tell that the band and especially singer Tunde Adebimpe were so grateful for the response, and they gave that energy right back with a set that found them at the top of their game.
TVOTR are sadly without Dave Sitek for these shows–Tunde, guitarist/co-vocalist Kyp Malone, and guitarist Jaleel Bunton are being joined by longtime touring drummer Jahphet Landis, longtime touring multi-instrumentalist David Smith, and new touring bassist Jesske Hume–and while Dave was missed, the six people on stage more than made up for his absence. In true TVOTR fashion, the set ranged from extended, blissed-out jams to forceful, immediate moments like “Wolf Like Me,” “Satellite,” and “Staring at the Sun,” including some songs that hadn’t been played in a very long time, and they put us in a trance for all of it. They played for just about 90 minutes and it flew by. I’m sure I’m not alone in feeling like I could’ve watched them for twice as long.
Last night’s show was the first of a four-night run at Webster Hall with different openers each night. We got Museum of Love DJing, and coming up is L’Rain tonight (11/26), Soul Glo on Friday (11/29), and Bartees Strange (playing solo) on Saturday (11/30). After this run, they’ll do similar residencies in LA and the UK, followed by Primavera Sound and more in 2025.
No word on new music from TVOTR, but Tunde is releasing a solo album on Sub Pop in 2025, and TVOTR just reissued their 2004 debut album Desperate Youth, Bloodthirsty Babes for its 20th anniversary. As mentioned on last night’s marquee, these shows also coincide with the 20th anniversary of NYC show promoters Bowery Presents, and they also happen to coincide with the 20th anniversary of BrooklynVegan. While we were getting nostalgic for that era of indie, we couldn’t help but notice that LCD Soundsystem, Interpol, The Hold Steady, and Yo La Tengo all also have NYC residencies within the month.
Photos of Monday night’s show by Ellen Qbertplaya continue below, along with last night’s setlist…
TV On The Radio @ Webster Hall – 11/25/24 Setlist (via)
Young Liars
Golden Age
Halfway Home (First time since 2018)
Dreams
Could You
Wolf Like Me
Province
Love Dog (First time since 2018)
Happy Idiot (First time since 2019)
Dancing Choose
Satellite
Encore:
Killer Crane (First time since 2011)
Trouble (First time since 2018)
Staring at the Sun