The indie rock legends anchored a perfect night of live music in Central Park along with openers Ratboys and Bodega
Despite another stretch of sweltering New York summer weather, a welcome evening cooldown set the stage for a memorable night at Capital One City Parks Foundation SummerStage, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. Indie rock stalwarts Spoon, one of the best American bands of the past thirty years, headlined with a career-spanning set that found Britt Daniel and company in top form, highlighted by surprise guest Hamilton Leithauser joining the band for spirited renditions of “Do You” and Larry Williams’ “Bony Moronie.” Daniel also singled out Lucifer on the Sofa standout “Out Go the Lights” as one of his personal favorites before closing the night by praising openers Ratboys and Bodega—both of whom turned in excellent performances of their own.
Ratboys showcased highlights from one of the year’s standout albums, Singin’ to an Empty Chair, while hometown favorites Bodega kicked off the festivities with an energetic set that even included a knowing cover of Spoon’s “The Fitted Shirt,” which they checked to make sure wasn’t being performed later that night. Scroll through the gallery below for highlights from a fitting celebration of four decades of SummerStage and one of America’s finest rock bands.
All photo by Edwina Hay
