Dallas, September 30, 2025
News Summary
Pavement played a memorable concert at the Longhorn Ballroom in Dallas, featuring the live debut of ‘Texas Never Whispers’ since 1997. The setlist included fan favorites, showcasing the band’s renewed touring activity after years of hiatus. The concert highlighted a mix of deep cuts and classics, as the band prepares for their upcoming appearance at the Levitation Festival in Austin. Their return to Dallas, after a long absence, signifies a significant moment for fans as they celebrate the band’s legacy and evolution.
Dallas — Pavement performed at the Longhorn Ballroom in Dallas on September 26, 2025, as a lead-up to their appearance at the Levitation Festival in Austin. The concert featured “Texas Never Whispers,” performed live for the first time since 1997. The return of that song was the most notable moment of a set that mixed deep cuts and fan favorites as the band continues touring following earlier reunion activity.
What happened
The surprise performance of “Texas Never Whispers” marked the song’s first live appearance since the 1990s and came as part of a short stop in Dallas ahead of a festival date. “Texas Never Whispers” is a track from Pavement’s 1992 EP, Watery, Domestic. This performance marked the 19th occurrence of the song being played, after it was performed 20 times in 1992 and just five more times before the Dallas show. The last known performance of “Texas Never Whispers” occurred on March 13, 1997, in Belgium.
Set and show details
The band opened the Longhorn Ballroom show with “Grounded,” a song from their 1995 album, Wowee Zowee. Other favorites in the main set included “Stereo,” “Shady Lane,” “Harness Your Hopes,” and “Range Life.” The main set concluded with the song “Stop Breathin.” Pavement returned for a five-song encore, which included “Cut Your Hair,” “Gold Soundz,” “Summer Babe,” and closed with “Fin.”
Historical context at the show
Pavement has not performed in Dallas since October 3, 1999, when they played at Trees in Deep Ellum. The band is known for their influential album “Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain,” which included their significant hit “Cut Your Hair.” Recognition for the band’s catalog includes the designation of “Gold Soundz” as the No. 1 song of the ’90s by a widely cited music outlet.
Band status and recent activity
Pavement disbanded in 1999 after five albums but reunited for a brief tour in 2010 and again in 2022, leading to current touring activities. The recent appearances follow those earlier reunion runs and line up with festival appearances and screenings connected to the band’s renewed public profile.
Documentary and related screenings
A documentary titled “Pavements,” detailing the band’s reunion tour preparation with scripted spoof scenes, was screened at the Texas Theatre from June 17 to June 21, 2025. “Pavements” premiered at the Venice Film Festival and has received critical acclaim. The film includes a touring museum exhibit featuring both real and mock artifacts from Pavement’s history. Joe Keery stars in comedic scripted scenes linked to the documentary, emulating Pavement’s lead singer Stephen Malkmus. The film integrates various storytelling techniques, balancing archival footage with creative presentations, drawing inspiration from the structure of Christopher Nolan’s works. The upcoming Texas Theatre screenings of “Pavements” are highlighted as exclusive opportunities, with the documentary subject being relevant and inventive in its presentation of the band’s legacy and reunion.
Why this matters
The return of “Texas Never Whispers” after a 28-year absence on stage underscores the band’s willingness to revisit rarely performed material alongside their better-known songs. The mix of setlist choices at the Longhorn Ballroom show illustrates how Pavement is framing recent live activity: honoring its recorded history while presenting a varied show for long-time fans.
Details at a glance
- Date: September 26, 2025
- Venue: Longhorn Ballroom, Dallas
- Notable return: “Texas Never Whispers” performed live for the first time since 1997
- Main set highlights: “Stereo,” “Shady Lane,” “Harness Your Hopes,” “Range Life”
- Encore highlights: “Cut Your Hair,” “Gold Soundz,” “Summer Babe,” “Fin”
- Documentary: “Pavements” screened at Texas Theatre June 17–21, 2025; premiered at the Venice Film Festival
FAQ
When and where did Pavement perform in Dallas?
Pavement performed at the Longhorn Ballroom in Dallas on September 26, 2025, as a lead-up to their appearance at the Levitation Festival in Austin.
Which song did Pavement play live for the first time since 1997?
The concert featured “Texas Never Whispers,” performed live for the first time since 1997.
What is the origin of “Texas Never Whispers”?
“Texas Never Whispers” is a track from Pavement’s 1992 EP, Watery, Domestic.
How many times has “Texas Never Whispers” been performed live?
This performance marked the 19th occurrence of the song being played, after it was performed 20 times in 1992 and just five more times before the Dallas show.
When was the last known performance before Dallas?
The last known performance of “Texas Never Whispers” occurred on March 13, 1997, in Belgium.
What songs opened and closed the main set?
Pavement opened their concert with “Grounded,” a song from their 1995 album, Wowee Zowee. The main set concluded with the song “Stop Breathin.”
What songs were included in the encore?
The band returned for a five-song encore, which included “Cut Your Hair,” “Gold Soundz,” “Summer Babe,” and closed with “Fin.”
When did Pavement last play in Dallas before 2025?
Pavement has not performed in Dallas since October 3, 1999, when they played at Trees in Deep Ellum.
What documentary related to the band was recently screened?
A documentary titled “Pavements,” detailing the band’s reunion tour preparation with scripted spoof scenes, was screened at the Texas Theatre from June 17 to June 21, 2025.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Date | September 26, 2025 |
| Venue | Longhorn Ballroom, Dallas |
| Returned song | “Texas Never Whispers” — performed live for the first time since 1997 |
| Song origin | Track from Pavement’s 1992 EP, Watery, Domestic |
| Number of live occurrences | 19th occurrence; performed 20 times in 1992 and five more times before Dallas |
| Last known prior performance | March 13, 1997, in Belgium |
| Main set open/close | Opened with “Grounded”; concluded with “Stop Breathin” |
| Encore highlights | “Cut Your Hair,” “Gold Soundz,” “Summer Babe,” “Fin” |
| Documentary screenings | “Pavements” screened at the Texas Theatre from June 17 to June 21, 2025; premiered at the Venice Film Festival |
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Author: STAFF HERE DALLAS WRITER
DALLAS STAFF WRITER The DALLAS STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREDallas.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Dallas, Dallas County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the State Fair of Texas, Deep Ellum Arts Festival, and Dallas International Film Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Dallas Regional Chamber and United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, plus leading businesses in telecommunications, aviation, and semiconductors that power the local economy such as AT&T, Southwest Airlines, and Texas Instruments. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAustinTX.com, HERECollegeStation.com, HEREHouston.com, and HERESanAntonio.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Texas's dynamic landscape.
