Hayden Merrick is too cool for this world and he doesn’t have social media, but you might have heard (or read) his name on other reviews we’ve worked on together (Ezra Furman, Fat Dog, Bar Italia, Wilco 💞). This time The Line of Best Fit sent us to cover the first UK show of The Hard Quartet at Electric Ballroom 

And all I could say about this gig, he’ve said it here:

““Hey” is the highpoint of the set for me; and that’s selfishly because it feels like timeless, unfiltered Malkmus with sweet lyrics he could’ve sung years ago but would have obfuscated with a reference to the Civil War or something: “Hey, someone likes you / they’re into your illusion,” he half-whispers with the easy warmth of an early track like “Here” (the titles are similar enough), as clean, drop-tuned chords nudge him along like a solicitous pet. (“I smell a rat, I’m a cemetery cat,” he sings later in the song, righting the balance of the universe.) These quieter cuts – “Heel Highway,” too – work better live than on record, lulling us into a blissful, eyes-closed zone.” ☁️Take me back☁️



PS: And here: “Kelly takes lead vocals on several and rips his fair share of gnarly solos, the hottest of which comes during “Six Deaf Rats,” perhaps the magnum opus of the set. The arrangement disintegrates and rebuilds itself back up several times, reaching a duelling guitar climax before a diffuse outro that leaves the mildly restless crowd the closest to awestruck, the farthest from secretly craving a “Gold Soundz” cover that we know won’t come.” ♥️💔♥️💔