In a day bookended by two of the noisiest bands your parents can stomach, Dean Wareham gave fans a languid late-afternoon appetizer. Wareham, who played guitar and sang lead vocals for legendary late '80s dream pop outfit Galaxie 500, brought his old band’s biggest hits back to life with a new trio. Britta Phillips, Wareham’s wife of almost twenty years, replaced Naomi Yang’s basslines and backing vocals, while longtime collaborator Roger Brogan recaptured Damon Krukowski’s hypnotic rhythms on drums. If not for the gray in his windswept locks, it might have been easy to mistake Wareham for his 25-year-old self; his gentle croon hasn’t aged a day since 1988. He and the band took the stage in springtime pastels and sparkles before drifting into a tranquil 45 minute ride through the best of Galaxie 500’s first two records. They made sure to play all the essentials, punctuating the nine-song set with “Tugboat” and “Strange.” Their cover of New Order’s “Ceremony” brought the energetic peak of the set’s second act, a moment highlighted by Wareham’s rendition of the iconic guitar intro on his slick black and gold Gibson SG. Wareham kept the energy peaceful even during his solos, however, trading flash and theatrics for affectionate glances at his wife. He spent little time extending songs or acknowledging the crowd, a lack of showmanship festival goers unfamiliar with Galaxie 500 might have found tepid. Laymen be damned, Wareham delivered what he promised, and diehards got their Galaxie 500 fill. He even threw in a smile as he walked off.
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