The wait is over - Pavement are back in business and they've delivered a show-stopping performance that will leave fans breathless! In a hilarious and utterly brilliant twist, frontman Stephen Malkmus took to the stage at Oakland's Mosswood Meltdown festival last night, ready to rip into Led Zeppelin's legendary track 'Stairway To Heaven'. But what transpired was anything but a straightforward rendition - it was an unbridled romp through the music world, with Malkmus largely ditching the original lyrics in favour of spontaneous, half-improvised musings that left everyone grinning from ear to ear.
The Oakland show marked Pavement's long-awaited return to live action since their electrifying performance at Mexico City's Hipnosis Festival back in November 2025. The event was hosted by none other than the one and only John Waters, with additional sets from Wednesday and Vivian Girls getting the crowd fired up for the main Mosswood Meltdown festival this weekend - which boasts an incredible line-up featuring headliners Iggy Pop and Bikini Kill.
Footage of their rip-roaring 'Stairway To Heaven' cover is already making waves online, with fans going wild for the band's unorthodox take on a rock classic. It's not the first time Pavement has tackled this iconic anthem - they made it a staple of their 2022 reunion tour, which tore across the UK, Ireland, and Europe to rave reviews. And if that wasn't enough, 'Stairway To Heaven' also featured prominently in Alex Ross Perry's avant-garde film, 'Pavements', a wildly inventive blend of documentary and biopic that even drew in Hollywood heavy-hitters like Jason Schwartzman and Joe Keery.
Meanwhile, their song 'Harness Your Hopes' - which has been making waves on TikTok with its unique cultural impact - is still riding high. Pavement's 2022 reunion tour sparked an unexpected resurgence of interest in this fan favourite, and it seems that this new generation of fans is here to stay. With further US dates lined up until the end of July, there's never been a better time to get on board with one of indie rock's most beloved bands.