Silversun Pickups' loud-soft dynamics make for powerful show at San Antonio's Aztec Theatre

The quiet-loud duality of Silversun Pickups was on full display during a 105-minute set Saturday at the Aztec Theatre.

Throughout more than two decades together, Silversun Pickups’ music has alternated between fuzzy, layered musicality and intense moments of angst. While recent albums have transitioned toward more reliance on electronics and production, at their core, Silversun Pickups remain shoegazers with streaks of torment.

Formed in 2000 by lead singer-guitarist Brian Aubert and bassist Nikki Monninger, Silversun Pickups played their initial gigs in the Silver Lake area of Los Angeles. Silversun Liquors, located across the street from a frequent venue, inspired the band’s name, since friends would stop by for a “Silversun pickup.” In 2002, drummer Chris Guanlao and keyboardist Joe Lester joined the group, forming the lineup that remains intact some 20 years later.

The band's San Antonio show came in support of its sixth studio album, Physical Thrills, and the setlist was equally divided between the latest efforts and a collection of career highlights. After starting with the relatively delicate “Stillness (Way Beyond)” from the 2022 release, the band launched into an aggressively syncopated “Well Thought Out Twinkles” from its 2006 debut Carnavas. The crowd fully engaged when the opening distortion of “Panic Switch” sliced through the Aztec.

Front man Aubert finally addressed the crowd afterwards, apologizing for being an infrequent visitor to the Alamo City. His voice still sets the group’s ceiling, cutting through the fog of distortion and quickly transitioning from the haziness of shoegaze to focused ferocity when the music demands.

The rhythm section was a highlight of the night, particularly Monninger. While Guanlao’s fully committed drumming never wavered, Monninger dazzled in a silver sequined dress and brought an expert level bass playing to the set. She has always lent strong supporting vocals on tracks such as “Kissing Families” and “Circadian Rhythm (Last Dance),” but on Physical Thrills she took on an even larger vocal role. Monninger took lead vocal duties on “Alone on a Hill,” a first for her, and the song also showcases Lester’s keyboards, which experienced some early technical difficulties. During the Aztec performance, Monninger played with passion and an ever-present smile, bouncing along with her bass while channeling Kim Deal’s onetime responsibilities with The Pixies.

Prior to the encore, “Substitution” served as another apex for both the group and audience. After a brief respite, the Silversun Pickups delivered a trio of songs from their latest, including “Empty Nest,” an emerging alt-rock radio hit that features a complimentary interplay of vocals between Aubert and Monninger. The band closed where it all really started, “Lazy Eye" a powerful showcase for Aubert both as a lyricist and guitarist, which also happens to be its biggest hit.

It’s fitting that prior to launching into their signature song, Aubert gently strummed the wistful theme to HBO’s latest Sunday hit, The Last of Us. The show, set in a world ravaged by a fungus-induced zombie apocalypse, parallels the dichotomy of Silversun Pickups: moments of serene beauty pierced by fits of violence and trauma. Let’s hope that the band keeps its promise to return, and we endure and survive to revel another Silversun Pickups show in South Texas.