Jesse Malin at Webster Hall

As an adolescent, New York City native Jesse Malin gravitated to the hardcore punk rock scene at CBGB's, hanging with the musicians even though he was only 12 years old. From 1980 to 1984, Malin sang in Heart Attack, a hardcore band in which the musicians were 12 to 16 years old. Malin later worked as a gas station attendant, a health food store clerk, and a "man with a van," returning to the stage with the glam-punk band D Generation from 1991 until 1999. He ultimately launched a solo career in 2001. His released his eighth and most recent studio album, Sunset Kids, produced by Lucinda Williams, on August 30, 2019.

Jesse Malin plays his hometown often. Tonight he took the stage at Webster Hall, perhaps the largest local venue he has headlined so far, backed by his regular band (guitarist Derek Cruz, keyboardist Rob Clores, bassist Catherine Popper, drummer Randy Schrager). As this was a record release party, the set featured seven of the 14 songs on the current album, along with a smattering of older originals and cover songs. Malin promised guests for this party; selected songs featured guest spots by singer/songwriters Alejandro Escovedo, Joseph Arthur, Tommy Stinson, Liza Colby, and Kia Warren, as well as saxophonist Danny Ray and trumpet player Indofunk Satish. As usual, Malin introduced many songs with personal anecdotes about how life events invoked the lyrics, some of which were sentimental and others which were powered by an aggressive New York attitude. Malin sang well and the sharp musical arrangements contributed by the band gave additional depth and vitality to the story-songs. On many songs, Malin was carried away by his own manic energy. The performance was explosive, with Malin breaking his microphone stand several times, the first time tossing into the photographers in the photo pit. The stage proved to be not big enough; Malin sang through the audience, winding up standing on the bar in the back of the venue. Count on Jesse Malin to perform every concert as if it was the last on the planet.

Setlist:

1. The Archer (Jesse Malin & the Saint Marks Social song)
2. Death Star
3. Brooklyn
4. Do You Really Wanna Know
5. Chemical Heart
6. Shining Down
7. Riding on the Subway
8. Strangers & Thieves
9. If I Should Fall from Grace with God (The Pogues cover)
10. She Don't Love Me Now
11. Hateful (The Clash cover, with Tommy Stinson)
12. Boots of Immigration
13. Turn Up the Mains
14. Shane
15. When You're Young
16. Meet Me at the End of the World (with Alejandro Escovedo , Joseph Arthur, Liza Colby, and Kia Warren)
17. Room 13
18. Queen of the Underworld (the song was stopped before the first chorus)
19. You Know It's Dark When Atheists Start to Pray (with Don DiLego)

Encore:

1. She's So Dangerous
2. Wendy
3. Revelations (Jesse Malin & the Saint Marks Social song)
4. Russian Roulette (The Lords of the New Church cover)
5. Here's the Situation (with Liza Colby and Kia Warren)
6. Sally Can't Dance (Lou Reed cover, with Alejandro Escovedo, Joseph Arthur, Liza Colby, and Kia Warren)