At this point in their 25-year-plus career, Superchunk know what works. Treading between the bouncy, youthful anthems and wistful mid-tempo numbers, the Chapel Hill, N.C.-based band showcased its latest album I Hate Music at a full 9:30 Club, Breaking Bad spoilers be damned.

The group — performing without founding member Laura Ballance, who’s bowed out from touring due to increasing problems with hyperacusis — were spritely despite looking a little road weary after coming off four straight days of shows. Mac McCaughan and Jim Wilbur bounced around the stage during the set, while cracking wise between classics “Slack Motherfucker”, “Precision Auto” and a pair of covers by Teen Idles and Magnetic Fields.

“The gentleman back there is requesting rock music,” McCaughan said to Wilbur after a getting a few requests. “I think we can fulfill that.” I’d say they did.

Fellow North Carolinian’s Spider Bags, who ran through their set at a breakneck speed, opened the night with songs from their recently released singles collection and last year’s Shake Your Head. The group doesn’t tour regularly and lead singer Dan McGee can’t devote his time completely to the band — as noted in the Washington Post profile last week — so seeing them on a stage in town was more than enough of a reason to go.