Nada Surf’s fifth album is the aptly titled Lucky. After their label refused to release their sophomore record because it “didn’t hear a single” — thereby refusing the band an opportunity to follow up on their mega-hit “Popular” — many bands would have just walked away. Nada Surf, however, refused to cave and turned their focus to Europe, where The Proximity Effect became a small hit — eventually allowing the band the buy back the album’s Stateside rights and release the record themselves. A recording contract with Barsuk Records arrived shortly thereafter, and the group’s been able to release three more records.

The band’s show at the 9:30 Club on Friday night was one of their last shows touring behind their aforementioned fifth album, but the band didn’t hesitate to plumb the depths of their catalog, playing most of their excellent 2002 release Let Go. The crowd was there to sing along and participate as much as possible, which pleased the band to no end. Before “Inside of Love,” singer Matthew Caws asked the audience to do a little two-step dance during the song — and they were quick to comply, dancing whilst shouting along with the chorus. Other cuts like “Weightless,” “Blizzard of ’77” and “Always Love” provided the crowd with more opportunities to sing along.

While it’s one thing to be lucky, it’s another to put in the work and take advantage of your opportunities. Plenty of bands get the chance to be one-hit wonders — especially within the era of the mid-90’s Alternative Rock radio boom — but not many of them have been able to continue making music on their own terms and carve out a nice career doing so. Lucky or not, it’s hard not to pull for Nada Surf.

Openers The Delta Spirit were no slouches either, full of energy and the hooks to back it up. Their rootsy brand of cajun-flavored Americana was a hit with the crowd, who will surely be looking forward to the band’s next tour in February.