Here's a little clip from the punk anthem that has become even more apropos in these politically divisive times, "Two States:"
Here's the setlist:
- Encore:
Showing posts with label Pavement. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pavement. Show all posts
Friday, October 14, 2022
Pavement arrives for the concert event of the year in DC
Sunday, July 1, 2018
Stephen Malkmus helps Pavement's legacy continue to grow
No matter how many years go by since the demise of my third-favorite band of all time, Pavement's legend just keeps growing because leader Stephen Malkmus just keeps adding so much music to the catalog. (Much like how the combo of Velvet Undergound/Lou Reed maintains its place as my fifth-favorite ever.)
And that huge catalog translates to great shows every time I see Malkmus (like the last time in 2014 and, needless to say, the Pavement reunion show in 2010).
The latest, June 18 at Black Cat in D.C., was no different.
The show began with a great one-two punch of two of my favorite songs from the new album Sparkle Hard. "Cast Off" was the warm up for both the album and the show, followed by the hipster bike-lover showcase of "Bike Lane."
In fact, some of the strongest moments came courtesy of Sparkle Hard: "Solid Silk" is mesmerizingly beautiful. "Refute" is fun, corn-pone goodness (and includes Kim Gordon, formerly of Sonic Youth, on the record).
Two songs off 2005's Face the Truth were definite highlights. "Malediction" is an under-rated happy ditty and "Freeze the Saints" (with just singing and no guitar from Malk), would make any greatest hits collection should there ever be one for his post-Pavement material.
2011's Mirror Traffic also made an appearance with the mellow "No One Is (As I Are Be)" and the soaring "Stick Figures in Love." (Strangely, there were no songs from 2014's Wigout at Jagbags.)
"Dark Wave," although far from the best song on 2003's Pig Lib, was the weirdo tune needed for the middle of the set. The new "Future Suite" kept the loopiness going. Then "Shiggy," also off Sparkle Hard, brought the screamo Pavement-like rock.
The weakest moments of the show were "Brethren" off the new album (the representative of what now seems to be a requirement for every Malkmus album, the one song that sounds like a Grateful Dead outtake) and the new, droning and ProTools-y "Rattler." And I've never been all that crazy about "Baltimore," from 2008's Real Emotional Trash, but it definitely fit well as the guitar-jam for the end of the main set.
The encore couldn't have been more perfect. The best song on the latest release, "Middle America," led into Pavement classics "Shady Lane" and "In the Mouth a Desert" ("when you treat it like an oil well"), at which point Pablo and I got so excited in the 12th row or so that we spilled beer everywhere.
****1/2 out of ***** stars
Sunday, March 2, 2014
Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks Play Crisp Set on Crisp Night at Black Cat
This is a flat-out hilarious video interview I stumbled upon from a few years ago by a FOX News host who grovels at the godly feet of Stephen Malkmus. I don't know about reporting on reality, but there's no doubt FOX News knows how to entertain.
Segueing awkwardly from the video to another entertaining performance ... Malkmus and his band The Jicks played a crisp and rewarding set Friday night at Black Cat in Washington D.C. (Rachel, Peter, and Fran were also in attendance.) It was the first time I've seen him since the Pavement reunion shows in Central Park in 2010.
The Jicks were in fine form. Joanna Bolme floats on a cloud of bass, Jake Morris is a ball of energy on drums, and Mike Clark provides the Spiral Stairs-type backing foil to Malkmus' guitar-god heroics and light-hearted lyrics and banter.
One can never go wrong with one of his solo-career highlights "Jenny & the Ess-Dog" to begin the set. Some of his first horns ever, on "Chartjunk" from new album Wig Out at Jagbags, was one of the best of many played from the release.
Great tunes from 2011's Mirror Traffic dominated the mid-portion, including "Tigers," "No One Is (As I Are Be)," and "Senator," as did Jagbags killer tracks "Lariat" and "Cinnamon and Lesbians."
One complaint is that there could have been more than one song off Malkmus' perfect 2001 solo debut.
But there was no complaining on the encore. The band has apparently been playing different covers every night on tour, and our surprises were no let down on this night: the Velvet Underground's "Beginning to See the Light" and Fleetwood Mac's "Oh Well."
Then came perhaps my favorite Pavement song off my favorite Pavement release: "Lions (Linden)" from the Watery Domestic EP (which Pavement unfortunately did not play at the reunion show I saw). The night ended with a surprise for diehards like myself: "From Now On" off obscure early Pavement release Westing (By Musket and Sextant).
****1/2 out of ***** stars
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- Encore:
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(The Velvet Underground cover)
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(Fleetwood Mac cover)
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(Pavement cover)
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(Pavement cover)
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