Stephen Malkmus And The Jicks - Brighton Events & News Magazine

Komedia, 8th December 09

I’m late, it’s pissing down with rain, I’m running through Brighton, and water is seeping into my hole ridden trainers. It is worth it though right? Of course it is! I am on my way to see Stephen Malkmus And The Jicks. I can’t deny my excitement, I have seen The Jicks once before and they were extraordinary. For those of you have not yet listened to Stephen Malkmus, he is the front man of legendary indie band Pavement, and a hero of the alt-rock scene. His charming guitar picks and brilliantly shambolic vocals are a rather large petal on the flower that was independent rock in the late 80’s and early 90’s.

The Jicks came on stage to a warm reception, the crowd obviously excited to see the band here for the first time in over a year. They kick of with ‘Dynamic’ and Malkmus’s intricate guitar lines and discordant twangs ring out over the instantly identifiable vocals and durgy bass lines. You find yourself being sucked in to the haze that is The Jicks.

Second track, ‘Post Paint Boy’ is a lazy, bumble of a song that has you bobbing your head and shuffling your nervous indie feet before you can say Pavement. Lyrically reminiscent of the disengaged youth of the indie scene Malkmus has been associated with for so long, “I’m fed up with hypocrisy / There isn’t a label large enough to fit your head on”, the track is the kind of song he used to write for Pavement. The band’s most successful single to date, ‘Gardenia’ followed shortly after. ‘Gardenia’ is a bright, luscious peach of a song, Malkmus’s guitar playing is sweet and catchy, and the vocal for the chorus is the perfect complement.

After this Malkmus disappears of the stage. The audience and band are both confused, after 30 seconds or so we hear from bassist Joanna Bolme “Oh… Nurse Betty”, Malkmus has a cut on his hand (talking to drummer Rachel Weiss after the gig I found out that it was more off a gash) and, thanks to Nurse Betty, a blue plaster as well. We were told that “if we had chosen Stephen as our guitar hero, we may want to think again and pick J Mascis”.

The Jicks played a variety of old and new, including a cut down version of “1% of One”, from their highly acclaimed album Pig Lib. However you felt as though this was a muted performance, and although hiding it well, Malkmus was struggling to find the fluency which is usually so forthcoming. This did affect the performance and towards the end the atmosphere did seem to drop, The Jicks played a long encore and will undoubtedly still be loved by all. However there was a noticeable difference in fluency throughout the set and you left with the feeling that you had caught them, and particularly Malkmus on an off day.