STEPHEN MALKMUS & THE JICKS
The Forum, January 16
Whilst 90s indie hero Stephen Malkmus will always cut a laconic figure, there can be no doubting his music possesses real beauty and soul. Having ended things with his seminal band Pavement at the back end of the 90s, as Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks (or Stevie Jicks, as we’re calling him tonight) he’s continuing to pen beautiful alt-pop songs. He still has that slacker charm though, and as such, chooses to open with new single Lariat, before punctuating it by drolly smiling the words “so we got that one out the way then”.
Malkmus carries an innate air of nonchalance, but to see and hear him play with his Jicks, you can sense the meticulous precision and effort behind latest record Wig Out at Jagbags and its live presentation. He himself is a neater guitar player than he might first appear on record, with his jazz chords blending smoothly into pretty licks, often a world away from some of the more crooked sounds of Pavement. Whilst his singing voice would never be called strong as such, it never waivers tonight as he delivers his signature clever and humorous lyrics with the clarity they deserve. As they segue into new songs Planetary Motion and Cinnamon & Lesbians, he shares smiles with Joanna, Mike and Jake Jick during their own wig-outs. They look and sound like a band that thoroughly enjoy playing together.
Although released in early January, Wig Out at Jagbags has a distinctly summery feel, and so as the sweet sound of one of the album’s highlights, Houston Hades, floats around The Forum, it’s as if we’re transported six months into future festival sunshine. In this spirit, Malkmus grants us a classic to finish tonight, closing with a lovely rendition of Jenny & the Ess-Dog from his 2001 eponymous solo album.
Through his work with The Jicks, it appears that Stephen Malkmus just wants to play beautiful, happy pop songs to people, and to play them well. In that, tonight is an unbridled success.
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Read our interview with Stephen Malkmus here.
Words: Jack Bolter
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