Stephen Malkmus has been on the cutting edge of indie music for over 20 years, and is widely regarded as an icon in independent music. In the late 80s, Malkmus brought the now infamous band Pavement into the musical forefront. In the 90s, he was putting up solo work as well as fronting Silver Jews, not to mention side projects with Sonic Youth and others. Today, you can keep up with him through Stephen Malkmus and The Jicks, and tonight you can see Stephen Malkmus and The Jicks at Mercy Lounge in Nashville! It’s like watching history, and Spin Magazine called it one of the top 30 tours this fall. So, get out and see some live music.
Malkmus teamed up with Beck to produce his most recent record, Mirror Traffic, (released August 23rd) and you can hear the Beck influence in quite a few of the songs. Just listen to the track “No One Is (As I Are Be)” below, and tell me you don’t hear some Beck in that song. It’s a move that a lot of resurgent indie rockers have been working lately…. remember when I told you about Thurston Moore’s new solo, Beck produced record?
Nashville Cream’s D. Patrick Rogers has recently posted his love of Mirror Traffic. Pitchfork videoed Malkmus and The Jicks playing a 6-song set on a rooftop right before Hurricane Irene rolled through New York. Malkmus and Matador Records even ran a pretty funny campaign by asking you, the fans, to decide “what the senator wants” for a radio edit of “Senator”.
Malkmus is a legend. The new record is awesome. And you need something to do tonight in Nashville. Doors open at 9pm, and the night gets started with Holy Sons. So, grab your $17 tickets here or you can drop $20 at the door. I’ve attached a player below with most of the tracks from Mirror Traffic (not compatible with your iPhone), so enjoy listening…. and then get out and see some live music tonight. Also, dust off that copy of Pavement’s Slanted and Enchanted and buy Mirror Traffic at Grimey’s this afternoon and meet Malkmus himself for his meet & sign session starting at 3pm.
The first track “Senator” is not the radio friendly edit…. so, be careful for one questionable word that pops up from time to time.
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I think you meant the 90’s and the 2000’s. Slanted and Enchanted didn’t come out until 1992.
I guess it depends on how you look at it… Pavement formed in the late 80s, and released albums in the 90s. Silver Jews was formed around the same time as Pavement, but didn’t really tour until the mid 2000s. And, Stephen’s side projects were scattered through, including the Sonic Youth et. al project began in the late 90s. It’s hard to write two sentences to cover the musical career of Stephen Malkmus.
Maybe I should clarify it with “During the late 80’s”. Alright, done. Thanks.
I appreciate the comment, and like to know that knowledgeable folks are reading!