Last Night: Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks at The Fillmore
Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks at The Fillmore
Review by Liz Iversen; Photos by Loren Risker
April 27, 2008
Better than: The NHL Playoffs
Download: Hear most of the new album.
There’s something inspiring about seeing a band of skillful veterans who so obviously love what they do. Despite a few false starts and some technical difficulties at the Fillmore last night, Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks put on a great show and had—it seemed—just as much fun as the audience.
Clad in a white button-down shirt and jeans, 41-year old Malkmus was cool, relaxed, and assured. Opening with new tracks “Elmo Delmo” and “Hopscotch Willie” from Real Emotional Trash (Malkmus’ fourth album with The Jicks since the disbanding of Pavement in 1999), the band made extended jams look simple. It’s hard not to be won over by Malkmus’ stage presence. No tricks are necessary; the subtlety and ease of his movements is captivating.
Malkmus and his bandmates have a visible chemistry, playing off each other not only in their tight-knit performances but in their between-song banter. After “Vanessa from Queens,” Malkmus remarked, “Little rusty on that one, I was. Don’t know if you noticed.” (I hadn’t.) Bassist Joanna Bolme joked that Malkmus’ syntax sounded like Yoda, and a few songs later, a heckler hollered “Yoda!” at him.
On the bluesy “Dragonfly Pie,” Malkmus was playful with his falsetto vocals. With his shaggy hair in his eyes, he exaggerated his high squeaks, and it was clear he wasn’t taking himself too seriously. But he was all seriousness in the instrumental break, when he and Bolme turned toward each other and moved simultaneously, rocking on the beat as they played.
Due to a guitar problems mid-way through, the band had to rearrange their set list somewhat. So when Mike Clark couldn’t play the guitar, he had a blast on keyboard. During “Gardenia,” he was fired up, running in place with arms outstretched as if on a treadmill. “I didn’t get my workout in today,” he said.
Likewise, drummer Janet Weiss (of Sleater Kinney) tore it up on the drums all night. After flawless executions of difficult drum fills (and there were plenty), she was all smiles. She was phenomenal on back-up vocals as well, particularly on “We Can’t Help You,” a song that’s reminiscent of late Pavement. The crowd loved this and sang along with her to the soft “la-la-la-la-las.”
After a false start on “Baltimore,” Malkmus & The Jicks brought their set to a close with some intense, hard-core jamming: screechy guitar tremolos, crescendoing drums, and floor-shaking bass.
The atmosphere all night was one of intimacy and ease. The venue was full but not packed; loyal fans made their way to the front and others sat in the balcony overlooking it all.
When the band returned for an encore, starting with “The Hook,” from 2001’s Stephen Malkmus. With an enthusiastic, “Uh!” the cowbell kicked in. Next was “It Kills” from Face the Truth. Malkmus punctuated his lyrics—“There’s more to you than what you THINK AND NEED!” In closing, the band played a cover of Mungo Jerry’s “Alright Alright Alright,” proof that, despite all the jamming, Malkmus & The Jicks can do good old-fashioned rock, and when they do it—it’s awesome.
Critic's Notebook
Personal bias: It’s true—Guitar is like catnip for girls.
By the way: The band plays in Sacramento tonight.
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