Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks play the Village on the 30^th of October. Malkmus developed a reputation for guitar driven, angular, literate and witty songs with Pavement throughout the 90s. In 1999 Pavement took a break and Stephen Malkmus began work on a solo project incorporating the talents of Portland Indie rock group the Jicks comprising of John Moen on drums and bassist, Joanna Bolme.

The songs on the album have the same zany energy of Pavement's best work and sounds as if Malkmus was having a lot of fun away from the confines of ten years of Pavement music. The album gave Malkmus space to breathe and flesh out some songs ideas like “Troubble”, “Pink India” and “The Hook” and shows how much Malkmus has deviated from  Pavement's sound. Although many might have expected a 'serious' solo effort full of gravity and depth, Malkmus saw his solo effort as a chance to develop his eclectic, and whimsical song writing with songs concerning Yul Brenner and the Trojan War.

Malkmus's old label Matador took on the finished album and released it in early 2001. Malkmus wanted to title the album 'Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks' but was dissuaded by his record company who suggested Stephen Malkmus. Maybe this was a blessing in disguise because the album Pig Lib just released this year under the moniker Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks is much closer to a band album than it's predecessor. The Jicks seem to have a more relaxed, easy, meandering style than the stumbling ramshackle sound of Pavement and it perfectly suits Malkmus's songs. Catch Stephen Malkmus's new line-up at The Village it should be a great night

Time : 8.pm.
Tickets : €21 (including booking fee ) Available from Road Records, Sound Cellar and Ticketmaster.

The Village