Some fans are full blown obsessives who will likely accept and defend anything their hero produces. Another sizable percentage are rabid Pavement fans who might not be familiar, or completely taken with Malkmus's solo material and secretly (or openly) hope the old boys bust out for a secret reunion blowout. These folks, while bound for terrible disappointment from such a valiant yet unlikely expectation, are hanging on to an extreme view of what I'll gander every single person at Malkmus shows holds out for. I'm not even going as far as a full blown reunion, just a modest request for a Pavement song from the legendary past as thrown bone to the crowd to pick on and undoubtedly freak.

Just for fun right, what's the harm? Here is how that conversation might go from someone in the first row:

Yeah yeah. I'm sorry. Yeah,..yeah ok right. I know, totally different band from long ago. Jicks right? No totally, they do...great, yes you guys all sound awesome. Jammy. What? Not trying to be sarcastic,..sorr- oh yeah, sure. Ok ya, bye.

Or they do it and everyone twitters furiously, "they're playing "Cut Your Hair" OMG!" I'll be the first to admit that I was not hitched in acquaintance during the heyday of Pavement. Growing up in the 90s on Long Island Pavement was not a band that entered my young sphere of awareness. I've already shared how I was one of the sorry people who ignored Pavement's Lollapalooza set in their infamous mid-90s billing. Since then however I've learned to appreciate the group by self guided exploration and through an acknowledged osmosis that comes with the territory of running a music blog with a Pavement expert and superfan from Salem, OR.

In terms of fandom for the group I don't believe I am in the minority who holds regrets. It is said that years after John F. Kennedy was elected president a disproportionate amount of people claimed they voted for him than was mathematically possible. I'm sure the same can be said of people who claim they were fans of Pavement "from the very beginning". Call it the Pixies theory - when an influential band experiences more success posthumously than they did in original incarnations. Skeptics should consider the following scenario: how big would a Pavement reunion be? What size venues would they fill? Surely the plum Coachella headliner spot would be offered.

Time to dig out of this rabbit hole of cliched critical trappings so I can shift gears and actually mention a thing or two on the Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks show. Two weeks ago the band played the Gothic Theatre, located due south of downtown Denver. Malkmus was his usual cool and jokey self. Engaging in low impact conversation with the crowd in between the sprawling songs that make up the bulk of his band's repertoire. One perhaps valid criticism of current era Malkmus originates from those averse to the extended, some might say jammy sections in much of the material. Valid only if that is not your cup of tea. I dig it.

Like we've seen so often with solo acts they can often take unpleasant indulgent routes filled with guitar solos, scattered arrangements and questionable turns into failed ambitiousness. Just this month Billy Corgan showed the world (or the tiny percentage that follow music blogs) how douchey that psyche can be. Nostalgia for a celebrated past at war with artists who move on can be a messy thing. Or better yet as this comment put it: "Billy's a dick because he's demanding that people follow him on his journey to irrelevance." If Corgan's journey to nowhere is one far extreme, certainly Stephen Malkmus and his easygoing evolution into a classic rock guitar dude is unoffensive enough.

Nostalgia aside the new stuff harps the melodic rock with some resemblance of the past but with clear delineation of something altogether new. Again, I dig it. Although if I didn't it might still be worth the price admission for the comedy show of Malkmus & his Jicks. A story about windy Midwestern drives turns into a mention of the "winds of change" blowing in post-election America. Calling out for a roadie perched high above in a backstage balcony he referred to as the "cocaine perch". When drinks offered by fans were turned away the sincerity of the thankfulness was punctuated by quips, "Thanks for the beer but we're flush backstage...Internet access too...plus, we're scared of your drugs." Cheesily asking, "Isn't this the mile HIGH city? Don't you guys have good drugs here?" Before finally self-consciously admitting, "Actually I don't endorse that, I have two kids." It was constant and hilarious. Like an old friend who can never be serious about anything.

The show ended with a party. Literally. Blitzen Trapper joined the band for the final two encores, first a cover of "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" and the Zeppelin-esque riffing of James Gang's "Funk #49". Pretty bonkers. Really fun.

Blitzen Trapper

//Chip can be contacted via email - chip.diffendaffer @ jetfiredesign dot com.
//Chip Diffendaffer @ Flickr