Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks: 111/112 - 2011

111
2011/10/13, Crystal ballroom, Portland, OR
Mr Soul

Now we're talking! Forget the awful, handheld camera/phone sound. Forget the fact the recording drops in halfway through the first verse. This is a great, great moment. Stephen's appreciation of Neil Young (as alluded to in the interview at Xposure in July) brought to the stage, in this epic rousing jam version of the Buffalo Springfield classic. Even Stephen's body language, stooped over his guitar, almost folded double with his head to the floor, reminds me of Neil's typical 'lost in the jam' on stage stance. Mike drops in some Jimi Hendrix guitar melodies as Stephen lets the speakers hum.

That '60s covers EP I suggested earlier – this one should've been the opening track. (It's not too late to take these covers into the studio, Jicks!)

I can't believe it didn't become an encore regular.

112
2011/10/20, Solana beach, CA
Hey Joe

And here's track two!

Look at Jake's hair go!
Let the freak flag fly, Stephen.

I love this stuff, even with the sound handicap.