Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks: 53/54 - 2004/2005

53
2004/10/23, Buenos Aires
We Dance
Trigger Cut
Loud Crowd Cloud
Blue Arrangements
Church on White
Here
Carl of the Clod
In the Mouth a Desert
Infinite Spark
Malediction
Post-paint boy
Spit on a Stranger
Father to a Sister of Thought
Elevate Me Later
No More Shoes
Jenny & the Ess Dog
Cut Your Hair (Intro)
Animal Midnight
Range Life

Is this the earliest recording of what's now the standard performance format for solo Malkmus? It's a different type of solo set from 1998 Terror Twilight-preview or 2000's Kim Bedroom show, both made up almost entirely of unreleased and in-progress work, often played over demorecordings playing over the PA. It's different from solo acoustic sessions, where he showcases songs from his new album of the moment. This format is made up out of an even balance of old nuggets (Pavement), audience requests (sometimes fumbled), covers and stuff he's currently in the middle of writing. I know I'm not alone wishing I'll have the chance to one day witness one of these shows. It's an informal setting in which Stephen usually shines (and sometimes stumbles, but charmingly).

Between the recording of 'Face the truth' and its release, he headed out in this solo format to South America, with an electric guitar. The show in Buenos Aires was recorded, and it struck a nice balance between Pavement songs from all eras, some catalogue Jicks and a bunch of new tracks (plus that solo perennial 'Blue arrangements').

Compared to later solo shows, these sound distinctly rehearsed! No songs are rushed, more often slowed down, really accentuating the songs' qualities. 'Trigger cut''s got some nice 'Pig lib' style angular folk guitar embellishments. 'In the mouth' has a moment of crowd participation. The South American audiences are really into it, just like in 2002, by the way, it really stands out.

The solo version of 'Carl the clod' is more realized as the band version from yesterday. He gives it a good performance. But I still think the construction of it – it just doesn't sit right.

Of the 'Face the truth' tracks - some in their earliest live recording - 'Loud cloud crowd' is skeletal, driven by atonal jabs of distortion (reminiscent of the later solo version at 2007's Pitchfork festival), 'Malediction' and 'Post paint boy' (also slowed down) both in beautiful, faithful versions, 'No more shoes', the full jam version, solo format be damned.

54
2005/05/24, KEXP Radio broadcast
Freeze the saints
Malediction
Mama

We kick off 2005, another tour year with some nice concert and radio session surprises, excellent performances, and sadly also John Moen's last year working with the Jicks. Two sessions from the same date no less, this radio broadcast probably recorded in the afternoon and a short set at Sonic Boom records (coming up next).

Both feature the Jicks in rare trio format, no drummer, though Joanna (I think) does some nice tambourine work. It's not the usual set up, and everybody is working real hard to make this special occurence work. There are a lot of little arrangement- and melodic ideas that they never did anywhere else on these songs, so it's an eye opener.

They open with a beautiful piano led (with stunning lead guitar) 'Freeze the saints', Mike complementing the song's melody and mesage perfectly. Stephen sings it with great feeling. A keeper. On 'Malediction' they start off really softly, then Stephen unleashes some truly, not fit for drummer less band, scorching guitar. Thrilling, and it works. So they try out another uptempo number, but 'Mama' really needs a backbeat. Joanna gives it her best on tambourine, but it's a no go. Well, they gave it a shot.

A nice rehearsal for the record store set.