Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks: 59/60 - 2005

59
2005/??/??, New Yorker College tour
Spit on a stranger
Freeze the saints
Unknown
Trigger cut
Malediction
Major leagues
Gold soundz

Introducing himself: 'Anyway, it's just...me.'
As he fucks up the ending to 'Gold soundz': 'I don't remember – something like that.'
As he forgets to chords to 'Trigger cut': 'Oops. Hold on – here we go.'
And my favorite, during the mid-section of 'Major leagues': 'I never liked this song very much, but...this is my chance to get to know it.'
Way to ingratiate yourself to the audience, Steve!
But... I love him.

And I love him even more for this lovely, solo (with electric guitar this time) set. The mood is intimate (even though the crowd applauds loud enough to make me think there's more than a couple of people there), the songs are played with absolute presence (but not note perfect of course). The ease with which something like 'Trigger cut' is transformed into a heart tugging ballad, is amazing to me. The two 'Face the truth' songs are just great – my favorite live version of 'Freeze the saints' of all time. 'Unknown' is a cover I can't place, something spare and folk, something really rather nice (amazing chords right at the end of it, I never see that coming). And what about 'Spit on a stranger' and 'Major leagues' – all of these versions are totally worthwhile.

I also love this reinterpretation of 'Gold soundz':
So drunk in the autumn sun
You're the kind of girl I like
because you're, uh, special
and I'm special
and you can never reinvent the past

You just did, Steve!
Recommended.

60
2005/??/??, elevator session, Netherlands
Mama
Malediction

At some point you've got to start wondering about your sanity. Why is this recording of Stephen in a Dutch elevator singing 'Mama' and 'Malediction' to the accompaniment of his own hand clapping and foot stomping in my collection?

No reason. I've got to admit there's hardly any musical value to it, just curiosity value. It's like an updated version of a field holler – an elevator holler.
Host: 'Have you ever played in an elevator before?' Stephen: 'Not on tape.'
Stephen: 'What with the overhead costs, I decided to forego the extra guitar and just tour with my personality. It's going great.'

Uhm...
You've got to admire the many different guises these 'Face the truth' songs took on in 2005:
album versions, Jicks live versions, trio drummer less Jicks versions, solo versions on acoustic guitar and electric guitar. How long before he drags out a pump organ like Neil Young?

One bridge too far.