review and photography by Emily Evans

       OK. So basically every publication, from college newspapers to the likes of the Reader and UR to Rolling Stone and Spin, has covered Stephen Malkmus since the February release of his self-titled solo debut. But, as a friend of mine said, "Most of them are just blurbs." Unfortunately, I don't have the room here to give Stephen Malkmus, or the Jicks, the room they, or their music, deserve.
       Then again, these photographs portray him and the feel of a live show far better than any words ever could. Stephen Malkmus, the lead songwriter, vocalist and guitarist of Pavement (now broken up), has been hailed the king of indie rock and called "the Natalie Wood of American enigmatic guitar boys" (RS866, 4/12/2001). However, even these phrases do not capture his music, or his presence. Don't get me wrong; his presence is not higher than these praises, he is not of the "I'm above you all" nature. He's got a pretention, but he comes across as being merely separate from the rest of the world and very much absorbed in his music and himself. His current back-up, the Jicks, are fully absorbed in him as well, while also playing in their own little worlds.
       They, especially Malkmus, play like a teenage band practicing in the garage, discovering the feel and power of live music for the first time. The difference is that their music is together and polished, and comes across beautifully, reaching another world entirely. They play like rock stars (talent, drunkenness and everything else), but more for themselves than the audience.
       Their playing reaches the audience members though, and it reaches them strongly and purely. "I go to about three concerts a week, and this will definitely make my top ten of 2001," one concert-goer said. She hadn't even heard of Malkmus, or any of the music from his solo CD. Her passion for live music brought her there, and her craving was fulfilled by the energy coming from the stage. For me, having previously heard (and fallen in love with) the music on the CD made the live show that much stronger, and mesmerizing.
       Whether the audience members knew the music or not, the performance on stage hit them, and hit them hard. Malkmus and the Jicks more than sufficiently exhibited the power of live music on stage; the ability to reach that intangible and indescribable (and often unreachable) inner part of us all.