Alone As Someone Else

Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks @ Bowery Ballroom 2/26/2014
Chartjunk / Scattegories / Lariat / No One Is (As I Are Be) / Brain Gallop / Rumble at the Rainbo / Shibboleth / Cinnamon and Lesbians / Out of Reaches / Tigers / Vanessa from Queens / The Janitor Revealed / Houston Hades / J Smoov / Baby C’mon / Surreal Teenagers // Father to a Sister of Thought / Kite in a Closet

Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks @ Music Hall of Williamsburg 2/27/2014
Cinnamon and Lesbians / Spazz / Lariat / Planetary Motion / Share the Red / Jo Jo’s Jacket / Shibboleth / The Janitor Revealed / Senator / Asking Price / Stick Figures in Love / J Smoov / Jenny and the Ess-Dog / Houston Hades / Church on White / Forever 28 // Outdoor Miner / Stereo / Harness Your Hopes / Wild Thing

Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks “Shibboleth”

Last night I felt so sick and exhausted that I was seriously having trouble standing up sometimes, but there was just no way I was going to miss a Malkmus show. It was worth it! The show in Williamsburg was one of the best Jicks shows I’ve seen, and I’ve seen a lot over the past decade and a half – playful, surprising, energetic. Despite my state, it didn’t stop me from wilding out to “Stereo” and “Jo Jo’s Jacket” – there’s just no way I could ever stifle my overwhelming joy at seeing those songs played live. The previous night was quite good too, but a bit more sloppy – SM clearly hasn’t memorized the words to “Surreal Teenagers” yet though it’s been in the live set for about four years. Going in to these shows I was most excited about seeing all the Jagbags songs, so I felt a tiny bit guilty freaking out so much over the Pavement songs – I am always thrilled to hear some of my favorite songs of all time, but I honestly would’ve been just fine if he’d played more Jicks songs instead. The new songs were fantastic live, by the way – “Houston Hades” and “J Smoov” were particularly slick and groovy, and “Shibboleth” is even more kinetic and abrasive.

Buy it from Amazon.