Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks @ Siren Festival 2008

At the end of the day, as the sun was setting, Fetival-goers were left with the choice of two big bands: Broken Social Scene, or my choice, Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks. When I told my friends that was who I wanted to go see, most of them looked at me like I was crazy. They had no idea who he was or why I would pick someone they didn’t recognize over Broken Social Scene. So let me educate those readers who don’t know: Stephen Malkmus is not only one of the best lyricists out there, he is also one of the most influential indie rock musicians out there. Perhaps you’ve heard of a little band called Pavement? Yeah, he and Spiral Stairs (now of Preston School of Industry) made that band.

And now we have the Jicks. After a brief period performing solo, Malkmus teamed up with Joanna Bolme (bass), Mike Clark (keys, guitar), and Janet Weiss (drums) to form the Jicks.

Even with these other members, the band still bears many of the marks of any Stephen Malkmus project: his distinctive voice, elaborate lyrics filled with wordplay, and extensive meandering instrumentals that occasionally jump out in bursts of energy behind it all. I was a little disappointed that they didn’t play two of my favorites, “The Hook,” a song about a pirate, or “(Do Not Feed the) Oyster,” which is just damn catchy. They did play a lot of stuff off their new album Real Emotional Trash, and that just goes to prove he’s still got it.

Even though I missed the end of Broken Social Scene’s set, I am not disappointed in the slightest that I chose to see the Jicks instead. Stephen Malkmus is another one of those artists that I’ve been wanting to see my whole life. And to be able to do it for free? Even better.