Stephen Malkmus‘ first concert appearance in the District proper since 2008 was enough to sell out the Black Cat on Friday night, and the former Pavement frontman seemed happy to be back, certainly playing like it. Contrary to his reputation as a “slacker-rock” icon who has at times been accused of “mailing in” his live performances, the 47-year-old singer-guitarist was locked in and engaged all night, putting on a rousing, energetic, and thoroughly entertaining show with his backing band, The Jicks.
Indeed, Malkmus served up a statement of intent right away by opening the set with “Jenny and the Ess-Dog,” one of the best and catchiest songs from his (now quite expansive) post-Pavement catalogue. Perennial favorites like “Tigers” and “Baby C’mon” were interspersed with selections such as “Cinnamon and Lesbians” and “The Janitor Revealed” from Malkmus’ latest record with The Jicks, Wigout At Jagbags, making for a lively, crowd-pleasing setlist.
Malkmus played it dynamically fast-and-loose on songs like “Shibboleth” and “Lariat,” belting out his vocals with verve and tearing through his guitar parts as Joanna Bolme (bass), Mike Clark (keyboards, guitar), and Jake Morris (drums) laid down propulsive grooves. His trademark wit and charisma were also evident as he kept up a steady flow of convivial banter with his bandmates and the rowdy fans up front.
Responding to a audience member’s claim that handpicked opening band Endless Boogie “were [Creedence Clearwater Revival], only not as good,” Malkmus retorted that, “that’s not so bad, that’s kind of what we are” before launching into “Animal Midnight,” delivering the song’s classic-rock guitar solos with relish and aplomb before declaring, “take that Creedence!” Alluding to his collegiate days in Charlottesville, Malkmus noted that “I got two of my bros from the U-of-the-V-to-the A” in the house. He declined a request for the (non-existent) “Otto Porter Blues” and quickly shut down a shouted reference to Georgetown’s arch rivals Syracuse as he segued into “Senator,” the most D.C.-themed song in his repertoire.
Arguably, the evening’s real highlight was a fairly lengthy encore that began with Jagbags‘ “Houston Hades” before Malkmus and his cohorts followed up a cover of The Velvet Underground’s classic “Beginning to See the Light” with a jammy rendition of Fleetwood Mac’s blues-rocker “Oh Well.” Fans predictably cried out for Pavement songs, and they actually got their wish, though not everyone may have realized it, as Malkmus led his band through the deep cuts “Lions (Linden)” from the 1992 EP Watery, Domestic and “From Now On” off of 1993’s compilation Westing (By Musket and Sextant). Some might have preferred “Range Life” or “Summer Babe,” but the rarities were a fitting reward for the many longtime devotees in attendance.
