Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks w/ Soccer Mommy ::: Gothic Theater ::: 07.31.18

For being a Tuesday night, Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks sparkled as hard as one could sparkle on a Tuesday night. Indie’s slacker king continues to age finer than wine with a masterful performance full of guitar solos and off key vocals. It doesn’t hurt that the new album, “Sparkle Hard,” is the most engaging and inventive album for Malkmus since “Real Emotional Trash.”

Stephen has spent the majority of his professional career with the Jicks by almost 8 years (give or take a few) than the time spent in Pavement. As much as fans applauded the over the top exuberance of “Shiggy” with the over the head guitar plucking, it was the Pavement covers that fans secretly yearned. It wasn’t until the encore (obvs) that fans were treated to old classics like “Shady Elder” and “Slanted and Enchanted” favorite, “In the Mouth a Desert.” But that’s the crazy part. As much as I wanted to hear Pavement covers, it didn’t feel right. The goofy nature of Spiral Stairs and company is a different aesthetic. I yearned to hear “Sin Taxi” or “Ramp of Death,” but we all ate up the Pavement covers.

Soccer Mommy worked the crowd in a manner that a veteran tested road warrior commands. Sophie Allison may not be old enough to drink alcohol legally, but her voice carries years of wisdom and experience in the most earnest manner. Fat Possum’s latest artist is riding high on the strength of her album release earlier this year, “Clean.” Look for the Nashville artist to open for Kacey Musgraves on a few dates coming up.