When I listen to Pavement, I still get chills down my spine. I remember hearing them for the first time when I was 12 years old. Stephen Malkmus looks super foxy in this video ladies so watch out. ‘Major Leagues’ was one of their last videos off of Terror Twilight a record I hold very near and dear to my heart. Pavement and golf, does it get any better? (or amusing?). Here’s hoping to one day they decide to reunite. The world needs it.
Today’s Secondhand Sunday comes from a musician who is very near and dear to my heart, Stephen Malkmus. Since the mention of ‘Jicks’ weren’t really used on his first solo album I feel wierd including it in here. The video is for my favorite SM song, Discretion Grove and its also my favorite video by him since he left Pavement. Maybe because he’s in it acting like a fool. I wish he would go back to that. He was such a good music video actor.
Digging back in my mind, I’m not sure if I’ve ever heard anyone else cover Pavement. I know its been done (it had to happen somewhere, right?) but I think I have chosen to avoid it up until now. Let me explain this to you; I am not always a fan of bands doing covers of my favorite bands. Pavement is really near and dear to me. I’ve been listening to them since I was 12 years old. They are what got me into indie rock. They are like the supreme beings of music to me. The thought of other bands covering them makes me cringe sometimes.
But now there is an exception….
Why?’s Yoni Wolf has just released his cover of the Pavement classic ‘Shoot the Singer (1 Sick Verse)’ and quite frankily, he did a really nice job. Wolf took the song and recorded it with a piano, a big difference from the original version. It gives the song a feeling of darkness which is something I wouldn’t have expected. Wolf really made it his own and kudos to him for that.
Download Yoni Wolf’s version of ‘Shoot the Singer (1 Sick Verse)’
I have always hoped for the day when the news would arrive that Indie Godfathers, Pavement were reuniting. I often consider going to Mark Ibold’s place of work (he works in a resturant in NYC) and trying to talk to him about ‘How we can rebuild Pavement’. Well, I ALMOST had it this time!
Pavement reunited at Bob Nastanovich’s Nashville wedding where all members were in attendence. Stephen Malkmus, Ibold, and Steve West took to the stage as Malkmus performed “Come and Get Your Love” and The O’ Jays “Love Train.” WOW. That must have been a site to see. By the end of the night the Pavement boys were onstage, not performing with each other, but just there together. I guess its been too long since they’ve played together to play actual Pavement songs. Whether or not Pavement will ever actually reunite is up in the air, but fingers crossed! Ibold we need to talk…..
A short clip of Malkmus Performing at Bob’s Wedding
An oldie but goodie Pavment video, Gold Soundz
Modern Mystery 