Photos: Stephen Malkmus and The Jicks @ Other Music

Stephen Malkmus and The Jicks @ Other Music - August 25, 2011

After playing a set at Academy Records in Williamsburg at 6pm, indie icon Stephen Malkmus and his backing band The Jicks rushed over to Other Music in Manhattan at 9pm to play another stripped down set of songs off of their latest release, Mirror Traffic. Malkmus, bassist Joanna Bolme, and guitarist Mike Park all played acoustic, while drummer Jake Morris (who has replaced Wild Flag's Janet Weiss) played solely on a floor tom and a cardboard box, occasionally utilizing a shaker.

It was definitely a stripped down performance, but that didn't take away from the songs at all. Mirror Traffic is yet another strong effort from the band--and the only complaint I have about the album so far is that there's nothing about Beck's production that really screams "Beck" to me. It sounds pretty much like what you'd expect from a Jicks record, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing.

Anyway, considering the fact that the band was playing with the absolute bare essentials, it was clearly the songwriting that stood out. I wish it had been longer (they only played for about 30 minutes), but the intimacy of seeing someone like Stephen Malkmus in a tiny record store was worth it alone. And in case you didn't know, Malkmus is a very funny man.

Afterwards, the entire band stuck around to sign records, posters and random memorabilia, while talking to fans and taking photos. Check out a full set of photos of the show below, and be sure to buy your copy of Mirror Traffic today, or listen to it on Spotify. Also check out their peformance at Amoeba Records in L.A. on Tuesday...

Watch: Stephen Malkmus and The Jicks' "No One Is (As I Are Be)" Official Video... On The New York Times

Image via Matablog

Pretty sure we're setting some kind of record for Stephen Malkmus and The Jicks posts this month... but Malkmus rules and their new record, Mirror Traffic (out on 8/23), is great, so they can announce pretty much any news they want and we'll share it. Which is why we're happy to report, via Matablog, that the band has exclusively premiered the new video for confusingly-named Mirror Traffic cut "No One Is (As I Are Be)" on none other than The New York Times.

The video is accompanied by a quickie article from the NYT's David Itzkoff and sees the seemingly ageless Malkmus chilling with his acoustic guitar in front of a screen on which vintage sports footage is being projected, ending with him playing around in a field with some kids (a couple of which are his own). It's all pretty relaxing. Check it out over there, and be sure to get in line early when Malkmus comes to town to play a couple of our favorite record stores next Thursday (8/25). 

Contest: Win a copy of the new Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks record

In case you haven’t been able to tell, we’re really excited about the new Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks record, Mirror Traffic. Personally speaking, Malkmus’s Face The Truth was a bit of an obsession of mine when it came out in 2005, and I’ve fervently followed his solo career since. Oh yeah, and he was also in this band Pavement that you might have heard had some sort of reunion last year. Anyway…

What better way to celebrate the release of a new record from one of our favorite artists than an old fashioned giveaway contest? Head over to our Facebook page for details on how you can win a vinyl copy of Mirror Traffic, the double LP (well, three sided) that comes out next Tuesday, August 23. Don’t have a turntable? Well the album also comes with an MP3 coupon so you’re covered. Your record will also come with a free poster and will be shipped directly from Matador Records (shipping only to the United States… sorry!). A winner will be selected at random and contacted for shipping details.

If you want to give Mirror Traffic a listen, head over to NPR where you can stream the album in its entirety. If you’re in New York City next Thursday (8/25), Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks will be playing two “stripped down” performances at two different record stores, which you can read more about here. And there are also still tickets available for their show at Terminal 5 on September 26.

Stream: Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks -- "Mirror Traffic"

Hot on the heels of the announcement that Stephen Malkmus will be swinging through NYC for a pair of acoustic in-stores on August 25, the always excellent NPR has given us some extra time to get familiar with many of the new songs he'll likely be playing. That's right, the network is now streaming the new Beck-produced Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks album, Mirror Traffic, in advance of its release on August 23 via Matador Records.

Check it out over here before you hit up those in-stores so that you'll know more lyrics beyond what the Senator wants. Happy Monday!

Stephen Malkmus Loves Record Stores, Is Doing Acoustic Sets At NYC's Academy And Other Music

Indie rock legend Stephen Malkmus loves independent music stores. Not a huge shocker there, but what IS extremely awesome about that fun fact is the news from Matablog that Malkmus will be stopping by NYC two days after the release of his new album with the Jicks, Mirror Traffic, on August 25 for not one but TWO free acoustic in-store performances.

As stated in the flyer above, Malkmus will hit up Academy Records in Williamsburg for a 6pm set before he crosses the river back into Manhattan to rock Other Music at 9pm. Both sets will be followed by signings.

One of our favorite artists ever stopping by two of our favorite local record stores... yep, kind of a no-brainer that we'll be there. Hopefully that will be the second time this year that we've stood within a foot of an indie rock hero.

Get excited, but in the meantime check out the first two tracks we've heard from Mirror Traffic below the jump: "Senator" (along with info about the renaming contest) and "Tigers." Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks will also be touring this fall - all dates below, including their NYC stop at Terminal 5 on September 26.

Help Stephen Malkmus make "Senator" radio-friendly

I guess hearing "the senator wants a blow job" rubs the FCC the wrong way. So Stephen Malkmus is asking for your help to write a radio-friendly lyric to replace it. Head over to the website setup for the contest, aptly named WhatDoesTheSenatorWant.com and submit your suggestion by August 23rd for a chance to have your lyric recorded by Malkmus, a 7" single of "Senator" with your version of the song as its B-side. The Matablog describes this 7" as "the rarest Matador release ever." A winner will be announced on September 15th. Pretty awesome...

Mirror Traffic by Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks is out August 23rd (the same day the contest ends) on Matador Records, and is produced by none other than Beck. Stephen and the band will be in NYC on September 26th at Terminal 5, and tickets are currently on sale. We'll likely be running a contest to win Mirror Traffic on vinyl, so be on the lookout for that shortly. In the meantime, have a listen to "Senator" below...

Listen: New Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks - "Tigers"

Via Facebook

As we've previously reported, the Highlander of indie rock Stephen Malkmus (dude seriously does not age) and his band The Jicks are getting ready to release their new album, Mirror Traffic, on August 23, with a fall tour that brings them to everyone's favorite NYC venue Terminal 5 on September 26 (tickets are still on sale).

Two very excellent tracks have surfaced from Mirror Traffic to date - Stereogum recently shared "Senator," and today have dropped "Tiger" via Cerys Matthew's BBC 6 Music program. Check out the Beck-produced goodness via the above links and grab a ticket to see them performed live - yeah it's Terminal 5, but it's Stephen Malkmus, dammit.