Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks – KOKO, London 14th November 2011

Following last year’s acclaimed Pavement reunion tour, Stephen Malkmus returned to London, but this time with his merry band of Jicks for company.
KOKO was almost at full capacity to see the legendary indie rock frontman take to the stage in support of his band’s excellent latest LP Mirror Traffic.

Those who had turned up were not to be disappointed. Malkmus was on form both musically and comically; taking time between songs to playfully diss ex-Libertine Carl Barat, dedicate a song to the crumbling Euro currency and promise to play on “until blood is shed”.

Opening with the country tinged single ‘Tigers’ the band produced a set packed full of brilliant hooks and melodies, pure guitar noise and lyrical smarts.

Highlights included a raucous ‘Senator’, moving ‘No One Is (As I Are Be)’ (which Malkmus dedicated to the late Bert Jansch), laid back ‘Asking Price’ and riff-tastic ‘Stick Figures in Love’.

Malkmus also picked out the excellent ‘Animal Midnight’ and ‘Jenny and the Ess-Dog’ from the band’s surprisingly deep back catalogue. One or two of the longer jams slowed down the momentum of the set slightly (particularly in the encore) and it would have been lovely to hear tighter and stronger songs such as ‘Black Book’ or ‘Church on White’ in their place. But overall it was another successful night in London for Malkmus, and the thrilling rendition of The Troggs’ ‘Wild Thing’ to end the set ensured that the Jicks left the stage with applause ringing in their ears and a growing reputation as a major live attraction.

By William David Wilson