Como te va, fantasy sports fans? Our own Stephen Malkmus And The Jicks are not quite done with Los Angeles, and vice versa. Right now, SM and co. are prepping for their appearance on KCRW’s beloved Morning Becomes Eclectic at 11:15AM PDT (or 2:15PM in the popular EDT format).
Not only did LA get a stellar instore at Amoeba last night, wherein the winning lyric for the already-infamous blowjob contest was revealed (more on that to come), but now you get Malkmus on your radio as well. Don’t ask me why he loves you so much, LA, just go with it.
Oh, and you might want to tune your radio dial to 89.9FM to listen. Go to KCRW.com to listen online if you’re not in the area, or just prefer your radio to be ones and zeros.
If you’ve been tuned in to CNN this blog lately, you may recall how today marks two very important future cultural benchmarks. First, today sees the release of Stephen Malkmus And The Jicks’ new album Mirror Traffic.
Second, to celebrate the aforementioned release, Stephen and the Jicks will be playing a free, all-ages instore this evening at Hollywood’s seminal rock outlet Amoeba Music at 6pm PST. The entire performance will be streamed on Amoeba’s website so even if you’re not in LA, you can still check it out and find out who won the best fucking contest of all-time the contest to help Steve find an alternate word for “blowjob” so that the radio will play his single Senator.
Funny I should mention THIS CONTEST now because contrary to our having told you guys we were going to announce the winner in a few weeks, we’re just so damn excited that Stephen will be announcing the winner during this evening’s performance of Senator on Amoeba webcast, so be sure to tune in and find out if you’ve won. And while we’ve only got a few hours until showtime, we’ve still yet to determine that perfect “blowjob” substitute. So get your last minute entries in right now. Seriously, we’re shutting it down (boss) in a few hours.
And if you just can’t wait another minute to get your SM/JCKS online video fix, check out Mirror Traffic’sfirst video right now.
In addition to two other instores later this week, the band will be hitting the road for a very awesome and very extensive tour in a few weeks’ time. Those dates below.
9/20 – Detroit, MI, Majestic Theater – tickets
9/21 – Toronto, ON, Phoenix Concert Theatre – tickets
9/22 – Ottowa, ON, Ritual – tickets
9/23 – Montreal, QC, Corona Theatre – tickets
9/24 – Boston, MA, Royale – tickets
9/26 – New York, NY, Terminal 5 – tickets
9/28 – Philadelphia, PA , Theatre of Living Arts – tickets
9/29 – Baltimore, MD, Ram’s Head Live – tickets
9/30 – Charlottesville, VA, Jefferson Theater – tickets
10/1 — Saxapahaw, NC, The Haw River Ballroom – tickets
10/2 – Atlanta, GA, Variety Playhouse – tickets
10/4 – Nashville, TN, Mercy Lounge – tickets
10/5 – Indianapolis, IN, Earth House – tickets
10/6 – Chicago, IL, Vic Theatre – tickets
10/7 – Milwaukee WI, Turner Hall – tickets
10/8 – Minneapolis, MN, Pantages Theatre – tickets
10/11- Seattle, WA, Neptune Theatre – tickets (with Ty Segall)
10/12 – Vancouver, BC, The Biltmore Cabaret – tickets (with Ty Segall)
10/13 – Portland, OR, Crystal Ballroom – tickets (with Ty Segall)
10/16 – San Francisco, CA, Treasure Island Music Festival – tickets
10/19 – Los Angeles, CA, The Music Box – tickets (with Ty Segall)
10/20 – Solana Beach, CA, Belly Up Tavern – tickets (with Ty Segall)
Today the nation’s most esteemed news source brings us the first video from Stephen Malkmus and The Jicks’ awesome new album Mirror Traffic (hear it), out THIS COMING TUESDAY and available for pre-order.
The video, directed by Steve Doughton, accompanies an excellent piece about Mr. Malkmus and Mr. Beck Hansen (as well as their parallel histories and work together on Mirror Traffic) that will run in the paper this weekend. (I can’t say it’s my favorite Matador-related piece to run in the Times this week, though – that honor goes here.)
Anyway. Watch the video!
There’s a TON happening in Jicksburg over the next week or so: The band will sign posters at Music Millennium in Portland this Saturday (August 20); we’re wrapping up a contest on Tuesday, while the band plays Amoeba in LA that same day (hmmm, might we tie those two things together somehow? Stay tuned…). From there they take the East Coast (or at least the East Village) by force: two New York City instores next Thursday, and an appearance on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon on Tuesday August 30th.
And theeeeeeeeen…Rock shows!
9/20 – Detroit, MI, Majestic Theater – tickets
9/21 – Toronto, ON, Phoenix Concert Theatre – tickets
9/22 – Ottowa, ON, Ritual – tickets
9/23 – Montreal, QC, Corona Theatre – tickets
9/24 – Boston, MA, Royale – tickets
9/26 – New York, NY, Terminal 5 – tickets
9/28 – Philadelphia, PA , Theatre of Living Arts – tickets
9/29 – Baltimore, MD, Ram’s Head Live – tickets
9/30 – Charlottesville, VA, Jefferson Theater – tickets
10/1 — Saxapahaw, NC, The Haw River Ballroom – tickets
10/2 – Atlanta, GA, Variety Playhouse – tickets
10/4 – Nashville, TN, Mercy Lounge – tickets
10/5 – Indianapolis, IN, Earth House – tickets
10/6 – Chicago, IL, Vic Theatre – tickets
10/7 – Milwaukee WI, Turner Hall – tickets
10/8 – Minneapolis, MN, Pantages Theatre – tickets
10/11- Seattle, WA, Neptune Theatre – tickets (with Ty Segall)
10/12 – Vancouver, BC, The Biltmore Cabaret – tickets (with Ty Segall)
10/13 – Portland, OR, Crystal Ballroom – tickets (with Ty Segall)
10/16 – San Francisco, CA, Treasure Island Music Festival – tickets
10/19 – Los Angeles, CA, The Music Box – tickets (with Ty Segall)
10/20 – Solana Beach, CA, Belly Up Tavern – tickets (with Ty Segall)
We’re very happy to announce that Stephen Malkmus And The Jicks will be appearing on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon on Tuesday, August 30! That’s one week after the release of the band’s forthcoming LP, Mirror Traffic (which you can currently hear streaming on NPR First Listen). Make sure to tune in to Fallon to hear the band tear their way through “Senator“.
And if that’s not enough, the band continue their record store takeovers with a signing this upcoming Saturday, August 20 at Music Millenium in Portland, OR. The signing begins at 5PM sharp. And for a free limited edition poster & chance to win one of five limited Steve Keene recreations of the Mirror Traffic artwork, pre-order the album at Music Millenium now or at the signing on August 20.
And don’t forget the band will be playing a live release date in-store at Amoeba Hollywood on August 23 plus two acoustic in-stores in NYC at Academy Records (Brooklyn) and Other Music on August 25.
Be sure to keep it here for even more Stephen Malkmus And The Jicks news.
Stephen Malkmus And The Jicks On Tour:
9/20 – Detroit, MI, Majestic Theater – tickets
9/21 – Toronto, ON, Phoenix Concert Theatre – tickets
9/22 – Ottowa, ON, Ritual – tickets
9/23 – Montreal, QC, Corona Theatre – tickets
9/24 – Boston, MA, Royale – tickets
9/26 – New York, NY, Terminal 5 – tickets
9/28 – Philadelphia, PA , Theatre of Living Arts – tickets
9/29 – Baltimore, MD, Ram’s Head Live – tickets
9/30 – Charlottesville, VA, Jefferson Theater – tickets
10/1 — Saxapahaw, NC, The Haw River Ballroom – tickets
10/2 – Atlanta, GA, Variety Playhouse – tickets
10/4 – Nashville, TN, Mercy Lounge – tickets
10/5 – Indianapolis, IN, Earth House – tickets
10/6 – Chicago, IL, Vic Theatre – tickets
10/7 – Milwaukee WI, Turner Hall – tickets
10/8 – Minneapolis, MN, Pantages Theatre – tickets
10/11- Seattle, WA, Neptune Theatre – tickets (with Ty Segall)
10/12 – Vancouver, BC, The Biltmore Cabaret – tickets (with Ty Segall)
10/13 – Portland, OR, Crystal Ballroom – tickets (with Ty Segall)
10/16 – San Francisco, CA, Treasure Island Music Festival – tickets
10/19 – Los Angeles, CA, The Music Box – tickets (with Ty Segall)
10/20 – Solana Beach, CA, Belly Up Tavern – tickets (with Ty Segall)
Today NPR begins streaming the new Jicks recordMirror Traffic in it’s entirety. This is your first chance to hear the album some are calling (OK, I am calling) one of the best, most immediate records of Malkmus’ long career. Listen to the album, then pre-order it to own forever.
As mentioned in this space before, Mr. Malkmus and his Jicks will be playing at Amoeba in LA next Tuesday the 23rd to celebrate the new album’s born day; more info on that performance (and the little contest that’s running – get your entries in ASAP!) to come later this week. On the 25th, Steve will hit a couple of NYC record storessolo-acoustic style with the Jicks in a stripped-down format.
You can also see Stephen Malkmus and The Jicks on their upcoming tour (Ty Segall supports where noted):
9/20 – Detroit, MI, Majestic Theater – tickets
9/21 – Toronto, ON, Phoenix Concert Theatre – tickets
9/22 – Ottowa, ON, Ritual – tickets
9/23 – Montreal, QC, Corona Theatre – tickets
9/24 – Boston, MA, Royale – tickets
9/26 – New York, NY, Terminal 5 – tickets
9/28 – Philadelphia, PA , Theatre of Living Arts – tickets
9/29 – Baltimore, MD, Ram’s Head Live – tickets
9/30 – Charlottesville, VA, Jefferson Theater – tickets
10/1 — Saxapahaw, NC, The Haw River Ballroom – tickets
10/2 – Atlanta, GA, Variety Playhouse – tickets
10/4 – Nashville, TN, Mercy Lounge – tickets
10/5 – Indianapolis, IN, Earth House – tickets
10/6 – Chicago, IL, Vic Theatre – tickets
10/7 – Milwaukee WI, Turner Hall – tickets
10/8 – Minneapolis, MN, Pantages Theatre – tickets
10/11- Seattle, WA, Neptune Theatre – tickets (with Ty Segall)
10/12 – Vancouver, BC, The Biltmore Cabaret – tickets (with Ty Segall)
10/13 – Portland, OR, Crystal Ballroom – tickets (with Ty Segall)
10/16 – San Francisco, CA, Treasure Island Music Festival – tickets
10/19 – Los Angeles, CA, The Music Box – tickets (with Ty Segall)
10/20 – Solana Beach, CA, Belly Up Tavern – tickets (with Ty Segall)
He loves them much so that rather than hit up Top Of The Rock, take a horse carriage ride around Central Park or walk over the Brooklyn Bridge, he’s planning to spend an entire evening in two of New York City’s finest independent record stores. SM will be playing two acoustic instores on Thursday August 25. You’re silly not to make one.
He’ll be at Brooklyn’s Academy at 6pm and Manhattan’s Other Music at 9pm. Both performances will be followed by a signing. And did I mention the exclusive poster you can ONLY get at these instores?
And if you can’t catch either of these ridiculously intimate instores, you can catch SM and the Jicks on their upcoming tour (the incredible Ty Segall supports where noted):
To celebrate the album’s release (and the Jicks recent arrival on Twitter), on August 23rd the band will play a FREE, ALL-AGES instore at Amoeba in Los Angeles at 6PM. Amoeba will be giving away an exclusive commemorative poster with purchase of Mirror Traffic, and Stephen will stick around after the set to sign posters and copies of the new record.
Fun. Almost as much fun as the contest we’re running to replace the word ‘blowjob’ in the song “Senator” from Mirror Traffic. We’ve received over 8,000 mostly credible entries so far (voting closes August 23rd). A few of my personal faves:
What the senator wants is a mohawk.
What the senator wants is a low lob.
What the senator wants is a flash mob.
What the senator wants is am (sic) onslaught.
What the senator wants is a Black Jick.
What the senator wants is a faux pas.
What the senator wants is to know bob (nastanovich).
What the senator wants is a radio song.
What the senator wants is a real job.
What the senator wants is to fuck the life outta SM.
What the senator wants is his wife’s job.
What the senator wants is a robot.
What the senator wants is Gerard Cosloy’s approval.
Now, to reward those of you still reading this post, a heretofore little-seen French acoustic session Stephen recorded with Le Hiboo, featuring a take on the still-unreleased Mirror Traffic gem “No One Is (As I Are Be)”. Yeah, you missed this and it’s fucking incredible:
Finally, you can catch Malkmus con Jicks on their upcoming tour (the incredible Ty Segall supports where noted):
Help Stephen Malkmus write an FCC-friendly version of his new single Senator, from the upcoming album Mirror Traffic (out August 23). As you’re probably aware, the chorus features the line “I know what the senator wants – what the senator wants is a blowjob.”
Come up with a replacement for the word “blowjob” that radio stations can air, and Stephen will sing the winning entry for the radio single when we send it to stations at the end of September. PLUS, you’ll win a one-of-a-kind 7″ single featuring your version of “Senator” on one side, and the original version on the flip – the rarest Matador release ever.
Deadline for entries: August 23
Winner to be announced: September 15
Click on the banner above to go to WhatDoesTheSenatorWant.com and submit your entry. All standard contest rules and restrictions apply.
We’re happy to bring you another killer track from the forthcoming album by Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks,Mirror Traffic(out August 23). This one’s called “Tigers”. Download it here.
In support their forthcoming LP, Mirror Traffic, Stephen Malkmus and The Jicks are heading out on the road playing a slew of US & Canadian dates. We couldn’t be more psyched so without further delay…
9/20 – Detroit, MI, Majestic Theater – onsale 6/17
9/21 – Toronto, ON, Phoenix Concert Theatre – onsale 6/17
9/22 – Ottowa, ON, Ritual – onsale TBA
9/23 – Montreal, QC, Corona Theatre – onsale 6/17
9/24 – Boston, MA, Royale – onsale 6/17
9/26 – New York, NY, Terminal 5 – onsale 6/17
9/28 – Philadelphia, PA , Theatre of Living Arts – onsale 6/17
9/29 – Baltimore, MD, Ram’s Head Live – onsale 6/16
9/30 – Charlottesville, VA, Jefferson Theater – onsale TBA
10/2 – Atlanta, GA, Variety Playhouse – onsale 6/17
10/4 – Nashville, TN, Mercy Lounge – onsale 6/17
10/5 – Indianapolis, IN, Earth House – onsale TBA
10/6 – Chicago, IL, Vic Theatre – onsale 6/25
10/7 – Milwaukee WI, Turner Hall – onsale 6/17
10/8 – Minneapolis, MN, Pantages Theatre – onsale 6/24
10/11- Seattle, WA, Neptune Theatre – onsale 6/24
10/12 – Vancouver, BC, The Biltmore Cabaret – onsale 6/25
10/13 – Portland, OR, Crystal Ballroom – onsale TBA
10/19 – Los Angeles, CA, The Music Box – onsale 6/18
10/20 – Solana Beach, CA, Belly Up Tavern – onsale TBA
Don’t forget you can pre-order Mirror Traffic (out 8/23) from the Matador Store
And you can check out the Mirror Traffic track listing right here:
Hear a free song from the new album by Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks, Mirror Traffic (out August 23). The fifth Malkmus album was recorded by Beck in Los Angeles over the past two and a half years, and contains 15 songs. This one is entitled “Senator”:
Preorder the album from the Matador Store and receive a free poster. In addition, the first 100 orders will receive a rare flexidisc of “Jo Jo’s Jacket,” OLE-493, released as a promotional item for the first Stephen Malkmus album in December 2000.
The vinyl edition of Mirror Traffic is a 3-sided LP with an etching on side 4.
On August 23, 2011, Matador will be releasing ‘Mirror Traffic‘, the 5th post-Pavement album from Stephen Malkmus and the 3rd or 4th to bear the Jicks name (depending on whether you’re looking at spines, sleeves or labels). Produced by Beck Hansen, ‘Mirror Traffic’ makes a compelling case that after some 22 years in the public eye, Stephen Malkmus’ full range of musical and lyrical capabilities had yet to be previously explored. The casual virtuosity (and staggering guitar invention) won’t necessarily come as a shock, nor will the rapier wit of one of contemporary rock’s brightest minds. But without dissing prior works that we deeply love, we can promise that ‘Mirror Traffic’ is the album that ties together Stephen’s skill-set like none of its predecessors. The recording is nothing short of gorgeous, the songs crackling with confidence. Calling this an album of the year candidate is really selling the record and the talented ensemble behind it short — what’s so special about this year, anyway?
It is with regret — and deep appreciation for one of our favorite players of all-time — that we can confirm ‘Mirror Traffic’ is the final Jicks album to feature the drumming of Janet Weiss. Jake Morris, best known to many of you as the drummer for The Joggers, will assume the same position in the Jicks for upcoming shows, which we’ll be announcing very soon. We’ll also get on with the business of previewing an MP3 from ‘Mirror Traffic’ on a date in the very near future.
Here’s the first segment of a four-part Soft Focus interview with Stephen Malkmus. I always envisioned to “Hopscotch Willy” from Real Emotional Trash to look something like Svenonius, and this really brings it home for me. Visit VBS for subsequent segments.
Whether he’s giving props to former UVA standout Jeff Lamp (above) or defending his fantasy sports addiction as more socially acceptable than internet porn (mental note : be sure to use this line someday), Stephen Malkmus takes everything Rotoworld’s Steve Alexander has to dish out. I’ve been (virtually) ass-kicked by SM on countless occasions, and thus, can vouch for his fantasy sports prowess, though learning his commitment to the craft extends to scanning the waiver wire whilst going thru airport security is a little sobering. For the sake of Malk’s competitors, TSA, can’t you do something about this?
Here’s my fave snippet from the interview :
Q : What is the best live act going right now? The popular answer seems to be My Morning Jacket, and I tend to agree.
