It’s been nine years since Stephen Malkmus and the members of Pavement last reunited to play some tunes, rock some shows, and—as is their wont—bedevil the gentle mental equilibrium of one William Corgan, cat enthusiast. Now Picthfork reports that the band that “Summer Babe” built will be getting back together for a pair of shows at next year’s Primavera Sound festival in Barcelona and Porto.
Pavement last got together for a world-spanning reunion tour in 2010; when asked about the possibility of another get-together earlier this month, Malkmus dubbed the possibility “realistic,” and, obviously, he wasn’t kidding around.
The band (Malkmus, long-time collaborator Scott Kannberg, bassist Mark Ibold, drummer Steve West, and percussionist Bob Nastanovich) released five studio albums between 1992 and 1999, earning a passionate fan following and a series of extended critical love letters from the likes of Robert Christgau, before flaming out in a pretty typical burst of exhausted acrimony and wounded egos. The reunion tour (and its accompanying best-of compilation) were successful in a sort of “Hey, let’s do this again in nine years” sort of way, though, so, you know, here we are.
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I thought that they would never leave their serpentine pads.
They realized this reunion would be a good Korea move.
Who are you, some sort of fact-check ‘cuz’?
Rents must be skyrocketing in the Kennel District.
I hope this turns into a tour again. The post from the festival says “the only two” shows but that’s sort of how their last tour started when they announced the Central Park reunion shows and then decided to add a bunch more.
Yeah. I’d love to catch them, but flying to Spain to do it probably isn’t going to happen.
What is Pavement?
It’s like this thing where a midget…
They did “Cut Your Hair” from the Brady Bunch Sequel. I am not aware of any other claim to fame.
Every single one of their songs stew good. They could have had a major label with Geffen but turned out down, despite being offered up as million dollars, a lot at the time, when told they couldn’t have complete creative freedom.
If no less a source than Picthfork is saying so it must be true.
what
‘Now Picthfork that the band that “Summer Babe” built will be getting back together for a pair of shows at next year’s Primavera Sound festival in Barcelona and Porto.’ Not an outlet I’m that familiar with.
Spinoff of the literary magazine Pithfork.
Next to Nirvana, the single most overrated band of the 90’s. Shoo.
Sublime would like to have a word with you especially in Long Beach.
Offspring will be right there.
Either you don’t know what overrated means or you’re only aware of exactly two 90’s bands.
Oh yeah. Hardly a day goes by when I don’t hear people talking about Pavement in 2019.
MALKMUS NEEDS MONEY! TOUR PLAN!
More like Bob racked up more horse racing debt.
Betting on the ponies is a hell of a drug!
*Reunion plan, reunion plan…
I swear that Malkmus twitter account used to be fake.I saw one of the Central Park shows. It was fun. Malkmus looked like he was actually enjoying himself. Definitely more than he was on the Brighten the Corners tour.
And at least one of the Jicks is presumably huddled in the studio right now along with the other two members of Sleater-Kinney.
I was there at the Pusha T set when this was announced to the world. I’ve never been so close to history.
Everything else from the 90s is back, Pavement may as well be, too. Digging out CDs now.
Me in 1993: Pavement! Fuck yeah.Me in 2019: I think we’re out of cat food.
It’s on sale at Whole Foods.
Only $34 per 8 oz bag!Megan Amram* had a good joke about Whole Foods: “I bought $20 worth of apples at Whole Foods and dropped both of them in the parking lot.”*I think it was Megan Amram. It might have been someone else.
My experience is pretty much the opposite Me in 1993: Mom! The cat ate my Lucky Charms again.Me in 2019: Pavement! Fuck yeah.
I was so excited for their reunion tour in 2010, but [at least at the show I caught] Malkmus sounded tired and just sort of embarrassed. (On the other hand, I saw him with The Jicks around the same time, and that show was killer.)