Stephen Malkmus on The Late Show with Letterman

[wfo739]

Malkmus' solo stuff is great! It's more mature for sure, but still amazing.

[sateliteoflove202]

classic Shaffer

[wfo739]

I love this performance. Stephen Malkmus ftw!

[Hower98]

Pavement had more control over their sound, and they sounded near-perfect :p Malkmus is still great though

[ogamus2006]

i really wish he would play some songs from crooked rain, crooked rain still. best pavement album ever.

[MrMountain33]

see david's mischevious look? what does know?



[putdownan8dude]

'54 les paul

[pr0dd2k9]

@putdownan8dude Eh, more like a 70's Deluxe.

[putdownan8dude]

@pr0dd2k9 if you say so.

[WheresPoochie]

How often does Letterman praise an artist/band before they even play?

[malayneum666]

there are 4 deaf peoples watching this video

[boogerkingcrown]

Shaffer! Paul Shaffer!



[boogerkingcrown]

Shafer! Paul Shafer!

[zapwatt]

Hipsters can't stand all that bright light when they're always hungover so they make sure to cover one eye at all times.

[mrshiggs1]

Malk is epic coolness, but Paul Shaffer is just plain annoying.

[MrAddicted94]

They Could Not Make Up For Distance!!

[MrAddicted94]

THEY COULD NOT MAKE UP FOR DISTANCE!

[manka6]

Wow, that's almost the exact same riff as Spit of a Stranger, but sped up. :/

[sushilll111]

So basically if Pavement was still around, their albums would probably sound very very similar to what Smalks is releasing now.

[kanye2west2was2right]

@sushilll111 i disagree

[sushilll111]

People need to realize that besides Spirals songs, Malkmus played basically everything on the first three Pavement albums except drums. His new albums are about as "solo" as those early Pavement albums. In fact, BTC and Terror Twilight are the most collabrotive albums they released.

[THEtylergroves]

@sushilll111 Completely incorrect. Other members of the band made it known the Nigel Godrich (Producer of Terror Twilight) gave Stephen most of the attention and didn't allow much input from the other members of Pavement. Nastanovich was noted for doing a lot of improv stuff without Stephen's input. Ibold makes most of his own baselines. Yeah, Malkmus and Kannberg played the majority of instruments on the first pavement album (definitely not the first three), but he didnt write those parts.

[sushilll111]

@THEtylergroves

Ive read a recent interview where Malkmus says the contrary, stating that he plays almost all the non-percussion instruments on the first three albums (on his songs obviously), and that BTC was the first album where they played like a proper band.

[AKALucifer]

I like the way he fluffs the lyrics a little, nerves?

[Andysays]

@AKALucifer I dunno.  One thing we love about Malk is that he improvises, both guitar lines and lyrics. What sounds like flubbed lyrics might be a little of that. That said, I can't spot the "flub" here.

[SethHesio]

@Andysays the first line he say... "she shakes a man". I don't think it hurts the performance. I think true musicians always improv and keep things loose, it sounds better. And this is a great song. Thanks for the post!

[MrCeej9999]

@AKALucifer

Na, Malkus ad-libs lyrics.

Almost every time he sings a song, it’s different. Either musically, or lyrically

[lirvana2]

@AKALucifer No.. epic coolness!

[CyberAlmey]

The first notes are the same as Spit on a stranger

[luyendao]

True true! It's just when I listen to this song, maybe it's just me, but if it were on a pavement album, i wouldn't be able to tell the difference!

[luyendao]

Great song, almost makes you wonder if he needed the other band members to write all other classic pavement songs ;-)

[Andysays]

@luyendao Well, wasn't the last Pavement album essentially a solo album? :)

[wevegotafileonyou]

@Andysays I actually don't really like Malkmus's solos albums. Nevertheless Terror Twillight is still my favourite Pavement's Album. So, (...) :)

And "Jenny & the Ess Dog" is a good song!

[Andysays]

@wevegotafileonyou Actually I don't like them either, apart from the first one. Which broke my heart.

[thecrikster]

@Andysays

Yeah the first one was good. I didn't like the second one until more recently. It's got some really epic songs on there and is well worth giving another chance.

[nilbog44]

@wevegotafileonyou terror twilight is your favorite pavement album? That makes me think you have never even listened to the others. I know it is a matter of opinon, but that is a ridiculous statement.

[wevegotafileonyou]

@nilbog44 I am a huge fan of Pavement, and there are some songs that i find awesome on this album. Just platform blues for an exemple. Jonny greenwood harmonica, stephen's voice "à la" lou reed and this guitar work. Oh damn, I love this song so much.

[bigd934]

@luyendao are you kidding me. don't get me wrong malkmus is amazing but pavement the band would be nothing without nastanovich and scott kannenburg.

[QuadropheniaBrosef]

@luyendao Pavement is 5. Malkmus is 1 (and a great one at that, there's no denying). Spiral Stairs, Bob, Mark and Steve...couldn't have been a Pavement without them.

[MrCeej9999]

@luyendao

Pavement were barely a band. They lived in different cities, never practised, never wrote together, and just used to meet up once a year to record/tour.

Really was just Malkmus and a backing band. Just like this.

Why it sounds exactly the same

[chrisraupo]

Stephen's version of Death and the Maiden iswonderful

[Koettnylle]

He's actually putting an effort into singing after pavement. Furthermore, I think Paul Shaffer must be destroyed

[dashofchutmeg]

"I'm in love / with the world / through the eyes / of a girl"

[SethHesio]

@dashofchutmeg Who's still around the morning after..

[SubconsciousGatherer]

Listening to SM has the ability to make you smarter.

[icnclt]

0:45 0:57 sorry but it made remind me "midnight oil" by  jonbon jovi

[Benzinwut]

ess what?

[secretbootlegs]

This song bums me out. I've known "Jenny" types, and I've loved two in my life. . . ahahah, and they've left me for "Ess-Dog" types.

But a GREAT song regardless.

[dontknomuch]

I can't get used to him standing front and center.

[scorchoman]

Listening to this stirs up so much emotion, the sheer beauty of the melody, the character, nostalgia, an affinity with myself and Stephen...it's just so purely awesome.

[SubconsciousGatherer]

I'm not gay but I fucking love this man. I'd almost switch teams for him.  Take that as praise.

[PITPROBRAD]

Great song, just caught pavement here in Adelaide Australia.

F**K'n Awsome Show!!!

catch them if you get the chance, do'nt regret it!

[jacobmal]

great hair cut he has

[Andysays]

@jacobmal ...and that's a pretty nice haircut.

[albafro]

song is rad!

[Colace06]

Whenever i hear a song Malkmus sings on his solo stuff I just always think that could have been a Pavement song or something.

[sk8nike]

yeah i know. it was sad (for me anyway) when they broke up. they were amazing live. cant wait to see them live this year!

[edgarsterling]

I don't get that. Malkmus is so much more Malkmus solo. Onward and outward.

[wetsuit101]

The vocal melody in the verses is extremely similar to Say Yes. As far as taste in Smith goes, Malkmus's is superb (as is his taste in The Fall, Echo & the Bunnymen, Sonic Youth, etc, etc...)

[h0merg0mez]

The first line is vaguely similar, not extremely similar. Like singing "I'm in love ... of a girl" . And the rest of the lines in the melody really aren't that similar. But, I love both of the songs ... they're both doing something right.

[cackermuffin]

artie fufkin rocking out on the piano!!

paul schaeffer in spinal tap: possibly the best cameo ever.

[ZRN959]

@cackermuffin KICK MY ASS!!! I'M NOT ASKING YOU, I'M TELLING YOU! KICK MY ASS!"

[tjguitar1]

jacksonatkins you make an incredible point

weird how i love both of those songs and have never noticed that before. and i like to think that, were elliott alive, he wouldn't give a shit haha. goes to show that whilst music might not really be infinite, neither is humans abillity to perceive similarities.

[REALEMOTIONALTRASH]

Love the little jump at 1:00

Stephen Malkmus is a deity!

May 18th: Pavement in Belgium! <:o)

[armtheempire]

stephen malkmus is the definition of musician of our generation. a true artist in every sense of the word, fearless and completely competent. you'd be a fool to not pay attention to everything he's ever been a part of

[jacksonatkins]

it is a virtually identical melody to "say yes" by smith. still a good tune, that shit happens all the time

[rafaelmadferit]

He said "Steven" Malkmus...

[cactaceous]

His is name is Stephen, phonetically it sounds exactly like Steven. So, what was your point?

[rafaelmadferit]

Sorry but "ph" (= "f") doesn't sound like "v"

[Jacobomo]

wtf?

[churzz21]

lol

[coreyoliver23]

and off come those awful toe rings.

[AgentEarl]

What a tune.

[davertvanhanfsamen]

indeed, unbeliveable song, sound, son, soul and so on

[hprdg284]

This song makes me feel very nostalgic.

[corruptale]

I love how, no matter what song, whenever he does it live, it sounds so very different from the actual record

[Andysays]

Exactly. I used to have a lot of boots of shows, and they were all different and interesting.

[GLYPHKING]

pavement is one of the greatest bands of the 20th+21st century

[TheTrancereligious5]

@GLYPHKING there were not so many badns before the 20st century so you can say "of all time" ;)

[catfeces]

@GLYPHKING one of? more like THE greatest

[scorchoman]

This is the kind of song that makes you smile.

[W0weeZ0wee]

I got a totally different vibe from the song than happy. It's actually a sad song in my opinion.

[davedaveisdavedave]

The opening riff/melody is the same as an Elliot Smith song that I can't remember the name of...love Pavement though.

[SmokinBabies]

your thinking of Say Yes

[sleepcity]

Another amazing song. Weird to think Malk and Elliott never met despite their Portland connection, Bolme, etc.

[HeleneRT]

Very wierd.. I am a big Elliott Smith fan and thought that Malkmus sounded a lot like Elliott before knowing that they were from the same place. Must be the Portland air :)

[cactaceous]

Malkmus is from California. He moved to Portland just a few years before this album was made. And he was making music long before Elliot Smith was thinking about making music.

[Lovegood44]

woah, i totally agree with you. woah....maybe it was unintentional...

[KingAro1]

very bowie infused, but he is the mang.

[BritishRulez]

oh he is so inspiring. love dragonfly pie, and hotscoth willie is epic. malkmus its gonna be, for the rest of my life

[hprdg284]

The man with the golden guitar...

[1snazzyg8r]

As much of a douche as Paul Schaeffer is, I dig how he jams with bands on the show.

[iagobroxado]

Anyone knows what fuzz pedal is he using there? RAD!

[danielhl22]

RAD super distorted reality pedal made by crazysonics!!! really cool products!!

[iagobroxado]

Didn't find this company, could you direct me? Reading in a forum, people mentioned the Lovetone Big Cheese Fuzz pedal, and by the pics, really seems that's the pedal.

[McGuinty1]

Umm, he's making fun of you, I think. I can say with conviction that there's no such company as Crazysonics (although now I kind of wish there was one...), and no RAD super distorted reality pedal. As for the Big Cheese, I don't know how much he uses it anymore.

[iagobroxado]

Yeah, I noticed :) a 5 minute search in google solved that hehe. It's been a while I don't listen to SM, but the fuzz tone in this video sure is good!

[McGuinty1]

Actually, now that I look very closely, that appears to be a Big Cheese pedal in front of him! Figures, that pedal is known for being buttery smooth and warm, but still has enough grunt to sound like velcro ripping. Shame the company doesn't exist anymore, stopped producing pedals abruptly in 2001.

[McGuinty1]

He's been known to mostly use Z.Vex Fuzz Factory nowadays, as well as a Fuzz Face and a couple others I'm not familiar with. The Z.Vex costs an arm and a leg, but you can literally pull any sound you could possibly imagine out of that little box.

Actually, I think I remember hearing that SM uses 2 Fuzz Factories in his live effects chain, one probably feeding back into the other or some other ungodly setup. All those crazy fuzz sounds on his new album? Yeah, that's the Fuzz Factory.

[WolfataDoor]

Man what a great and epic member of society. He seems like the most laid back guy ever, and he makes brilliant music. Keep it up Malkmus!!!

[snootlesvanveen]

So what is happening with Malkmus these days? Some new music coming? I have to admit that the last album didn't sound as inspired to me as the preceding ones. HS Willy is awesome though, I agree! I've seen him live 4 times, mostly in Norway, and hope he'll be back soon.

[GlueyPorch]

Real emotional trash is by far the best thing he's done since Pavement

[moe354sa]

those damn record companies,, malkmus ought to set up a youtube channel and just bust out the jams,, he could bust the fattest jams and upload them it would be better sound quality too.. and i would subscribe to that channel,

modest mouse has a channel but it is not great :-(

[Greggo2]

That had a great deal of rad-osity to it. My fave SM album, too, although the last one comes close (Hopscotch Willie is awesome)

[toddpinkstonisgod]

Rad.

[howelldrake]

I can;t express how much I feel this as a eulogy for so much,,,if the Ess Dog was staring down waiting tables why the hell didn't he try to make it work w/ Jenny?

[jryan1971]

It's twinged with a profound sadness, isn't it?

[Andysays]

They could not make up the distance and the distance between their years. :)

[alyu100tw]

Only word to describe it.

Fucking RAD

[AirHendrix91]

The piano part is so awesome.

[universityofthedead4]

I really love this song

[wallflour04]

FUCK YES

[toolooselitrek]

Observing iz believing....I don't think many know what great lyrical content iz here...this happened to me!

I remember camping with her....hhhmmm.

[poolboyinla]

very good performance

[mwright165]

beatles esque i love it!

[JustinStarbuck]

no pick?! fuckin crazy!

[pavement27]

hahah indeed...I think he doesn't use one here cause most of the song is finger picked...maybe

[rjwile]

To: Tina Fey

Re: My face  Please return it.

Signed,

SM

[SolitaryVisions]

I'd fuck Stephen Malkmus.

[blatspanner]

i'd fuck stephen malkmus too, and i'm an ostensibly heterosexual male. he's lush.

[mikefiore6]

rad

[AirHendrix91]

Is Malkmus playing without a pick?

And is that the same rhythm guitarist from the Jicks?

[Andysays]

Yes and yes. :) Can you believe he plays without a pick?! Nuts!

[AirHendrix91]

What a genius.

He's playing lead too, awesome.

[squirehorse]

righteous

[nomoremagic]

Oh man, this is so awesome, err I mean rad.

[albafro]

If only there was a three-letter word to perfectly describe this video

[rexdch]

totally rad

[xdoesupb]

this vid is rad

[HowDaddyIsDoing]

very nice.

[itsmetyler]

That was rad

[ptalex1976]

who's the bassist girl here?

[DontBAFartHead]

Joanna Bolme - the same one he has now.

[rps5000]

ard

edit: rad

[sonderangerbot]

steve and dave act like real buddies!

[runswithhorses38]

tasty is more like it.

[tautou07]

hmmm. that was... what's the word i'm looking for?

ah yes, rad.

[deahnalee]

does that bald goon always play with the musical guests? I've never noticed before.

And yeah, rad.

[pavement66]

ha! Paul seemed to be having fun

[homgprdgn]

quite rad, actually. and by rad i mean rad.

[rotator]

Stephen ist Rad.

[GingerAleRain]

quite boring, actually. and by boring i mean rad.

[MetalMilitia420311]

I saw Stone Temple Pilots on their reunion tour a month ago..

They rocked

Before playing a really sweet song that I did not recognize Scott Weiland said, "this song is inspired by Stephen Malkmus."

Scott Weiland is insane (not that I didn't know that already

This song is alright, somewhat rad if you will. not really my cup of tea but still better than most the other crap out there

Pavement is a sweet band

[mecsu]

was that the Chicago show? That's why I looked up this guy. I was listening to the bootleg of that show and Scott said "This song is kinda dedicated to Steven Malkmus" then they played Coma! I thought it was funny. I never heard of him before...I don't think it was a compliment :)

[YHAVR]

Hahaha, no compliment at all. If you wanna know why, listen to Pavement's song Range Life (available on YT).

[Brutalmouse1]

omfg this is so good.

[deterwellinger]

Fairly rad.

[zakfmt]

that was so rad

[binsuck]

umm rad?

[UberBeaver]

That was actually pretty rad.

[DBurn101]

rad

[brettyf]

you just think its rad cuz i do! :'(

[brettyf]

rad

[KTM333333]

trad!

[emilyelbertmusic]

raaaad

[johnnyknoxville08]

radass

[monoclethief]

rad

[afrozenmaster]

rad

[tymanrocks]

rad

[milesowire]

word

[roguepotatoe]

MAD RAD

SO RAD

RAD

[ronannestor]

rad

[gecafe]

rad

[Jolieeee]

rad

[Stevebhoy7]

rad

[nickzac1]

rad

[Hoss07]

rad

[karsynisrad]

rad

[Siike92]

He's so good live.

[ianc80]

RESPECT !!!