Pavement (band)
| Pavement | |
|---|---|
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Stockton, California, USA |
| Genre(s) | Indie rock Lo-Fi Noise Pop (early) |
| Years active | 1989–1999 |
| Label(s) | Drag City, Matador, Big Cat, Pony Canyon, Domino |
| Associated acts | Contoocook Line, The Crust Brothers, Ectoslavia, Free Kitten, Gary Young's Hospital, Marble Valley, Preston School of Industry, Silver Jews, Sonic Youth, Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks |
| Members | |
| Stephen Malkmus Bob Nastanovich Scott Kannberg Steve West Mark Ibold |
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| Former members | |
| Gary Young (1989 - 1993) Jason Fawkes (1989) |
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Pavement was an American indie rock band in the 1990s. Although they experienced only moderate commercial success, they achieved a significant cult following.[1] They are noted by some critics as the most popular and most influential American indie rock band of the 1990s.[1] The group remained signed to an independent label throughout their entire career.
Contents |
History
Beginnings and Slanted and Enchanted
Pavement formed in Stockton, California, in 1989 as a studio project of guitarists and vocalists Stephen Malkmus and Scott Kannberg, known originally only as "S.M." and "Spiral Stairs", respectively. The pair met around third grade, likely during a pick-up game of soccer. Their debut EPs were extremely lo-fi releases titled Slay Tracks (1933-1969), Demolition Plot J-7, and Perfect Sound Forever. They were recorded at Louder Than You Think, the home studio of infamous Stockton local and former hippie Gary Young. The eccentric and aging hipster also provided drums. Upon first hearing the duo's songs, Young was quoted as saying, "this Malkmus idiot is a complete songwriting genius".[2] After the release of Slay Tracks, a new drummer, Jason Fawkes, was drafted to replace Young both live and in the studio.[3] However, after just one tour and a handful of recording sessions, when it became apparent Fawkes and Malkmus did not get along well, Fawkes was soon ousted and Young reinstalled.[3]
Pavement's most obvious influence during this time was English rock band The Fall, although Kannberg stated in a 1992 interview that he preferred The Replacements to The Fall.[4] The Fall's primary member, Mark E. Smith, would often angrily claim through the years that Pavement was a "rip-off" of his band[5] and that they didn't "have an original idea in their heads".[6] However, some of the other members of The Fall actually enjoyed Pavement.[7]
Around 1992 Pavement became a full-time band, with the addition of bassist Mark Ibold - who had been one of the band's first fans - and extra percussionist Bob Nastanovich (a fellow museum security guard along with Malkmus and David Berman) to help Young keep time. Their debut album, Slanted and Enchanted, was released commercially in 1992 after being circulated among critics and tastemakers for nearly a year, and became an instant indie classic. Though the percussive influence of The Fall was still pervasive (as was that of English post punks the Swell Maps), many of the songs also exhibited a strong sense of melody. The following year, the band released the EP Watery, Domestic, which represented a balance between their earlier and later styles.
Gary Young's departure and Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain
The tour for Slanted & Enchanted gave Gary Young a chance to showcase his bizarre live behavior. He would act out by giving away cabbage and mashed potatoes to fans at the door of the venue, doing handstands, running around the venue and stage while the rest of the band was playing and drunkenly falling off his drum stool.[8] His bizarre drug- and alcohol-fueled personality had grated on the rest of the band through several years of touring and recording and they could no longer take it. At the end of a 1993 tour of Australia, Japan, and Europe, Young left Pavement. The final straw came when Young allegedly pulled a gun on Malkmus.[4][9] The group soon after had a meeting in a hotel room in Copenhagen during which Malkmus, Kannberg and Ibold remained silent while Nastanovich (Young's best friend at the time) argued with the drummer and informed him that his antics were unnecessary. According to the band, Gary Young quit and was replaced by Steve West.[10] West's debut performance was at a Drag City festival in Chicago, 1993.
With an improved recording quality and more original songwriting, they released Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain in 1994. The record was far more indebted to the classic rock tradition than their more obscure debut. The single "Cut Your Hair" was the band's closest brush with the mainstream, and briefly enjoyed airplay on alternative rock radio and MTV. Pavement performed the song on Jay Leno. Drew Barrymore and Tracy Middendorf were in attendance in an April 1994 LA show.
Another single, "Range Life", was infamous chiefly for lyrics that criticized alt-rock superstars The Smashing Pumpkins and the Stone Temple Pilots. Malkmus has insisted over the years that the line is meant to be light-hearted and timely, sung from the point of view of the aging hippie character in the song - later live versions of the track had the singer substituting "The Spice Girls", "The Counting Crows", or countless others for "Stone Temple Pilots". Smashing Pumpkins leader Billy Corgan, apparently not grasping Malkmus' sarcasm, threatened to drop his band from their slot headlining the 1994 Lollapalooza Festival if Pavement was allowed to play.[11] Corgan and Malkmus would trade barbs through the press for several years after.
Wowee Zowee and Brighten the Corners
The next album, representing the fiery zenith of Pavement's imaginative slacker art, was the eclectic, inscrutable Wowee Zowee (1995). In eighteen tracks, the band covered a wide range of styles including punk, country and balladry, and largely dispensed with conventional song structures. The album was not widely admired at the time of release but has since enjoyed positive critical reactions in retrospect. On the Slow Century DVD, Malkmus attributed his odd choice of singles to his pot smoking, stating that "I was smoking a lot of grass back then but to me they sounded like hits." Although Malkmus has said in recent interviews that the album is the last "classic Pavement record", Kannberg has voiced regrets about Wowee Zowee. "We made some mistakes on that record... we were kind of pressured into putting out a record a little faster than we were ready to. I mean, I'm totally into the record. It's just if we had another six months to think about it, it would've been much different."[12] During the tour for the album, Nastonovich stated on the Slow Century DVD, the band would often not work out a setlist before shows, opting for drug and alcohol fueled jams over hit singles.
Wowee Zowee was followed up by the EP Pacific Trim, which was recorded with only Malkmus and drummers Nastanovich and Steve West. Their studio time was originally reserved for a Silver Jews recording, but frontman David Berman walked out in frustration and the trio decided not to waste prepaid recording time.
1997's Brighten the Corners, a shorter, mellower and more conventional record than the previous album, was produced by Mitch Easter. It contained two of the band's best known singles in "Stereo" and "Shady Lane". It was the only Pavement album to include a lyric sheet and sold better than its predecessors. It was at about this time that the band started to fragment, with its members focusing more on other musical projects or on raising families.
Terror Twilight
In 1999, the band began work on its final album, Terror Twilight. Bob Nastanovich came up with the title, and has revealed the meaning of it in several interviews: "Twilight Terror is the short span between sunset and dusk; this is considered the most dangerous time in traffic, because half of the people switch on the headlights, and the other half doesn't. It's when most accidents happen."[13] During an interview on the Slow Century documentary DVD, he said that the band was having trouble coming up with names for the record until he put forth Terror Twilight. One of the final contenders was Farewell Horizontal (also the name of a 1989 science fiction novel by K.W. Jeter), and Nastanovich said, "There was no way I was going to be on the Farewell Horizontal tour for the next year."
The band originally planned to self-produce Terror Twilight, renting out Jackpot! Studios in Portland, Oregon. The group stalled though, with Malkmus, Ibold, Nastanovich and (Jackpot! employee and future Jicks bassist) Joanna Bolme usually opting to play Scrabble over getting any sort of work accomplished.[14] Kannberg was especially frustrated over the sessions, particularly at Malkmus' refusal to include any of Kannberg's songs on the album -- fan-favorite "For Sale: The Preston School of Industry" and one other song penned by the guitarist were briefly worked on during the sessions, but eventually abandoned.[14] At the end of the initial two week session, very little had been accomplished and it was decided that a producer should be brought in to assist them.
Nigel Godrich, best known for his work with Radiohead, Beck and R.E.M., was hired to produce the album. The group first attempted to record in Sonic Youth's lower Manhattan studio, which Godrich immediately took a dislike to (it was within ear-shot of several practice spaces, and also set up more like a home studio).[15] Godrich eventually convinced the band to move to a more "proper" 24-track studio, where he had previously worked on albums by The Beastie Boys and R.E.M. Though the producer took an immediate shine to Malkmus, Kannberg and Nastanovich were wary of him. Nastanovich believes that though Godrich "took on a pretty substantial challenge and did a good job," that he "focused his attention on Stephen" and produced them "in a way that just sort of had more disregard for the rest of us."[16] Nastanovich also later recalled an awkward incident where it became apparent — about ten days into the sessions — that the producer didn't know the auxiliary percussionist's name.[16] Kannberg, still disillusioned over his songs being rejected by Malkmus, said of Terror Twilight: "It was not fun to do that record from the very beginning. It was the hardest record to make."[16]
Malkmus wrote the entirety of the record, and the recording of the music only featured minor contributions from the rest of the band. The music on the record is by far the gentlest and most emotionally direct in the band's discography. The group released one last EP, titled Major Leagues. It features three Malkmus songs, two original Spiral Stairs songs and two covers: "The Killing Moon" by Echo and the Bunnymen and "The Classical" by The Fall. Stephen Malkmus sings on both of the cover songs.
Final tour and breakup
Pavement embarked on a six month world tour in support of the album, during which time relationships within the group frayed - mostly between Malkmus and the other members of the band.[17] Steve West later recalled times on the tourbus where the singer would put his coat over his head, refuse to speak to anyone, and call himself "The Little Bitch".[17] Critics noted that their setlist had started to include a number of their early songs, much like a band playing their greatest hits on a farewell tour.[17] The lead singer's attitude continued to deteriorate as the tour wore on, finally coming to a head during their slot at the 1999 Coachella Festival. During the concert, Malkmus refused (or was possibly unable, due to illness) to sing, effectively turning their set into a mostly instrumental one.[17] Nastanovich called a band meeting after the show, and Malkmus finally confided to his bandmates: "I just don't want to do this anymore."[17]
The group's final concert together was at Brixton Academy in London on November 20, 1999.[18] During the concert, Malkmus had a pair of handcuffs attatched to his microphone stand, and at one point told that audience, "These symbolize what it's like being in a band all these years."[19] After the concert, he confirmed to people at the after-party that Pavement was now done "for the foreseeable future."[19] About two weeks later, a spokesperson for Domino records told NME: "Pavement are retiring for the forseeable future to: 1. Start families 2. Sail around the world 3. Get into the computer industry 4. Dance 5. Get some attention."[18]
In the summer of 2000, Malkmus called Kannberg and told him, "You need to change the website to say we aren't a band anymore. People keep asking me if we're breaking up and you know we're not a band anymore, right?"[17] Kannberg told the singer that he needed to call the other members of the band to inform them that the band was finally breaking up, but Malkmus refused and Kannberg was left with the task of informing them.[17] Steve West later admitted that he never received any official call about the breakup from anyone in the band, and discovered that Pavement had dissolved via the internet. Nastanovich later commented that "There was too much exhaustion for heavy emotion."[20]
Slow Century and Perfect Sound Forever
In 2002, Slow Century, a documentary by Lance Bangs coupled with all of the band's music videos, was released as a 2 DVD set. Included was extensive footage, both professionally shot and taped by fans on camcorders, from the band's earliest shows in 1989 forward. The three final songs from the band's final concert ("Stop Breathin'", "Conduit for Sale" and "Here") are presented at the end of the documentary. Also on the DVD is a hidden easter egg clip from the same show, wherein Malkmus apparently jokingly talks about how the handcuffs attached to his microphone stand "represent what it's like being in a band all these years." A bonus disc with a complete concert in Seattle, Washington, from the early part of the Terror Twilight tour was included on the second disc, as well as several songs from their second to last show.
2004 saw the publication of Perfect Sound Forever: The Story of Pavement, a biography on the band written by Rob Jovanovic. Reviews for the book were mixed, with some saying that it contained much of the same information as the Slow Century DVD and expanded very little on it, while others called it a "fond retrospection".[21]
Post-Pavement projects
Stephen Malkmus has gone on to enjoy success as a solo artist combining his intricate guitar playing with a progressive rock influence. He has released four albums, Stephen Malkmus (2001), Pig Lib (2003), Face the Truth (2005), and Real Emotional Trash (2008) each garnering mainly warm reviews from critics and fans alike. Malkmus' new group has been known to treat audiences to Pavement songs every once in a while (one crowd even received an entire set of Pavement tracks). He is a revolving member of the group Silver Jews, led by David Berman. On May 24, 2003, while touring in Milwaukee, Wisconsin with his new band The Jicks, Malkmus opened the show by saying, "This is off our first record". The band then proceeded to play an evening's worth of Pavement songs.
Scott Kannberg went on to form a musical group named Preston School of Industry, not to be confused with the Ione, California reform school nor the Pavement tune of the same name. They have released two albums with Matador Records, All this Sounds Gas (2001), and Monsoon (2004). The latter album boasts studio contributions from members of The Minus 5 and Wilco. Preston School of Industry was largely inactive from the end of the Monsoon tour until May 2008, when Kannberg announced via his blog that the band was wrapping up production on their third full-length album and planned to play several shows during the spring and summer.[22]
Mark Ibold has been reported to be working behind the bar at a restaurant called Great Jones Cafe in New York City.[23] In early 2005, rumors began to spread on the internet that he had a new group called Cam'Ron's Foreskin.[24] In the summer of 2006, Ibold joined Sonic Youth as their touring bass player for their Rather Ripped tour.[23]
Steve West lives in Lexington, Virginia. He has two children and works as a stonemason. He has released 3 albums as Marble Valley. His group opened for the The Jicks during a weeklong series of shows in the fall of 2001.
Bob Nastanovich has a home in Louisville, Kentucky and produces a website called "Lonely on the Rail" which combines his passions for horse racing and writing. He tour managed for The Jicks during their first tour. Since then, Nastanovich has been a jockey agent for Greta Kuntzweiler. When asked if he was in contact with his former band members, he said, "West - yes, Malkmus - yes, Ibold - rarely, Kannberg - never".[25] He accompanied Malkmus on drums for two songs during a solo acoustic set at the 2007 Pitchfork Music Festival.
Gary Young has continued recording bands at his Stockton studio and invented the Universal Microphone Shock Mount, devising the first prototypes from garbage found in his yard. He has also battled alcoholism.[26] He currently has a musical group, Gary Young's Hospital, which has released two albums and played a number of concerts.
Reunion
There is frequent speculation about the possibility of a Pavement reunion.[27] In a 2006 Pitchfork interview, Scott Kannberg discussed the possibility of a reunion for the band's 20th anniversary in 2009.[28] In a 2008 Entertainment Weekly article, Kannberg echoed the possibility of a 2009 reunion, and mentioned Matador Records' 20th anniversary. Mark Ibold was amiable to the idea; Malkmus, however, stated: "something small in 10 years like the Zeppelin thing sounds good to me."[29]
Discography
Studio albums
- Slanted and Enchanted (1992)
- Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain (1994)
- Wowee Zowee (1995)
- Brighten the Corners (1997)
- Terror Twilight (1999)
See also
- Indie rock
- lo-fi
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 AllMusic biography page for [1].
- ↑ Synthesis : Music : Pavement : Pavement Gear Up
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Jovanovic (2004), p.78-82.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 [2]
- ↑ Select, May 1993
- ↑ Interview with MES - The Wire - issue 151 ? September 1996
- ↑ Brix Smith Interview, September 1994
- ↑ Synthesis : Music
- ↑ Cherwell24 : see more, see 24
- ↑ Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain: LA's Desert Origin's CD. Liner notes by Spiral Stairs
- ↑ [3]
- ↑ Synthesis : Music
- ↑ Interview: Pavement / Gaesteliste.de Internet-Musikmagazin
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Jovanovic (2004), p.177.
- ↑ Jovanovic (2004), p.179-180.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 Jovanovic (2004), p.181.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 17.4 17.5 17.6 Jovanovic (2004), p.187.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 NME article: "Cracks in the Pavement".
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 NME article: "Cracks in the Pavement"
- ↑ The ‘Spray Q&A: Bob Nastanovich (Pavement, Silver Jews, ponies) | Hecklerspray
- ↑ Amazon.com: Perfect Sound Forever: The Story of Pavement: Rob Jovanovic: Books
- ↑ spinalspirally: psoi news
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 Pavement and Sonic Youth Bassist Mark Ibold Slings Hurricanes at Great Jones Cafe - Grub Street - New York Magazine
- ↑ Cowboyz 'n' Poodles
- ↑ [4]
- ↑ Jovanovic, Rob (2004). Perfect Sound Forever: The Story of Pavement. (Boston) Justin, Charles & Co. ISBN 1-932112-07-3.
- ↑ "Sorry Kids, It Isn't Time to Get Too Excited About This Pavement Reunion Thing Just Yet", Pitchfork Media, March 5, 2008
- ↑ "Spiral Stairs Talks Pavement Reissue, Reunion Rumors", Pitchfork Media, September 15, 2006
- ↑ "Wait... a Pavement reunion!?" Entertainment Weekly, March 5, 2008
- Jovanovic, Rob (2004). Perfect Sound Forever: The Story of Pavement. (Boston) Justin, Charles & Co. ISBN 1-932112-07-3.
Notes
External links
- Pavement at Matador Records
- Pavement discography at MusicBrainz
- Podcast of Pavement Live at the Great American Music Hall (4.23.1994)
- SoundProof Magazine on Brighten the Corners
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