SLCene Suggests: Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks at The Urban Lounge

STEPHEN MALKMUS AND THE JICKS, THE URBAN LOUNGE, Thursday, April 3, 9 p.m., $25 at the door

To those of us of a certain ilk, Stephen Malkmus has a lifetime pass as indie-rock royalty. The esteem in which he’s held by Pavement lovers is such that his post-Pavement career has been overlooked and underappreciated in many ways. I’m part of that problem myself–I always make a point of listening to anything Malkmus puts out, but I still spin to my Pavement albums WAY more than I listen to Malkmus’s later work, as much as I dig his self-titled 2001 set, and 2008’s Real Emotional Trash. His latest release with backing band The Jicks, Wig Out at Jagbags, is yet another collection of tasty guitar jams and engaging (and often funny) lyrics, and you can expect to hear a heavy dose of the album Thursday at The Urban Lounge. And while you might not necessarily be listening to Jagbags 10 years from now as you do Slanted and Enchanted or Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain, you should still take the time to see Malkmus throw down songs old and new when he comes to town. Speedy Ortiz opens the show.