Stephen Malmus & The Jicks rock sold out Turf Club in St. Paul

Other bands make the acoustic guitar look so easy.

Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks have a new album out. Sparkle Hard was released May 18, 2018 on Matador Records and is the first new album by the Portland, OR indie-rocker since 2014’s Wig Out at Jagbags.

On tour to support the new album, the Turf Club in St. Paul proved to be the perfect venue to see Malkmus and his band. Loose, intimate, with crunchy in-your-face solos, Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks put on a hell of a show. “Out of Reaches” from the 2008 album Real Emotional Trash was a huge highlight with an extended drawn out bridge and big changes in dynamics.

It was clear Malkmus relishes the role of lead man, and at the same time is uncomfortable with it. He was fidgety, engaging, and incredibly entertaining. While at times the show felt like it was going off the rails, Stephen Malkmus reeled things in before falling on his face and proved why he is a legend. Check out Sparkle Hard, it’s a great new album by a great band.