Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks / Super Furry Animals - London Royal Festival Hall - 19/4/03
4/5
By: Toby L
Taking place across two days at London's ever-salubrious grounds of the Royal Festival Hall, that Stephen Malkmus' return to UK shores was to be a grand one, was never questioned. But coupled with the prospects of supports over the two exclusive dates comprising the likes of Welsh pop-princes Super Furry Animals and ex-Blur compatriot Graham Coxon, seemingly, without careless hyperbole - 'Down The Dust-pipe', as it has so been christened, should aptly be regarded as one of 2003's alt-events of the advancing calendar.
Aptly, two packed nights at the 2,500 all-seater should come as some form of reward to Malkmus, not to mention recently-made full-time surrounding ensemble, The Jicks. Responsible for the year's most critically-baffling (master)piece in guitar landscapes and textures, 'Pig Lib', the ex-Pavement stick-insect remains as tough to pin down as he was when his primary concern created the glorious, career-defining 'Wowee Zowie'. Only the difference now is that skewed, off-kilter, awkward college-rock has been handed over in place of assured, unified and - perhaps most key of all - free-range exploits. Naturally, the public divide has already occurred.
Though before any signalling towards the potential of Malkmus' recorded-matter making a smooth convergence into the live-arena can be fully decided upon, there's the not-so-small perk of witnessing SFA's first public performance of the year. Judging from the cat-calls and unrestrained screams - let alone several shocking, rocking balconies in the skies above - there's a few of their fans here tonight.
So what a treat incurred when - as an entrance - the lush, downbeat tones of 'Demons' filter from the PA, frontman Gruff-Rhys as grandiose as he gets: rigid, red shirt glowing in the minimalist lighting set-up, shaggy mop spreading across his scalp, and the jaw-dropping resonance of a great echoing from his vocal-chords.
It's poignant stuff, all the more adorable via a dashing of searing horns, and a set-list soon encapsulating such fibres of the past as the lilting 'Gathering Moss', rarely-performed debut-45 'Hometown Unicorn', '97/'Radiator'-era 'Down A Different River', and high ratios of material resulting from wondrous Welsh-LP 'Mwng' and new record, 'Phantom Power'. And, promisingly, it's from the latter that result the highlights - a hysterics-inducing 'Golden Retriever' (as performed amidst the arch backdrop of a galloping dog) or the set-concluding, visceral blast of 'Out Of Control'. Entirely of their own orbit and almost heart-achingly alone, the 'Animals have lost none of their original, unashamed charm - the predominant factor that always made them such a thrilling calculation of a conundrum in the first place.
And if ole Malkum-powder was watching, you'd have to presume that 'raising the game' is on the agenda. Striding onstage as if an enchanting show hadn't already been broadcast, he grins boyishly towards the congregation, sinking into the shimmering '(Do Not Feed The) Oyster'. But this is by no means a solo-show; although the spot-light centres the stage, by Stephen's side, The Jicks convey a pervasive cool and admirable musical-expertise throughout, cohesively and collectively standing the defence that this ain't no one-man band.
Even prior Malkmus-penned works - few of which, save for album-tracks and a mildly enraptured 'Discretion Grove', are aired - throb with pulse, but the consensus is new LP mode: latter-day tracks each individually given a faithful representation, partly due to much of 'Pig Lib's own stripped-back yet refined nature. 'Vanessa From Queens' slinks alongside a 12-minute '1% Of One' as joint-highlight therefore, and it's apparent that - from the rabid bouts of applause and startled looks - seeing Malkmus and friends in the 21st Century is more akin to a perennial Television performance: all muso-y solos and self-fulfilling dreams undertaken (even Jicks drummer receives some guitar/mic-time to close the show, whilst the leader endeavours his own attempts at rhythm-keeping... To mixed results).
Consequentially and altogether, it makes for a more simultaneously fun-loving and daring Malkmus than we have been acquainted with for much of the prior decade. Yet one that, just like before, we're still quite set to cherish avidly - even if it is for entirely different reasons to the past.
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