Credit: Courtesy of Matador Records
After indie rockers Pavement dissolved in 1999, singer-guitarist Stephen Malkmus embarked upon a solo career with a little help from his friends in the band the Jicks. Malkmus & the Jicks have issued a number of albums and toured quite a bit too.

Though the last Malkmus & the Jicks album came out four years ago, Malkmus has kept busy. He contributed to Soldiers of Fortune’s Early Risers LP and was featured on the Grateful Dead tribute charity album Day of the Dead. He also scored the Netflix series Flaked.

He and the Jicks have apparently recharged their batteries too. They’ve just issued the new single “Middle America,” their first new music in four years, and announced dates in support of the single.

The group will perform at the Grog Shop on June 7. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. tomorrow.

This article appears in Feb 7-13, 2018.

Jeff has been covering the Cleveland music scene for more than 25 years now. On a regular basis, he tries to talk to whatever big acts are coming through town. And if you're in a local band that he needs to hear, email him at jniesel@clevescene.com.