Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks, Koko - review

Five albums into the Portland band's career, the album chart remains untroubled (this year's Mirror Traffic peaked at number 69) but their reputation as a brilliant live act ensured that Koko was packed full to the rafters. They didn't disappoint. One part The Cure, one part Sonic Youth, the four-piece combined the best of art-rock and grunge into a set full of hits, hooks and humour.

Their wardrobe may have been scruffy - ripped jeans and beat-up trainers were de rigueur - but the melodies were beautifully crafted. Tigers and Jenny & the Ess-Dog soared, while Senator showcased Malkmus's way with an arresting lyric.

"I know what the senator wants; what the senator wants is a blowjob," he sang on the punkish Senator.

He was similarly entertaining between songs, dedicating a track to the euro, explaining that the band were staying in the thoroughly un-rock'n'roll surroundings of the Holiday Inn and proclaiming, "we're going to play until blood is shed."

Sharing Neil Young's philosophy on the guitar solo - less than four minutes is cheating - Malkmus almost made good on this last promise. But after a brilliant encore, which culminated in an incendiary cover of Wild Thing, the band departed to wild applause.

It's Pavement who Malkmus will be remembered for, but as a live act, the Jicks are streets ahead of many of their better-known contemporaries.

Stephen Malkmus And The Jicks
KOKO
Camden High Street, NW1 7JE