Pavement talk reunion

by Marcus on Jan 14 2009, 01:00PM

If the internet talks about something enough does it make it true? Ballyhooed indie-godfathers Pavement are talking about a reunion. They think.

I once had all my wisdom teeth out. My Dad drove me home from the operation while I listlessly rolled around in the passenger seat on painkillers, drooling blood and mouth juice on myself. The next night I went and saw Pavement. It was incredible. I still don't know if it was the half pack of Panadeine Forte or the suprise of Steve Malkmus' guitar shredding ability but I stand by it to this day.

The influential band officially broke up in somewhat exhausted circumstances in 1999. Frontman Stephen Malkmus went on to have a solo career with Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks, while other band members Steve Ibold and Scott Kannberg (aka Spiral Stairs) have enjoyed moderate post-Pavement success; Ibold as touring bassist with Sonic Youth and Kannberg as DJ, raconteur and frequent visitor to Australia.

In the past few years reunion talk has gathered steam, as internet boffins rumble on chat rooms, blogs and other dangerous forms of "new media" about the group reuniting.

Now in the latest edition of US mag Loud and Quiet under the completely misleading title of "Pavement to Reform", Kannberg talks about the possibility of the fivesome getting back together. But slightly sickeningly, it would come down to the right amount of cash.

"Scott Kannberg the guitarist told us, "I don't see why not, you know, it could be a fun thing to do, go and play your favourite songs every night!”

Confirming that "everything's fine now" amongst him and his ex-band members, Kannberg went on to say, “2009 would be our twenty-year anniversary too, so that'd be a good time to do it, but I think that's too soon, it might have to be pushed back later."

That news might come as a disappointment to those that have believed rumours of Pavement playing Coachella Festival this year but on that subject Kannberg mentioned that the band have not totally ruled out the Californian festival, providing their booking agent hears the right price. "Coachella keep asking our booking agent," said the guitarist "but our booking agent's pretty strong, you know, he's waiting for the right number I think.”

Well, if they still have a booking agent...