Pavement - "Stereo"

1997

[@Muckruckuck]

its funny how he just stops playing and puts his hand on his hip like he was just having a conversation.

[@jeffbrown-hill7739]

Everything about his performance is cool without trying.

[@zouchmusic]

I love how, even though they're on national TV, they still play like they're messing around in the rehearsal studio. No Fs given.

[@warlordabdi]

Omg the internet wasn’t around to look ‘‘em up. Had to be there lol

[@Laneganswake]

They did start as a joke band after all

[@Nollland]

That's actually exactly how the song sounds

[@JohnMoseley]

Yes, as per Nolland's comment, this is super tight.

[@tmyoshimura621]

Yes, it is admirable (from afar)

[@chrisschwarten1140]

I just love how chuffed Ibold always is. It's like "wow. I'm really playing in a band. This is awesome!!!!' He' was even like that in Sonic Youth. Always up for it.

[@hex0sphere]

I always found it funny how Malkmus looks so bored and uninterested when behind is Ibold with his cheery happy face which is just lit up with glee! xD

[@staffcarpenborg]

+MSPAINTRULZ That's the charm and pure alchemy that was Pavement. No one would've taken Malkmus seriously if he had a cheery/bubbly disposition. How could you mix 'chuffed' with 'diamond sharp' in one personality? Ibold was standing next to him in full support for the duration of this live performance - For all of Malkmus' ambiguous intellectual wit and pure genius, he still longed to be understood.

[@jemzomaclain]

Hahahah yeah, he's great

[@MatthewThompsonAllen]

@@staffcarpenborg Way late on your comment, but his recent albums have made me appreciate album records so much more than I did back in the day. I really like today's more sincere, "thanks for coming" Malkmus. I always liked Pavement, but didn't give him enough credit for his made writing and guitaring skills when he seemed like a snotty dude who didn't give a fuck.

[@michaelgraham9774]

Dude has honestly had an awesome career. Not many people can say they've played in one of the most influential bands of their generation, let alone two

[@ACustomConcern]

I can't imagine how weird it would be to be watching Conan one night and see this performance, knowing absolutely nothing about the band.

[@uter]

I bet this performance changed some unsuspecting kids' lives forever.

[@Sciulli999]

I was a huge Conan fan in 7th grade and honestly may have seen this. Didn't become a Pavement fan until 8 or so years later.

[@KPThomas82]

That’s precisely what happened to me when I was 15 in 1997. Changed the course of my life!

[@cptmuska]

I know NOTHING about them and they are my favorite band...

[@zex5876]

"What the fuck"

[@bearchildofdeath]

the crackling in this recording is so comforting

[@parker2921]

Love how Malkmus looks like he's trying not to laugh the entire time

[@js27-a5t]

They are a bit like Kramer walking in a room.

[@jonathanfoutz8931]

Pavement on Conan. This is peak television right here.

[@navroful]

Pavement made sense of the 90's. It's all in there.

[@tisroc100]

Really? 😂

[@fastn1]

I saw Pavement play live a lot in the 90s. I met Gary the drummer after a gig in London at Brixton Academy (1992) where they supported Sonic Youth. Gary was outside the Academy climbing up a lamp post. He always used to come out after the gigs and mingle with the crowd. Around that time also, at a Pavement gig at University of London Union, I spotted Gary and Joe Strummer together in the crowd on the stairs. Those first Pavement gigs were magic.

[@dustmouse]

They're like... so alternative. It's awesome how they look like they just left the office and went straight to the show without changing first.

[@Isaacandjed]

it's like they don't even really care about us! like when they sang that song, "we don't even really care about you!"

[@TokyoXtreme]

It truly is an "alternative" rock music - it's got guitars, bass, drums… is tightly played, yet still sounds so different from other stuff, even now. Very crisp and clean, a bit like The Cars and Gary Numan.

[@HitmanJenkins1]

Mark's face throughout this video is priceless, he looks so baked!

[@Radixxs]

This is freakin' hilarious. Best performance ever of any kind by anybody.

[@windchimes4227]

First time listening to pavement and I love it already. Time to listen to their 2.5 hour albums to completion.

[@monsieurbertillon9570]

They made a shedload of stuff that isn't on the official lps and is great also.

[@FablesJonny]

Did you enjoy there music? Do you still listen to them?

[@jlouis4407]

@@monsieurbertillon9570 Watery, Domestic EP

[@michaelsweller470]

I still remember the first time I heard Pavement: 120 minutes on MTV, 1995, video for "Father to a Sister of Thought." One of my favorite bands. I hope you enjoyed the rest of their catalogue.

[@plotinuswashere]

@@michaelsweller470 hearing 'in the mouth a desert' off a friend's mixtape is what got me interested

[@BobDinners1771]

just pure fun and creativity. What this era of rock music was about.

[@kanye2west2was2right]

man this entire video laugh out loud i wish i would have been old enough to be conscious of late night television in the 90s. to think that any band as good and as raw as pavement could have air time is fantastic

[@tonyplaysbass]

Is there any other band that pulls off the "We really couldn't try any less" image yet make kick ass songs more than Pavement?

[@adumbberg]

The Rolling Stones.

[@danackroydsbutt]

@@adumbberg fuck off.

[@mar-ew8fi]

@@danackroydsbutt LMFAOO

[@slimportablepepperbackdvd_4125]

the fall

[@saladhands1127]

I get that vibe from dinosaur jr but mascis is super good at guitar so its like half not trying

[@tomi-jon8798]

This band writes some amazing g riffs and hooks

[@RamManNo1]

Pretty much every song they have is catchy. Even when they are just goofing or jamming.

[@movesinc]

How this isn't more revered is a mystery. Long live everything Pavement.

[@halcyonspiral]

It's official: Conan does not age.

[@joangel3288]

halcyonspiral bcuzz he a DEMON.

[@Bihmoutine]

Gingers have no souls

[@yseson_]

You need a soul on order to age

[@cessbird8212]

It’s the adrenochrome

[@eamisagomey]

imagine how the tv audience saw this, like wtf is this?? fuckin love pavement

[@tonecot8932]

Seeing these guys perform in this video, I always thought: "Who let the guys in accounting out of the cubicles so they can play in a band?"

[@carlrs15]

Such a zany performance I know him and he dooOOEEeess

[@GG57]

Any true fan of any band they love are fairly precious about their beloved band. Pavement fans are particularly possessive because they are such a unique sounding band. They are truly peerless.

[@painsettomusic]

"wook chick chick chick, chick chick! wook chick chick chick, chick chick!"

[@TheEggplantThatAteChicago]

Tragic.

[@anthonynavarro6074]

Best ever

[@nadafro3116]

Powerful turntable player

[@ParallaxFlip7]

You’re my fact-checkin’ cuz

[@IslandersLikeMe]

I'm so proud this is my decade.

[@g34a4d]

Stereo. In mono.

[@hoovesandpawsanimalrescue]

Pavement is the anti hero we always need .

[@PoliceBoy465]

1:18 that camera hog Ibold tries to sneak in for a lead vocal moment. He has been trying to take conrol from SM and Spiral since Wowee Zowee. Enough already.

[@usnndy]

Ok, so just me, or was this one of the best live TV performances ever?

[@jeperstone]

It's just you

[@helpfulcommenter]

You're the only one writing in that cheeky obnoxious fake conversational style that's for sure.

[@AnimalHouseVetVideos]

When you're that fucking high on national TV, the only place to go is Sonic Youth.

[@FirstNameLastName-kt3zn]

I'm not sure what this comment means, but I like it.

[@wb1373]

FirstName LastName I think it’s about Ibold but I’m not sure

[@m1g0t0]

More pedals than the Tour de France.

[@ella-zh5ws]

incredibly sassy stephen malkmus at 0:45

[@tomi-jon8798]

im gettn old too but still remember my bro putting this cd on during a ride home from work. ide never heard anything like. modest mouse as well....changed me

[@helpfulcommenter]

modest mouse was good till about 2004 or whenever they were on the OC and that godforsaken Good News album came out and evertyhing after that was trash

[@hooptyscoopty]

@@helpfulcommentergr8 b8 m8 i r8 8/8

[@inthekingdom1996]

One of the best Conan performances ever imo

[@josefizquierdo6139]

I've never heard of this crazy band until a while ago, watching PBS Newshour, Sunday, Feb. 7th, 2020. 😉

[@matthill263]

Seems incredible that music like this once bothered the mainstream. Everything now is so safe in comparison.

[@Peem_pom]

Truth

[@Bluecedor]

Now? The mainstream stuff /back then/ was so safe in comparison. Pavement messed with heads in the 90s. Today it would be as if it came from another planet via a meteor’s juicy, sweet center. Does anything like this get funded today, that’s not fed by Patreon or streaming ad bucks that only a few thousand people ever see?

[@jlouis4407]

Minorly mainstream, yes

[@shadowaccount]

Nah. U just don't listen to anything new or venture out to find anything worth listening to. Stuck in the 90s.

[@ItsJustAPhazeLh]

Chik chik chik, Chik chik, Ahwoop chik chik chik.

[@charliedawson6318]

I thought that was a particularly brave choice.

[@jeffbrown-hill7739]

I love how Stephen looks at the crowd like he knows a juicy secret or joke they are all not in on.

[@kmm2442]

I just can’t get this out of my head.

[@TheShagDiesel]

I don't think I've ever see Mark without that expression on his face.

[@DISCRECTIONGR0VE]

Absolute BANGER

[@tonecot8932]

I remember hearing this on 92.3 kRock back in the 90's when that Jake Fogel kid (Squirt TV) hosted a late night show playing indie songs like this.

[@Mark-jv9ni]

That "God love ya" from Conan though lol

[@jungfeller]

It's a wonderful fluke that VHS decay suits 90s indie rock so well. Delicious fuzz mmmmmmm (Y)

[@stuchua1025]

hahaha I love Pavements! Saw them live in Perth 25 years ago... time flies!

[@MartinHiggins1972]

Get the name right. It's The Pavements.

[@stuchua1025]

Hahaha sorry. Pavement.

[@ishosoi]

the fact that they chose the most off-putting song off BtC to play on late night to promote the album makes me love them so much more

[@wlouisharris]

This is actually one of the better live bits I have seen Pavement do. I caught a few of their live shows back in the day and they were really flat.

[@bigneiltoo]

Having known that song 25 years before seeing it live - they NAILED it.

[@TimSheetz]

Love how awkward Mr. Ibold is, standing so close to Mr. Malkmus

[@tmyoshimura621]

I can definitely appreciate this from retrospect/afar

[@timothychase95]

this video was the first time a friend of mine heard pavement. She said 'that's why you guys think playing out of time and singing badly is cool'. oh well.

[@sebastian4451]

one of their greatest performances!

[@lumpynehar1581]

Mark really has some fantastic bass lines on this album😍

[@jamesfitzsimons3592]

I can’t believe this was on mainstream us tv. Fuckin awesome.

[@bratwurst19]

i wonder if this is their tv debut, they're hella comfortable and confident

[@cherniza_]

Jason King They played regularly on MTV and had an appearance or two on Leno years leading up to this

[@DaveDrumsOK]

This was however many albums in... They were somewhat polished by then, in that they just did their thing. Take a listen to their early albums and performances, you'll hear and see their progression. One of the best bands of their time. 👍

[@current3109]

i wish i was alive during this time period

[@jlouis4407]

It was glorious

[@beantown_billy2405]

Most underrated band of the 90s

[@sarahh6062]

Where the fudge has this version been all my life?!? Wow

[@srfrr]

they always make me smile...

[@GamesfromtheFront]

What a great album.

[@CrizzleOaks]

I love how crazy they are live! I bet a lot of people that saw this at the time wouldn't agree with me though.

[@TheeDavidDee]

Watching this in 2021 and remembering the first time I watched this. I and so many others became instant Pavement fans

[@owlytimbre9103]

Malkmus is and was the "guy at the bus stop snob" master. He even made stepping on his pedals look absurd live. Making fun of making fun of meta-.

[@LukaUsmiani]

i wish i could favorite this twice!

[@jimiwexler1260]

Puts a tear in my eye

[@lucianofigueiredo4877]

Que banda maravilhosa

[@JasperJamesBand]

This is great! Can't believe I never saw this before. Got to see them live last week and have been scouring KZbin for more performances ever since - thanks for posting! Liked and Subscribed!

[@mattliable1987]

My co-worker told me to listen to this band And I like them :)

[@Jason_wears_stuff]

easily my favorite pavement album!!!!

[@1844Freddy]

It's great how little they're trying here.

[@ffwlpe]

WOO WOO CHIC CHIC CHIC WOO WOO CHIC CHIC

[@steadyrhythms9571]

that stupid “what does the fox say” song ripped them off man

[@maxmontes5776]

Most Underrated band every!!!!!!!!

[@hubblebublumbubwub5215]

There should be a cartoon adaption of Mark Ibold

[@franciscleary6544]

Hubblebub Lumbubwub he was on Strangers With Candy playing of all things a bass player in a band, but that show was kind of like a cartoon. It's funny I just read on Wikipedia that he is working as a bartender now in New York City.

[@JasmineSurrealVideos]

I only know Stephen Malkmus but the dude on the guitar by him has a hilarious expression, sort of half stoned, half really pleased he found a 50p coin on the um pavement. Never really my thing in the 90s, I liked and still like Mercury Rev and Grandaddy, but this song is cool. I had a crush on Malkmus and dated a guy at journalism collage partially as he looked a bit like him lol how sad is that.

[@Grungie]

Had this on tape but never knew how to convert it properly. Thanks a lot for sharing this!

[@willr8764]

Suddenly the fact that they never hit the big time makes a lot more sense. Still, best band o' the 90s anyway.

[@Stevebob206]

I've been looking for this forever, I love you.

[@TotallyDudeFun]

I watch this fuckin performance about 12x a day

[@Ghoopty]

I like how Bob's not afraid to 'act the fool' on national TV.

[@leethompson4817]

I miss this era

[@Stratocaster42]

I think so. It's actually amazing. I'm pretty sure they're taking the piss just a little and it's hilarious.

[@xavierdaly5534]

performing live they're so goofy

[@joshprice3730]

such goofs

[@gregcircanow]

Oh yeah, I definitely had this taped on VHS in college...

[@drago6769]

Alex Chilton is actually Stephen Malkmus's father

[@westprice]

i'm proud it's my decade too...i like the 70s more, but the 90s are a close second.

[@intherein]

What a fantastic band. I would fucking love to have been in that band. So much fun.

[@SpinBuck1]

Except for the fact that they are on like every top album of the 90s lists and millions of college kids worship the band. They've icon status. I'd say they've aged extremely well.

[@chairmankaga101]

I'd always heard that it was Pavement that pushed Branford Marsalis over the edge, quitting the Tonight Show after they played because he loathed 90s music so much.

[@shanecochran2491]

Best yet 😂😂😂

[@jools182]

I bet the audience are thinking wtf? 😂Love this song

[@AngryGreen]

"god love ya" hahahaha this performance is among the best i've seen by pavement

[@anthonynavarro6074]

This is ______ excellent!

[@GG57]

Fair enough. Actually yeah when you look at all the guys in Pavement their stage presence is aloof and enigmatic. And then you have Ibold boppin around like one of the muppets in the shiny happy people video. He's a lovable gooffball.

[@lulupollitt1797]

pavement was the most effortlessly cool band of the 90s. malkmus gives no fucks whatsoever, bob is the equivelent of a toddler pressing every button on a soundboard, mark looks absolutely starstruck, and the second guitarist and drummer are vibing to the antics caused by the others. love this performance

[@synthoelectro]

the days of college rock.

[@haydenspivey430]

I love that pavement didn’t give a fuck/also made fun of the mainstream music of the time with their own music

[@ThomasBaxter]

I swear I can hear the tape go through the VCR in this recording...

[@Jeenius0666]

Killer tune, they had lots of fun. It's nice that rock and roll can exist as an element like this... Fuckin catchy shit

[@Mrius86]

I just discovered a new band to check out. Who cares if they're on drugs or not? This is a great performance

[@shelbythomas]

Bob Nastanovich's parents: "OUR BOY DONE GOOD!" Bob Nastanovich: "MALERIA! HYSTERIA!!" Conan O'Brien: "We'll take a break, we'll be right back."

[@Ivanselectsongs]

my mom used to comb my hair like that. love ya mum