Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks Sparkle Hard, is dropping May 18th. Today, the band have shared a documentary short film shot on-location in Portland, OR this past January, directed by Brook Linder.

The documentary is described as a glimpse into the quotidian world of Stephen Malkmus – songwriting legend, tennis champ, horseback rider, band-leader, and all-around charming goofball. “Since watching this doc,” says Stephen, “I’ve improved my tennis game immensely… I’ve shortened my follow through on the forehand and made progress on a buttery topspin backhand.”

Director Brook Linder on the Documentary

“I have long been a Malkmus fan, and for years have thought very hard about what I would make with him given the opportunity. He’s such a unique character and there’s obviously so much history involved – making anything at all seemed pretty formidable. To me he is mysterious and nothing is obvious.

The idea of making a typical visual to match the sound was out straight away.” Brook, thinking back to when he first saw Malkmus play live, at Pitchfork Fest 2007, recalled “the set was mostly Malkmus and an acoustic guitar, and it was so raw and funny and vulnerable and felt rare and weird. I wanted to capture that side of Malkmus somehow – to grab the mundane details of his life – and it turns out they’re as enigmatic as he is.”

Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks
Sparkle Hard
Tracklisting

1. Cast Off 
2. Future Suite 
3. Solid Silk 
4. Bike Lane 
5. Middle America 
6. Rattler 
7. Shiggy 
8. Kite 
9. Brethren 
10. Refute 

11. Difficulties / Let Them Eat Vowels 

Tour Dates:

6/1/18 – St. Paul, MN – Turf Club SOLD OUT
6/2/18 – Milwaukee, WI – The Back Room at Colectivo SOLD OUT
6/3/18 – Chicago, IL – Thalia Hall SOLD OUT
6/5/18 – Columbus, OH – Ace of Cups SOLD OUT
6/6/18 – Pittsburgh, PA – Rex Theater
6/7/18 – Cleveland, OH – Grog Shop
6/8/18 – Detroit, MI – Magic Stick
6/9/18 – Toronto, ON – Lee's Palace SOLD OUT
6/11/18 – Montreal, QC – Theatre Fairmount
6/12/18 – Cambridge, MA – The Sinclair SOLD OUT
6/14/18 – Brooklyn, NY – Music Hall of Williamsburg SOLD OUT
6/15/18 – Brooklyn, NY – Music Hall of Williamsburg SOLD OUT
6/16/18 – Philadelphia, PA – Theatre of Living Arts
6/17/18 – Washington, DC – Black Cat
6/19/18 – Carrboro, NC – Cat's Cradle
6/20/18 – Athens, GA – The Georgia Theatre
6/21/18 – Nashville, TN – Mercy Lounge
6/22/18 – Louisville, KY – Zanzabar
6/23/18 – Cincinnati, OH – The Woodward Theater
7/17/18 – Petaluma, CA – Mystic Theatre
7/18/18 – San Francisco, CA – Slim's
7/20/18 – San Diego, CA – Casbah SOLD OUT
7/21/18 – Los Angeles, CA – FYF Fest
7/22/18 – Phoenix, AZ – The Crescent Ballroom
7/23/18 – Albuquerque NM – Launchpad
7/25/18 – Austin, TX – The Mohawk
7/26/18 – Houston, TX – White Oak Music Hall
7/27/18 – Dallas, TX – Granada Theater
7/28/18 – Tulsa, OK – The Vanguard
7/29/18 – Kansas City, MO – Record Bar
7/31/18 – Englewood, CO – Gothic Theatre
8/1/18 – Salt Lake City, UT – Urban Lounge
8/3/18 – Vancouver, BC – Rickshaw Theatre
8/4/18 – Seattle, WA – Neptune Theatre
8/5/18 – Portland, OR – Star Theater