The 5 Biggest Stephen Malkmus & Pavement Updates You Missed (2025 Tour & New Supergroup)

Stephen Malkmus and Pavement continue to define the sound of indie rock, proving that slacker-rock legends don't fade—they just take very long, well-deserved breaks. As of December 10, 2025, the band's latest reunion is not only still in full swing, but it is also expanding into new territories, with confirmed festival dates and fresh side projects that capture the same lo-fi, melodic genius that launched them to stardom in the 1990s.

The frontman himself, Stephen Malkmus, remains one of the most enigmatic and productive figures in alternative music, splitting his time between the renewed energy of Pavement's live shows and experimental new collaborations. From a highly anticipated 2025 tour commitment to a surreal feature film and a brand-new supergroup, the world of Malkmus is as creatively chaotic as ever.

Stephen Malkmus: Biography and Profile

Stephen Joseph Malkmus is an American musician, best known as the primary songwriter, lead singer, and guitarist for the seminal indie rock band Pavement.

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• Full Name: Stephen Joseph Malkmus
• Born: May 30, 1966, in Santa Monica, California
• Primary Role: Lead Vocals, Guitar, Songwriter (Pavement, The Jicks)
• Key Bands: Pavement (1989–1999, 2010, 2015, 2022–Present), Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks (1999–Present), Silver Jews (Early Member), The Hard Quartet (2023–Present)
• Musical Style: Characterized by cryptic, witty, and often surreal lyrics delivered in a deadpan style, combined with unconventional guitar tunings and a signature lo-fi aesthetic.
• Education: Attended the University of Virginia, where he was a college radio DJ and met fellow Pavement founder Scott Kannberg.

The Essential Pavement Lineup

Pavement’s most recognized lineup, which has anchored their recent reunion tours, consists of five core members:

• Stephen Malkmus: Vocals, Guitar
• Scott Kannberg (a.k.a. Spiral Stairs): Guitar, Vocals
• Mark Ibold: Bass
• Bob Nastanovich: Percussion, Vocals, Harmonica
• Steve West: Drums

The band’s original drummer, Gary Young, was an integral part of their early, chaotic sound on the influential debut album, Slanted and Enchanted.

1. Pavement's Confirmed 2025 Tour Dates: The Reunion Continues

The "second golden age" of Pavement's reunion, which began in 2022, is officially extending into 2025.

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For fans who thought the band's latest run might be winding down, the news of confirmed 2025 dates signals a continued commitment to touring. The band is scheduled to perform at major events, including the Levitation Festival in Austin, Texas, in September 2025.

This follows a successful run of shows in 2024, which saw the band complete a South American leg and play a handful of dates across the United States.

The ongoing reunion has allowed a new generation of indie rock fans to experience the band's legendary catalog live, featuring tracks from era-defining albums like Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain, Wowee Zowee, and Brighten the Corners.

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Malkmus has also scheduled a more intimate solo performance and chat in May 2025, giving fans a chance to see the indie legend in a different setting.

2. The Hard Quartet: Malkmus's New Supergroup Takes Center Stage

While Pavement is a priority, Malkmus is never one to stop creating new music. His most significant new endeavor is the formation of the supergroup, The Hard Quartet, which debuted its first tour dates and single, "Earth Hater," in 2024.

Formed in May 2023, The Hard Quartet is an indie rock powerhouse built on a shared love of "beat-up, lo-fi guitar sounds."

The Hard Quartet Lineup

The project brings together a formidable roster of alternative music veterans:

• Stephen Malkmus: (Pavement, The Jicks)
• Matt Sweeney: (Chavez, Superwolf, renowned session musician)
• Jim White: (The Dirty Three, known for his unique drumming style)
• Emmett Kelly: (The Cairo Gang, known for his work with Bonnie 'Prince' Billy)

This collaboration offers a more experimental, cosmically trippy, and jazz-inflected take on the alt-rock sound, contrasting with the more structured pop sensibilities of Pavement.

3. The "Docufiction" Film Pavements: Blurring Fact and Fantasy

Perhaps the most curious and recent development in the Pavement universe is the 2024 film *Pavements*, directed by Alex Ross Perry.

The film is not a traditional documentary but rather an "experimental musical biopic concert film" and a "docufiction."

Perry’s work deliberately blurs the lines between the band’s actual history and fictionalized events, following Pavement's emergence as one of the defining bands of 1990s slacker-rock.

The film includes a fictional movie-within-a-movie called *Range Life*, which aims to give Pavement the big-budget biopic treatment they never received.

This highly unconventional approach mirrors the band’s own quirky, meta-narrative style, leaving viewers to wonder if Pavement is as real a band as a fictional group like Spinal Tap—a perfect tribute to their ironic legacy.

4. The Enduring Legacy of Pavement’s Studio Albums

The constant touring and new projects only serve to highlight the enduring quality of the Pavement discography. Malkmus’s songwriting is the core of five essential albums that defined the indie rock genre:

• Slanted and Enchanted (1992): The lo-fi masterpiece that announced the band's arrival.
• Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain (1994): Their most accessible album, featuring the hit "Range Life" and the iconic "Cut Your Hair."
• Wowee Zowee (1995): A sprawling, experimental, and often polarizing record that showcased the band's most chaotic side.
• Brighten the Corners (1997): A more polished, mature, and critically acclaimed effort featuring songs like "Shady Lane."
• Terror Twilight (1999): The final album before their first breakup, produced by Nigel Godrich. It includes the fan-favorite track "Major Leagues."

These records are foundational texts for countless modern bands, establishing Malkmus as a lyrical and melodic genius whose influence is still felt in every corner of the alternative music scene.

5. The Continued Deep Dive: The 'Meeting Malkmus' Podcast

Beyond the music and the movie, the cultural deep-dive into Pavement's work continues through media like the "Meeting Malkmus" podcast.

The podcast is an obsessive, song-by-song journey through the band's entire catalog, with forays into side projects and what is happening now.

While there was speculation about a new Malkmus project tied to the podcast, the show itself remains a vital resource for fans looking to fully appreciate the works of the world's greatest indie rock band, making it a key entity for topical authority in the Pavement universe.

In summary, Stephen Malkmus is navigating a wildly productive phase. The 2025 Pavement tour dates confirm the band’s ongoing relevance, while The Hard Quartet and the Alex Ross Perry film show that Malkmus is still challenging expectations and pushing creative boundaries in the indie world.