Mark my words, this Stephen Malkmus kid is going places.

Okay, seriously though, there were a lot of Malkmus fans at Bonnaroo. From the girls talking about which solo album they prefered, right down to the guy who shouted “play some Pavement!” in the middle of his set, everyone was there to catch a glimpse of one of indie rock’s legends.

The set kicked off with “Pencil Rot,” to the delighted squeals of new and old fans alike. Over the next fourty minutes, we were treated to new songs (“Dragonfly” and one unnamed), recent classics like “Baby C’Mon,” and a bevy of Malkmus’ sideways grins. For being a not-too-talkative indie legend, he sure was charming.

I wasn’t sure what to expect with Malkmus’ live act. I’d never seen any live footage, and I’d only read a handful of reviews. So I went into the tent that day feeling hopeful, but unsure. And while I absolutely loved his performance, I couldn’t help but feel that it was a bit too “jammy.” I don’t know if he strung out his guitar noodling for the equally strung out crowd, or if this just just par for his concerts. Still, I couldn’t have asked for a better show to end my Bonnaroo experience. Yes, I know. I missed Stephen’s appearance with Sonic Youth a mere hour later.

Bonnaroo Recaps:
Devendra Banhart
Death Cab For Cutie, Bright Eyes, Cat Power
Alec Ounsworth
Elvis Costello
Beck
Radiohead