Silver Jews

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New York, United States (1989 – 2009)

Silver Jews’ earliest incarnation was the college band Ectoslavia, formed by future Pavement founders Bob Nastanovich, Stephen Malkmus and frontman David Berman at the University of Virginia in 1989. An exercise in joyous noise, the band disbanded after graduation and the three friends moved to New York to take up various jobs - Nastanovich, a bus driver, and Berman and Malkmus, art museum security guards.

Pavement, a band started by Malkmus post-Ectoslavia, pre-New York, at this point began to gain attention. This attention resulted in a record deal and a constant inferiority plague placed upon the ‘Joos with Berman totally at the forefront of the group. Misinformed music fans now saw the band as a side-project and, even worse, Berman as being not good enough to play with Pavement, many band members being shared between the two bands.

The connection to Malkmus and the now blossoming Pavement was not all negative, however. Drag City, then not the bastion of American folk music it is today, agreed to release the band’s debut EPs which has led to a fruitful relationship (the label continues to release the band’s records, right up to album number 7 in 2008, (Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea).

The Silver Jews in their later days primarily consisted of David and Cassie Berman who contributed most of the lyrics, and a changing cast of characters. They had numerous indie stars in a rotating line up, including Willie T. of Lambchop, and Brian Kotzer of Tim Chad and Sherry.
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Top Albums

  • American Water
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  • Tanglewood Numbers
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  • Starlite Walker
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  • Bright Flight
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  • ChesterWhelks

    If you email DCB at the moment, this is what you get in reply: "Dear Correspondent. There may be some delay in my response but i will most definitely be writing back before too long. I imagine everyone but me has written by now to congratulate you on your promotion and exciting move to Los Angeles. cordial regards, David."

    12 days ago
  • MeinKraft

    Is this kosher?

    last month
  • mrmocha

    Good News!

    last month
  • lolacat99

    amazing

    last month
  • leahpritchard

    What's this biography about? Bla bla Pavement bla. I love Pavement but it's not like there isn't enough to say about Silver Jews!

    March 2012
  • Gohel

    Tagged "jews".

    March 2012
  • Rob_Hessey

    American Water is such a masterpiece

    March 2012
  • mrmocha

    Lonesome Sundown, I'm glad The Halo Benders are in the related artists. Both Calvin and David are pretty crafty with words.

    March 2012
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