Pavement Members, Gear & Sound
US indie rock band
Members
Select a Pavement band member to check out the music gear they use live and in the studio.
About
Pavement is an influential American indie rock band that emerged from Stockton, California in 1989. The group was initially formed as a studio project by childhood friends Stephen Malkmus (vocals, guitar) and Scott Kannberg (guitar, vocals). As they evolved, the classic lineup solidified with Mark Ibold (bass), Bob Nastanovich (percussion), and Steve West (drums). Pavement's music is characterized by its lo-fi aesthetic and a blend of rock, alternative rock, indie rock, and noise pop, making them a defining act of the 1990s indie scene. Their debut album, Slanted & Enchanted, along with subsequent releases like Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain and Wowee Zowee, cemented their legacy as pioneers of the slacker rock movement.
How to Sound Like Pavement
Pavement's sound is a distinctive mix of lo-fi, raw textures and shambolic yet melodic structures. Their music often feels both detached and spontaneous, featuring jangly guitars and unconventional song arrangements. The use of effects like the T-Rex Engineering Replica and Pro Co The Rat adds layers of gritty delay and distortion, complementing the Fender guitars that Malkmus favored, such as the Fender Jazzmaster and Fender Mustang. This gear selection supports their unpolished sound and dynamic range, which swings from laid-back grooves to bursts of feedback-laden chaos. To emulate their style, focus on capturing the carefree, slightly off-kilter vibe that blends the melodic with the disorderly, a hallmark of Pavement's enduring appeal.
Discography
Slanted & Enchanted
1992
Westing (By Musket And Sextant)
1993
Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain
1994
Wowee Zowee
1995
Brighten the Corners
1997
Live Europaturnén MCMXCVII
1998
Terror Twilight
1999
Slanted & Enchanted: Luxe & Reduxe
2002
Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain: LA's Desert Origins
2004
Brighten the Corners: Nicene Creedence Ed.
2008
Terror Twilight: Farewell Horizontal
2022
Pavements (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
2025
Hecklers Choice: Big Gums and Heavy Lifters - A Pavement Collection
2025
Get the Pavement Sound
Want to sound like Pavement? This gear comes straight from the setups of the band's members, based on proven sources. Dive into each artist's page for more detail and inspiration.
