Genesis

Pavement, an American indie rock band formed in Stockton, California in 1989, is considered one of the most influential bands to emerge from the American underground in the 1990s. The band primarily consisted of Stephen Malkmus (vocals, guitar), Scott Kannberg (guitar, vocals), Mark Ibold (bass), Steve West (drums), and Bob Nastanovich (percussion, synthesizers, vocals).

Initially a recording project, Pavement gained underground attention with early lo-fi releases like "Slay Tracks: 1933–1969". They evolved into a more polished band, releasing five full-length albums and ten EPs over a decade. Their debut album, Slanted and Enchanted (1992), is frequently cited as one of the most influential indie rock albums of the 1990s and is listed on Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time". This album, along with Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain (1994), which featured their most successful single "Cut Your Hair," solidified their place in indie rock.

Pavement remained signed to independent labels throughout their career, distinguishing them from many of their 1980s predecessors who signed with major labels. Music critics like Robert Christgau and Stephen Thomas Erlewine have called them the best band of the 1990s, and they have achieved a significant cult following. Their unique sound, which drew from punk rock, lo-fi, and classic rock, was lauded for inventive songwriting and an unconventional approach to rock music. The band's "foppish lyrics and punk-derived sonic textures merged into a free-floating poetry of reference that epitomized 1990s college rock".

After disbanding in 1999, Pavement reunited for a well-received tour in 2010 and again in 2022–2024.