Silver Jews are an American indie rock group, formed in 1989 by writer David Berman along with Pavement's Stephen Malkmus and Bob Nastanovich. Sometimes regarded as a Pavement side project (Pavement drummer Steve West has also been a member of the band), in fact "The Joos" were formed before Pavement, and 1996's The Natural Bridge featured none of the Pavement musicians, offering listeners a more sedate album without the inimitable influence of Stephen Malkmus' guitar and vocals. Silver Jews were always a conduit for David Berman's brand of sardonic, countrified indie rock, and Berman has remained the only constant member. The band has gone on to release several full-length albums, including the latest Tanglewood Numbers, released on October 18 2005 (Drag City). Berman's sophisticated lyrics have come to dominate the band's music and critical reputation. Berman had long been steadfast in his almost complete refusal to play live, and so surprised the indie world when he announced the Silver Jews tour of the United States, Europe, and Israel in 2006.

Berman is also a published poet. His collection Actual Air was released in 1999 and received favorable reviews from The New Yorker and GQ.

Silver Jews' sixth album is currently being mastered in a Nashville studio and being prepped for an early 2008 release. The album is titled Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea. http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/44039-silver-jews-work-on-new-lp-berman-seeks-intern

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. Determined to continue the happiness they got from playing with one another, they dubbe