The Hard Quartet is an alternative rock supergroup formed in 2023 by Stephen Malkmus, Matt Sweeney and Emmett Kelly, who share and exchange the positions of singer, guitarist and bassist, as well as drummer Jim White. Known as the mastermind behind Pavement, which he founded in 1989, Stephen Malkmus has joined forces with Chavez founder Matt Sweeney and Emmett Kelly, who presides over the destiny of The Cairo Gang. As for Australian Jim White, among many other formations, he and Warren Ellis formed the instrumental group The Dirty Three in 1992. It was after taking part in Malkmus' album Traditional Techniques (2019) that Sweeney suggested he form a band. The idea, which had been brewing in their minds for a few years, finally took shape in May 2023 and, after rehearsals and studio sessions, a first single was released a year later, entitled "Earh Hater". Two more tracks followed, "Rio's Song" and "Our Hometown Boy", before the release of the album The Hard Quartet (2024), which combines several styles such as psychedelic rock, sixties pop, jangle pop and country, under a layer of alternative rock.