There’s nothing like the sound of controlled chaos, screaming guitars that somehow manage to sound mellow, and a laid-back approach to making intense music out of sounds and noise rather than traditional chords and notes coupled with a musical style that exudes freedom and energy and life. It’s perfect really. It’s why I never miss a Sonic Youth show.
Friday was a very strange day for us. I won’t elaborate, but you can take my word for it. That’s why seeing Sonic Youth play Stubb’s was such a great thing. I’ve loved their music and most of their albums ever since I discovered them back in the eighties. I’ve been to many SY shows from back in the days when you went to mosh to these later years where you go to listen to the music of a wickedly creative and innovative band that just keeps getting better if somewhat mellower.
Friday’s set was mostly comprised material from their latest album, Rather Ripped. I like the album, though not quite as much as the previous three. Still, they sounded great and the songs, quieter than usual, still seemed to please the crowd. Of course, when a band has been around as long as Sonic Youth, everyone likes to hear which of their old classics will be broken out and transformed.
In a way, hearing the older tunes is the best part of a Sonic Youth set. For me, this is because they constantly reinvent their old songs so that rather than playing them the way they sounded back in the eighties or nineties, they sound fresh, as if they could fit comfortably on the newest album. This musical exploration and experimentation is at the heart of what Sonic Youth is about.
They played “Catholic Block” and “Schizophrenia” from Sister, “Eric’s Trip” from Daydream Nation (my favorite album ever), and dug way back to Confusion is Sex for “Shaking Hell.” Great stuff that managed to be both a nod to SY’s punk/hardcore roots as well as being thoroughly of the present. This timeless yet futuristicly experimental quality to their shows reminds me of more than anything else of Phish or Grateful Dead shows.
Not exactly punk, really, but I’ll keep on truckin’ along and seeing their shows as long as they keep doing them. It’s been since 1981 and they don’t seem to be growing bored or more importantly boring.
James Brush is a teacher and writer who lives in Austin, TX. He tries to get outside as much as possible.
yea, that show was great as are all of their shows. i too am a long time fan of sonic youth’s music and it was only about a year ago that i was thinking to myself how great it would be to see them live again. i got my wish. i tried to get some pics, but i only had my point and shoot with me because usually they don’t want “professional” gear brought in. but i did see some ams with their gear, so i was a bit bummed at that. other than that … great show!!
Got a post brewing about the Texas effect on Bush jnr, hope I don’t generalise too much, I relaise that Texas has a liberal movement there.
Take care.
Daniel, I’ll have to look for the post, though for the past few weeks I’ve been allowing myself to pretend that this has all been a dream…
dez, Thanks for visiting. I thought about bringing a camera as well, but didn’t for the same reason. Oh well, I probably enjoyed the music more without having to think about capturing the sights.
[…] Youth is my favorite band. I’ve seen them a number of times and Daydream Nation is my favorite album. Needless to say, I was thrilled to see […]