Machines Turning into Waterfalls

We went to the Vic Theater to see Sonic Youth last night. This was their first show of the tour and they were superb. They are arguably the finest band in the land. There's no hype with this band, it's all there on stage. This, surprisingly, (even to me), was the first time I've seen them perform live. And I think in order to appreciate them, in order to "understand" how great they are, they must be experienced live.

I've owned some of their records: EVOL, Daydream Nation, Dirty and I've wanted to, but never got around to buying some of the others. I've never been disappointed. Still, what's on vinyl and CD does not capture the full Sonic Youth experience. They make beautiful noise that must be experienced at ear-splitting volume. It's essential that their music engulfs, overwhelms, and surrounds you.

They are masters of dissonance and noise. They make strange off-kilter sounds into a sonic symphony. It's all guitar-based stuff: cheap (okay maybe not those great Fender Jazzmasters) and trashed up guitars played in alternate tunings with screwdrivers, drumsticks, violin bows, etc. Lee Ranaldo, Thurston Moore and Kim Gordon (Kim their long-time bass player plays guitar and bass on this tour) abuse their instruments with total abandon.

Their sound is wild, on the verge of chaos, massively beautiful sonic sculptures. This is the music of machines turning into waterfalls. A jet engine screaming itself into an ocean. The sound of a machine making love to itself.

Sonic Youth does something no other band does. And they been doing it for a long time. Totally inspiring. Plus Kim Gordon has to be the Koolest of the Koolest! Recommended!