| Author | Message | ||
     Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 2064 Registered: 05-2005 |
I went to the Sydney show last Monday night and loved it. I missed the first couple of songs of Scientists, who were playing their album Blood Red River, but what I did see was enough to make me check out that record. They reminded me of English band Loop who were great live. I now realised that Loop were probably influenced by Scientists as well as Sonic Youth. As with Scientists, Sonich Youth also looked remarkably youthful, particularly Kim and Thurston. This was my third time seeing Sonic Youth, but the first since 1993. Daydream Nation has always been my favourite of their albums, though I know it is not the band's favourite and neither is it the preferred choice of Sonic Youth purists (who prefer Sister or Evol). But it is my choice and that of a lot of people. I had forgotten, maybe never knew, that Lee Ranaldo sings most of the middle third of the record. He's not a great singer, but his voice suits the songs. Kim is also not much of a singer, and her voice was initially the only problem I had with Daydream Nation. But I got over that and her voice has grown even more into these songs over the years. Thurston is the closest thing to a good voice in the band, though you still wouldn't call him a good singer! He seemed to be having a ball onstage though, as did the rest of the band. The whole thing was magnificent. Every note was crucial and hearing it all played live transported me to listening to it on a Walkman in various places around the world over the years, which is a wonderful feeling. After they'd played Daydream Nation they brought ex-Pavement bassist Mark Ibold on to play on the encores. He has been in their touring band for a few years now. This freed Kim to first play guitar and then to just sing. Mark Ibold looked so happy to be there, with the exact smile I remember him having when I saw Pavement playing in Dublin on Valentine's Day 1994. Incinerate, from the album Rather Ripped, was the first encore. It was brilliantly poppy. I stayed for two more songs and then left. I didn't want to leave but it was very late, I live on the other side of the city and had work in the morning. I'd already seen what I'd paid for anyway, the glorious Daydream Nation in full. How was the Melbourne show Joe? | ||
| joe Member Username: Dogmansuede Post Number: 380 Registered: 07-2006 |
unreal padraig...i've been walking around in somewhat of a daze singing "hey joni put it all behind you!" ever since. lee was great wasn't he?!? they all looked and sounded incredible....definitely the best gig i've seen in a long time. i was a bit worried teenage riot would be the sole (early!) highlight, but they did justice to each and every track. i would've liked to see thurston play providence rather than just the tape, still terrific though. nothing would make me happier than seeing sister played in full, but DN sounded like pure majesty and i now feel a stronger connection to it than ever. you should've waited it out padraig though, you would have missed kool thing, which you've probably seen them do before. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 2065 Registered: 05-2005 |
Good to see they were great in Melbourne too Joe. I can't remember if they played Kool Thing when I saw them. I think they did the first time, but I wouldn't swear on it. The first time I saw them was in 1991 and a band I'd never heard of before supported them. Two weeks later that band released a song called Smells Like Teen Spirit. |