Sonic Youth Shows Poseurs How It's Done in NYC
RollingStone - 02/20/07
Seminal art-punk spazzouts Sonic Youth have won legions of devout followers over the course of their thirty-year career. And even after all those years and countless shows, they’re a band that rarely disappoints live: A run of the mill show from this New York City-born outfit often trumps a career-defining-gig by any other band from across the rock landscape. At Friday night’s show at New York City’s Webster Hall, imitators would’ve done well to take notes.
Following a notable yet sonically incompatible set by freak-folk band Wooden Wand, SY took the stage with touring bassist (and former Pavement rocker) Mark Ibold, and instantaneously flipped the sold-out crowd’s collective demeanor from one of detached tolerance to that of rapt frenzy.
Kicking off with a searing rendition of “Candle,” from 1988’s landmark album Daydream Nation, the band led a carefully-selected tour of their impressive catalog, delivering a set that leaned heavily on their latest record, Rather Ripped. “Incinerate,” “Rena” and a noteworthy rendition of “Rats” — highlighted by guitarist Lee Ranaldo’s quaking vocals and fiery riffs — all garnered enthusiastic audience response, while “Or” took the energy down a notch with its measured, fizzling guitars.
Confusion is Sex’s “Shaking Hell,” another crowd favorite, showcased Kim Gordon’s rough-edged sex appeal as shouted “take off your dress, shake of your flesh…shit, shit, shit… ” gyrating all the while like a flirty teen-aged punk.
Although the performance wasn’t quite as full-throttled as other recent Sonic Youth gigs, it showcased the band’s cultivated musicianship, imparting each tune’s nuances: the minute changes of rhythm and structure that transform a lethargic dirge into pure electric melody. This know-how was most evident when Thurston Moore concluded the evening with the rocker “Express Way to Yr. Skull.” Swaying in unison with his fluid guitar movements, Thurston created layer after layer of glimmering distortion, singing “we’re going to find the meaning of feeling good.” Ears buzzing, hearts thumping, this seemed precisely the sentiment fans took away that night.
-- William Goodman