What does New Hampshire have in common with Alaska, Delaware, Mississippi, Nebraska, Wyoming, and both Dakotas? To the best of my knowledge, Sonic Youth never performed there. They did, however, write a song commemorating it, which is more than anyone can say for Nebraska. "New Hampshire" appeared on Sonic Nurse, though it was supposedly a contender for Thurston's "I swear it's coming someday!" follow-up to Psychic Hearts. Like Murray Street before it, Thurston dipped into his own stash of potential solo tunes to pad out Nurse, though much of the record does sound like it was written as a band (upon release, the "enhanced" CD included a video of them spontaneously composing "Paper Cup Exit").
While Nurse brought the return of some classic Sonic Youth tunings, "New Hampshire" uses a combination seen often on Murray Street. It has a lot of typical Thurston CGDGCD scaley picking, dressed up by Lee and possibly Kim using their Electro-Harmonix Micro Synthesizer pedals to add abrasive noise at different stages of the song. Jim handles the bass, holding a steady rhythm with Steve, whose opening drum beat allowed the band to utilize the song in a key set list role: the segue exit. "New Hampshire" would often emerge from an extended noise jam, perhaps the outro to "Pattern Recognition" or "Mote", or a droning final chord in "White Kross" or "Teenage Riot". The freeform structure of their transitions allowed for everyone to take their initiative from Steve, his souped up "Schizophrenia" beat prompting everyone to change instruments in preparation for "New Hampshire". Steve used mallets instead of drumsticks, a tactic that goes back all the way to "Tom Violence".
The song was debuted at a private Christian Dior Homme party in New York City on March 10th, 2004. It was played at nearly every single show in 2004 and 2005, with its final outing on November 26th, 2005 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Jim had only two more shows with the band, and the song was never played with Mark. There are some seriously awesome live versions, but I don't think it gets much better than this "Mote" into "New Hampshire" segue from July 3rd, 2005 at Eurockeenes in Belfort, France. The whole show is an incredible example of a Nurse era festival set, with some killer performances of songs both old and new. But check out "Mote" and "New Hampshire" if you haven't, the energy is delicious. And the camerawork during the outro of "New Hampshire" really enhances the simmering tension in that final chord. I'd honestly recommend watching the full show rather than the version below, which is treated with some kind of heavenly blacklight effect. Sonic Youth were a fucking incredible live band!
Lyrically, the song is heavily inspired by the "Salute to the Blues" concert at Radio City Music Hall on February 7th, 2003. The band attended, witnessing performances by B.B. King and Buddy Guy among others. New Hampshire natives Steven Tyler and Joe Perry from Aerosmith were also in attendance, and it was their reaction to these blues legends that prompted Thurston to work it all into a song. I believe some of the other lyrics come from existing poetry. Thurston explained the "Johnny Winter no show" line in the July 2004 issue of Guitar & Bass:
THURSTON: "[New Hampshire]'s about the blues - and Aerosmith."
LEE: "You know, the Steve and Joe of the lyrics."
THURSTON: "We went to this taping of a blues convention of sorts, for that series Martin Scorsese was filming on the blues. Also, I grew up in New England in the early '80s and I've read Walk This Way about how Joe Perry and Steven Tyler grew up in New Hampshire in the late '60s - being immersed with the Yardbirds and rock-R'n'B, and how they saw Led Zeppelin in Boston and it changed their whole lives. So I threw in some thoughts about all that, as well as what the blues is now for someone growing up the city. I referenced that Scorsese event, but the main reason why I was there was to see Johnny Winter. He was my favourite guitar player - Still Alive And Well is my favourite guitar album of all time - and I'd never seen him play. And he was a no show!"
The LP version of the song is quite restrained compared to the live renditions, particularly in regards to Lee's guitar. During live performances, he would let his open strings sustain while tweaking his Microsynth pedal to make big waves of noise during the first section of the song, which otherwise features Kim and Jim locked into a one-note groove, serving as a bed for Thurston's series of riffs (dig that very first lick, which he also used in "Shoot" - something stolen from Johnny Winter?). On the album, Lee's Microsynth doesn't seem to be in the mix at all during the intro, and rather than bass it almost sounds like another guitar is down the middle, playing harmonics at the 12th fret of GDG strings. This could be a Jim overdub in lieu of bass (or there's bass there and I don't hear it, or they're bass harmonics?) or something Lee played instead of the Microsynth stuff, but it's not in Lee's part of the stereo field.
The song basically revolves around Thurston's guitar part, with Lee mostly adding colour via raked chords (he also plays notes that mirror Thurston's vocal during live versions). Kim has a capo at the 5th fret of her Eterna, turning her tuning into GDGDEE. She plays solely open strings during the intro, a rhythmic strum that releases to a repetitive, buzzing note she plays during the verse, using a metal slide. She was heavily into the slide on Sonic Nurse (and as we saw last week, on the same guitar, "Rats"). After the verse (there is no chorus), there's an instrumental section where Thurston does some particularly hot bluesy licks, and here Kim takes her turn to make waves of wild noise. For whatever reason, I always thought she was using her Microsynth here, but she's clearly stepping on her Mu-Tron Wah/Vol in videos, just wildly striking the open strings without the slide. Maybe she has the Microsynth on to encourage a nastier tone when the wah is activated? When did she use that thing, which was on her board for many tours? During the break in "Disconnection Notice"?
Well, she makes a big racket, whatever she uses. And Jim keeps a solid foundation. But it really is Thurston's show, for the most part, and I can see how it could have easily fit on Trees Outside the Academy, with J Mascis doing his best salute to the blues. It does seem like Thurston was trying to stick a few "bluesy" licks in there, and I have to say that of all the CGDGCD songs I've decoded, this series of riffs is probably the most fun to play. I've always enjoyed the song, but taking the time to learn it has given me a deeper appreciation. FDSwayze did one of their classic three-part tabs way back in 2007, which I've used for guidance, though I mostly referred to the live videos. Please let me know if you have any comments or corrections! As you can probably tell, this series is winding down, and our set closer is coming next week. See you then!
"NEW HAMPSHIRE"
LAYOUT
A - B - C - D - B - C - E - F - A
KIM
DADABB (capo 5)
RIGHT
THURSTON
CGDGCD
CENTER
LEE
GGDGGA
LEFT
JIM
EADG
CENTER
A SECTION 00:00-01:18 Thurston starts by strumming behind the bridge during the free time before he properly comes in. In terms of repeats, his part begins at 0:19 when he begins playing this chord with a steady palm mute: D-------- C-------- G---10--- listen for the rhythm of when he adds the 10th fret note D----0--- G----0--- C-------- At 0:26: D---7\10---10--- C--------------- G---7\10---10--- D-----------0--- keep playing G chord G-----------0--- C--------------- At 0:29 start this line: D------------------------------------0--------------------------------------------------------- C--------------------------------------0------------------------------------------------------- G---7-7-7------------------------0-------0----------------------------------------------------- D---------8-8-8-8-10-10-10---------0------------------10-10-10-10\12---12--12-12-12-12-12-12--- G--------------------------8---8-----------8--8-8-8-8--8--8--8--8\10---10--10-10-10-10-10-10--- C--------------------------0------------------------------------------------------------------- D-------------------------------------------------------12---12--12-12-12--12--12-12-12--12--12-12-12--- C----------------------10--------12--10-----12-12-12-10------10--10-10-10--10--10-10-10--10--10-10-10--- G---10-------12--10--------12-10--------12-------------------(0)---------------------------------------- D------12-10--------12---------------------------------------(0)---------------------------------------- G------------------------------------------------------------(0)---------------------------------------- C------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Then return to the start and do the whole thing again! On the album, Lee's guitar isn't in the mix during the intro. During live versions, he lets his open strings ring with feedback and uses his Electro-Harmonix Microsynth to make waves of noise. There is a guitar that's more down center during the intro, picking a harmonic rhythm around the 12th fret of GDG strings, see Jim's part for more notes. Kim just strums her open strings during this section. I don't know if there's any clear pattern, she starts around the middle, goes low, goes high, etc. You can always tell when she switches to the highest strings (B strings, E with the capo) because they clash with the G7 motif. Watch a video for guidance, but basically just keep strumming the open strings. Jim: G---0-12-12--0-12-12--0-12-12--0-12-12--0-12-12--0-12-12--0-12-12--0-12-12--- D---------------------------------------------------------------------------- A---------------------------------------------------------------------------- E---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sometimes it sounds like: G---0-12-12----0-12-12------ etc D-----------12---------12--- A--------------------------- E--------------------------- That's basically what Jim seems to be playing during the live video from 2005. He shakes it up a bit but seems to stick to that rhythm. I don't hear this exactly on the record, but in the center where his bass should be, there is a guitar playing 12th fret harmonics in basically the same rhythm. While it could be Lee, it's more likely a Jim overdub, possibly using his GGDEGB guitar. It seems to replace his bass during the intro. OR he's actually playing bass harmonics, which could potentially be at the 12th and 7th frets of the G string. B SECTION 01:18-02:00 Thurston: D-------- C-------- G-------- D-------- G---12--- pound away at that chord C----0--- Then: D-------10-10--------- C-------------10------ G---8------------10--- D---8----------------- keep strumming the D# chord, play the melody to "city skoot hi" on the 10th fret G---8----------------- C--------------------- right before next section: D-------- C-------- G-------- D-------- G---12--- C---12--- Lee: A------- G------- G---5--- D---5--- G---5--- G---5--- On the record, Lee just strums the C and D# chords, but during live versions he'd play along with Thurston's vocal line: A--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- G-----------------------------------------8----------------8---------------------------------------- G------7--5----7-5--------7--5----7-5-----8---10-10-10-8---8---10-10-10-10/--5-----7~~~---5----7~~~- D---5-------5------5---5-------5------5---8----8--8--8-8---8----8--8--8--8/--5-----5~~~---5----5~~~- G---5------------------5------------------8----------------8-----------------5------------5--------- G---5------------------5------------------8----------------8-----------------5------------5--------- A---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- G-----------------------------------------8----------------8----------------------- G------7--5----7-5--------7--5----7-5-----8---10-10-10-8---8---10-10-10-10/--5----- D---5-------5------5---5-------5------5---8----8--8--8-8---8----8--8--8--8/--5----- G---5------------------5------------------8----------------8-----------------5----- G---5------------------5------------------8----------------8-----------------5----- Kim uses a metal slide to play a fuzzy buzzy G note, occasionally lifting off to the open string or sliding up to the almost octave: E---3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-0--- etc ---3-3-11/-3-3-3-3--- slide up when the chord changes E------------------------------- --------------------- D------------------------------- --------------------- G------------------------------- --------------------- D------------------------------- --------------------- G------------------------------- --------------------- Jim: G------------------------------------------------- D------------------------------------------------- A------------------------------------------------- E---8-8--8-8-8--8-8-8--8-8--8-8-8--8-8-8--8-8-8--- G D-------------------------------------------------------- A---------------------------13--------------------------- x 2 E---11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11----11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11--- Repeat all. C SECTION 02:00-02:26 Thurston: D---------------------------------------------- C---------------------------------------------- G----------3^0---3-0---0-------3^0---3-0------- slight bend on all 3rd fret notes D------3^0-----------3-----3-0-----------3-0--- G---------------------------------------------- C---3------------------------------------------ D---------------------------------------------------------------------------- C---------------------------------------------------------------------------- G---5--5-5-5-5-5-5-5\7-7-7--7-7-7-10--10-10-10-10-10-10-10\12-12-12-12-12/--- D---------------------------------------------------------------------------- G---5--5-5-5-5-5-5-5\7-7-7--7-7-7-10--10-10-10-10-10-10-10\12-12-12-12-12/--- C---------------------------------------------------------------------------- D----------------------------------------------- C-------3-0---3-0-------------------------3-0--- G---3-0-----------3-0---3-0-----------3-0------- slight bend on all 3rd fret notes D---------------------------3-0---3------------- G----------------------------------------------- C----------------------------------------------- D--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- C--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- G---10--10-10-10-10-10-10-10\12-12-12--12-12-12-15-15-15--15-15-15-15\17-17-17/--- D--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- G---10--10-10-10-10-10-10-10\12-12-12--12-12-12-15-15-15--15-15-15-15\17-17-17/--- C--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lee: A------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ G------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ G---8---------8---------------------------------------------------------------------------- D---8---------8---------------------------------------------------------------------------- G---8---------8---------5--5-5-5-5-5-5-5\7-7-7--7-7-7-10--10-10-10-10-10-10-10\12-12-12/--- G---8---------8---------5--5-5-5-5-5-5-5\7-7-7--7-7-7-10--10-10-10-10-10-10-10\12-12-12/--- A---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- G---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- G---8---------8-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- D---8---------8-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- G---8---------8--------10--10-10-10-10-10-10-10\12-12-12--12-12-12-15-15-15--15-15-15-15\17-17-17/--- G---8---------8--------10--10-10-10-10-10-10-10\12-12-12--12-12-12-15-15-15--15-15-15-15\17-17-17/--- Kim slashes at her open strings while rocking her Mu-Tron Wah/Vol up and down. She may also be using additional pedals, like her Microsynth or Octave Fuzz, for an extra nasty tone. Jim: G------------------------------------------------------------------- D------------------------------------------------------------------- A---6-6-6---6-6-6---6-6-6---6-6-6---6-6-6---6-6-6---6-6-6---6-6-6--- E------------------------------------------------------------------- G--------------------------------------------------------------------- D--------------------------------------------------------------------- A--------------------------------------------------------------------- E---8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8--- G------------------------------------------------------------------- D------------------------------------------------------------------- A---6-6-6---6-6-6---6-6-6---6-6-6---6-6-6---6-6-6---6-6-6---6-6-6--- E------------------------------------------------------------------- G------------------------------------------------------------------- D------------------------------------------------------------------- A---6--6-6-8--8-8-8\10-10-10--13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13--- E------------------------------------------------------------------- D SECTION 02:26-02:32 Thurston sticks to this root chord while adding the melody notes: D-------- -------------- ------------------ C-------- -------------- ------------------ G-------- ---10-10------ ---10--12-12------ D-------- ---------12--- -------------12--- G---10--- -------------- ------------------ C---10--- -------------- ------------------ Lee: A------- G------- G---3--- D---3--- G---3--- G---3--- Kim doesn't play during this part. Jim: G---------------------------------------------------------- D---------------------------------------------------------- A---6-6--6-6-6--6-6-6--6-6-6-8----------------------------- E-------------------------------6-6--6-6-6--6-6-6--6-6-6--- B SECTION 02:32-03:14 C SECTION 03:14-03:39 E SECTION 03:39-03:46 Thurston: D-----------6---------------6-----------------8------------------8-------- C-------7-----7---------7-----7-7--------9------9-----------9---------9--- w/ slight palm mute G---8-8---8-----8-8-8-8---8--------10-10---10------10-10-10---10---10----- D------------------------------------------------------------------------- G------------------------------------------------------------------------- C------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lee: A------------------- G------------------- G---8-------10------ D---8-------10------ G---8-------10------ G---8-------10------ Kim doesn't play during this part. Jim: G-------------- D-------------- A---6-----8---- E-------------- F SECTION 03:46-04:11 Thurston: D---------------10----------------10-------------------12---------------------12-------- C---------11-------11--------11------11-----------0-------0--------------0-------0------ x 2 G---12-12----12--------12-12----12------12--10-10---10------10--10-10-10---10------10--- D--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- G--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- C--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- D--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- C--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- G---11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11--- x 2 D--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- G--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- C--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Let the open high C and D strings drone throughout the second riff. Lee hits the open G strings and lets them ring, using his Microsynth to change the tone. His guitar drops out before the picked riff that Thurston and Kim both do. On live versions, he plays 12th fret harmonics and general floaty Lee stuff w/ delay. He drops out for the first picked riff, then plays along to the repeat with heavily echoed notes: A--------------------------- G--------------------------- G---14----16----12----14---- D--------------------------- G--------------------------- G--------------------------- Kim: E---0------ E----0----- D-----0---- x 2 or strum behind bridge G------0--- D---------- G---------- E--------------------------------------------------------------------- E---2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2--- D--------------------------------------------------------------------- x 2 G--------------------------------------------------------------------- D--------------------------------------------------------------------- G--------------------------------------------------------------------- Jim: G-----------------------------------------------------------10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10/-- D---------------12-------12----------12-----------------12---------------------------- A---10-10-10-10----10-10----10-10-10----10-10----------------------------------------- E----------------------------------------------10-10-10------------------------------- G---------------7------------------5----------- D---------9---9----9-------7-7-7-7-----7-7-7--- A---------------------------------------------- E---7-7-7--------------5----------------------- G---------------------------------------------------------- D---------------------------------------------------------- A---------------------------------------------------------- E---3----3-5----5\7---7\8---8\10---10\12---12\14---14\15--- A SECTION 04:12-05:12 Thurston plays his whole part only one time, hanging on the final chord for many bars until the end: D---12--- C---10--- G----0--- D-------- G-------- C-------- Like the intro, Lee goes wild with his Microsynth during live versions, but it only appears in the mix on the record briefly beginning at 4:33 til end. Kim does the same open string strumming pattern(?) as the intro. During live versions, Jim basically sticks to a shape like this, holding the lower G but also picking the higher strings in a rhythm kinda like this: G---12--- ----------------12------ D---12--- -------------------12--- A---10--- ---10-10-10--10--------- E-------- ------------------------ On the album, those odd 12th fret harmonics surface again, possibly played by Jim on guitar or bass. text + tab by Chris Lawrence
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