Sonic Youth: sticking to the new stuff

Note: Photos by Eric Heisig

Sorry it's been so long. Real life is getting in the way more and more these days.

I have to applaud Sonic Youth for almost always playing the most songs from their recent release in concert. That was definitely the case on Sunday at the Vic Theatre.

The band offered almost the entire album The Eternal, which was released earlier this month. The songs sounded good too, with their rougher edges and power shining through (their last album, Rather Ripped, saw the band trying more poppy music. Great stuff, but this new album is their best in a while).

The best song out of the new bunch was, without a doubt, "Anti-Orgasm." With its garage-rock riff and harmony vocals (a rarity for the band), the song was the epitome of what they can do, build tension while create beauty with weird melodies and structures. Other songs such as "Sacred Trickster" sounded just as good, proving that this time around, it's Kim Gordon's band. A lot of the new material is sung by her, and while she was front and center for most of the time, she had the most commanding presence.


When the band tried other material, they seemed less adventurous, but maybe that's because they already know the ins and outs of the songs. They opened the show with "She Is Not Alone" from their very first album, and the encores had them revisiting three songs from Daydream Nation. Sure, they all sounded great, but the best thing about this show was their willingness to try all their new material.

Sonic Youth also seems to be flourishing by playing with former Pavement bassist Mark Ibold. While their first album was released in 1981, Ibold helped create a full sound, which is a big compliment considering how big they can sound with just the guitars of Thurston Moore and Lee Ranaldo.

Opening band White/Light was a one-note band, but that's how they wanted it. Their live show consisted of a drone, with the changes coming ever-so subtly. They weren't trying to be tuneful, and while it was cool for a little while, some changes would have been nice.


There is a reason Lou Reed's Metal Machine Music didn't become a widespread hit.

Here are a couple more photos from the show: