Sonic Youth Night One: He Was Candy All Over

Well, Sonic Youth night one was a quiet success. None of the hoopla or aplomb that I'm used to, but it was all in a really good show. It's hard to compare it to so many of the super-memorable ones I've gotten to see in the past--Thurston didn't play a whistle I gave him, I didn't get hot dogs with the band afterward, Lee didn't take pictures of me backstage, Thurston didn't play his guitar with my beer, etc. This may sound like bragging, and it is. I've had a shit load of Sonik Moments. Last night was Sonic all around, but nothing too insane.

Setlist: The Vic Theater 6/27/09

Sacred Trickster
No Way
Poison Arrow
Calming the Snake
Tom Violence
Malibu Gas Station
Antenna
Leaky Lifeboat
Hey Joni
Anti-Orgasm
Massage the History
Pacific Coast Highway

What We Know
Sprawl

Bull in the Heather
The World Looks Red

This was my eighteenth show. I got to see ten new songs from The Eternal and one song I'd never heard live--"The World Looks Red" from Confusion is Sex.

I planned on getting to the show very early, but I got consumed in David Copperfield and decided to just wait until about the time doors opened. This was a good plan. I saved myself a good hour of doing nothing--the people in line were strangers, and I wasn't feeling very chatty.

About five wine and cokes later, I was boned and ready to motor. Wine and coke is a tough one to drink a lot of. For one, it doesn't really get you all that drunk, but for two, it makes you really full. I was sloshing around trying to get my bearings before the show, but overall, I felt good (I had been sick this week).

The opening band aptly called Entrance Band were good. They were surprisingly good. I've seen many a band open for Sonic Youth, from Wolf Eyes to Quixotic to a bunch that left no impression on me whatsoever. This band was great.

Probably my favorite part of the show was seeing the drummer's (who seriously looked like he was about fifteen) mother in the audience. She felt the need to tell everyone that her son was the drummer--not inappropriately, she was very nice about it. I think she wanted to just get to the rail to watch the show, but none of the people would budge for her. I totally would have, but I was exactly one (short) person behind where I normally am for the shows. I created this whole after school special in my head. The mom had to resort to selling crystal meth to raise her son and buy him drum lessons because his dead beat father fucked the family over so bad. He hated his mom even though she sacrificed everything for him. Then he got to play the big show--she showed up even though they hadn't seen each other in years. Just a wink of meth was smoked to loosen her up. He played the drums like a fucking machine--the band had finally made it opening up for a packed house of Sonic Youthians. After the show, the kid just throws a drumstick at his mom and tells her to go fuck herself. She goes on a meth bender and inhales toxic fumes in her lab until she vomits up her insides.

Ok, I doubt that would be an appropriate after school special. But I was by myself and my mind was wandering all over the place.

The kid exploded his snare drum--like from kicking it too hard. I had never seen that happen. He had to turn it around mid show in order to get it to work.

Next was the long languid wait for Sonic Youth. Usually I'm very chatty in these moments, but I was not feeling like saying much last night. I just ordered beer after beer (I was the only one in the whole section drinking) and tried not to think about my bladder.

Some people around me were talking about shows and what they've seen. Eventually someone asked me, and I told them that I had seen Sonic Youth 25 times. "Wow" they said. "Are you alone?" I told them I was.

I haven't seen Sonic Youth 25 times, and I'm not sure why I said that. I did say, "like 25 times". I guess eighteen isn't that far off, and I hadn't counted last night.

In my head I made my predictions. I knew. I abso-fucking-lutely knew they were going to open with "Sacred Trickster". Part of me is in tune with this band (as many of the fans are). I could have made a fortune if I were in Vegas and guessing the setlist.

The band came out to much applause; Lee informed us that it was the first show of the tour. I didn't like this idea. The band usually isn't ripe until a few shows in. "Sacred Trickster" hit perfectly, and I was in heaven. I couldn't help jumping around--and I felt bad for the people that had to bear the brunt of my cowboy boot assault.

I also knew "No Way" would come second. It just clearly would work well as an early set go to. I really like this song, and it sounded nice and fresh.

"Poison Arrow" was good--the vocals are interesting on this tour because it's hard for them to get the right levels for everyone when they're harmonizing. Maybe it's just because I stand in front of Thurston every show, but I never feel like I hear Lee's vocals properly.

"Calming the Snake"--another favorite of mine on the album was also rockin'. No surprises, though, thus far in the set. It was everything I would expect from the new songs live.

"Tom Violence" was ok. Thurston fucked up the lyrics at the end like he always does. It's funny, the band needed lyric sheets for all the new songs and even some of the old, but Thurston fucked up his quintessential live song.

I guess I haven't mentioned how much fun I was having. A little bit of shoving was beginning to happen behind me from some assholes that pushed their way to the front. People were upset. I was in hog heaven, though. Man, I love seeing Thurston rip apart his guitar.

The unfortunate thing... there was a really bad smell coming from somewhere around me. It just wouldn't let up. When I smell a stink, I tend to assume it's me (even though I showered, brushed, flossed, I get paranoid), but this time--man, I don't know what it was. It was rough, though. I kept popping altoids to make sure it wasn't my beer breath, but I think it was someone else around me.

"Malibu Gas Station" was really amazing. The song is Kim at her best, and flops around bouncily. I love love love the end of this song--the breakdown reminds me of a shorter "Karen Revisited", though nothing could replace the end of "Karen". I miss those days.

"Antenna" and "Leaky Lifeboat" were both quite strong. Even though I wasn't crazy about "Leaky" on the album, it won me over last night. "Antenna" was a favorite, and it let me down a little. This is fairly normal for me as I tend to see the songs in a whole new light when performed live.

"Joni" created quite the ruckus. All the people that hadn't listened to the album thoroughly had a reason to celebrate. So did all the people loving the show already. It was quite a romp, and I'm glad it's become a staple in the setlist. I'd place it behind "Mote", "Skip Tracer", "Eric's Trip" and "Karenology" as Lee songs go, but I'm starting to really like it live. It slays. I got pushed up to the front row for this one--my spot "front row Thurston" was once again secured.

"Anti-Orgasm" (my least favorite song on the new album) was very good live. The outro was drawn out and gave the show that classic Sonic Youth feel of lulling the crowd into a restless boredom. I love those moments.

I felt bad for this girl that was behind me. She had on a sequined dress and my elbow kept inadvertently digging into her giant breasts. I tried to not do it, but it seemed wherever my elbow was, her breasts appeared. When I looked back and saw that she was short, I offered her my spot at the rail. I could see over the guy's head in front of me just fine. Yay for being nice.

"Massage the History" was long, drawn out, beautiful, sleepy, and electric. This was a show stealer for the uber-fan. It reminds me of "Golden Blue", but is more layered. I had a feeling this song would be the new "Sympathy for the Strawberry" and close out all the main sets of these shows, but they had one more song in them.

Thurston went to his amp and made a bunch of noise. I was desperately trying to guess what this one was. I thought "Cross the Breeze" until I heard that riff. I was dumb and thought it was "Eliminator Jr" for about thirty seconds. Then Kim yelled, "C'mon get in the car". "PCH" is not one of my favorite songs on album or live, but this version last night was incredible. I don't know why I liked it so much, but it was the best part of the show for me. That middle is just fucking beautiful.

Thurston did not say one funny anecdote to the crowd the whole night. I thought I might have heard him say "lame crowd" at one point, but to me it seemed like everyone was going totally batshit.

Early on someone yelled, "play the favorites" to which he replied, "these are the favorites". I hope like a motherfucker that this isn't what put him in a bad mood.

There was one asshole who kept yelling for "Into the Groovey". I really hate it when people yell that kind of shit. Thurston yelled back, "Not likely" or something to that effect, but he kept yelling it throughout the show. He was one of the people that saddlebacked on the guy that was nearly kicked out. I told him to shut up, and he said, "but they should play it" and kept on. It really wasn't all that big of a deal, though.

The encore started with Lee singing "What We Know" another song I loved off the album that was pretty "meh" live. Nothing wrong with it, but I guess maybe I'm judging because I had seen it performed live a couple times on the Internet.

Kim strapped on her bass, so I knew something good was coming. "Cross the Breeze" is my favorite Sonic Youth song of all time, so I really wanted that, but "The Sprawl" was no disappointment. The end of that song gets me every time.

Band leaves and comes back a few seconds later. "Bull in the Heather"--another one that I've seen a bunch, but it was cool. They fucked up a few times and were obviously a little rusty. Hopefully they'll make up for it tonight.

It took me a moment to figure out what the last song was. I thought "Burning Spear" for a bit, then I realized it was "The World is Red". I've never heard that one! Thurston went totally crazy (as I did and the rest of the crowd). The mic at the end was at about belly button level, and he got down in this weird yoga pose and kept singing the verse (chorus?) over and over. "The ground sucks! The ground sucks!" Pretty bad ass.

I moved in front of sequined boobies with a quick apology and stated my case for setlist acquisition. I've got incredibly long arms, so the second the final setlist made its way near me, I grabbed it no problem. My old Sonic Buddy Jenn is writing a book of her experiences at Sonic Youth concerts called No Setlist. I'm not sure if she'll read this, but my advice to her would be, just fucking get it. I know this contradicts every aspect of her personality, but it seems like she thinks it's just going to get handed to her. I dislike this about humanity, but you have to be a bit of an asshole to get what you want. My thoughts, though, are that if you don't step on other people being an asshole, it's ok.

On a side note of that nature, I read one of the chapters from this book (it's very well done!) and there was mention of a pizza outside the same venue (The Vic) that was given to me by a passer by. I had totally forgotten this rather insignificant moment, but I felt like a real asshole reading it because Jenn hadn't eaten in two days while I chomped hardcore on a Dominos that fell from heaven. The thing is, I remember offering several times for everyone to eat the pizza as well (I think). I'm sure I was drunk and obnoxious, but I'm always generous.

I was sweaty, gross, and in need of water. The merch table looked pretty hot. I'm going to get the green t-shirt and the Bad Moon Rising record bag for Japan. I heard there were buttons as well. Must get those for the record bag.

Predictions for tonight: I bet "Walking Blue" will replace "What We Know". I bet "Eric's Trip" will replace "Hey Joni". "Incinerate" and a Kim song from Rather Ripped will be played. I hope "Cross the Breeze". I bet less than ten Eternal songs will be played, but I doubt less than eight or nine. My off the wall wild card prediction: "Sugar Kane".

Let's hope there's no let down tonight. It would be hard to do.