Did anyone else check out Sonic Youth in NYC on Friday night?

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Man, they were awesome. best version of "Expressway to Yr Skull" EVAH! I was lucky enough to be hanging on the balcony with the VIPs and had a great view of the mosh pit (?!?!?) during "100%" and "Teenage Riot"

The setlist was weird - very 'we're here to support this new album' - but the band were great. Amazing Thurston crowd-surf flirtation. Kim's voice sounded better than I've ever heard it.

That said, maybe "Rain on Tin" isn't the best possible choice for an encore. Whaddya think?

― roger adultery (roger adultery), Sunday, 15 August 2004 07:11 (twenty-one years ago)

the show i went to in Ottawa was better, because i was in the second row and met them after.

― Andrzej B. (Andrzej B.), Sunday, 15 August 2004 09:54 (twenty-one years ago)

i think "rain on tin" and "karenology" were the two best songs they could have played from murray street, but i was surprised that was all we got from the album. i could have done without "drunken butterfly" ... they seem to play it every time i see them.

other than his crowd surf, my favorite part was thurston at the end of "pattern recognition" when he was standing on the front stage amps and scraping his guitar against the speakers mounted on the balcony.

it might have also been the loudest show i've ever been to, louder than mogwai even.

― big baby jesus, Sunday, 15 August 2004 13:35 (twenty-one years ago)

I missed them this year, fuck you all.

Where did they play in Ottawa? Barrymore's?

― sundar subramanian (sundar), Sunday, 15 August 2004 13:43 (twenty-one years ago)

I saw them in D.C. last week, the crowd sucked and I couldn't get close to the stage so it was a little hard for me to get into it, but still, good show. I was happy they broke out "Rain On Tin" because it was amazing on the '02 tour, even if it wasn't quite as good this time (although Thurston sped up the tempo big time on the climax, which was kinda cool). also I'd never seen them do "Expressway" or "Pacific Coast Highway" live before, which was pretty awesome. Steve's weird metallic percussion on PCH rulez. and yeah, I don't understand why they always play "Drunken Butterfly", seems like an odd choice.

― Al (sitcom), Sunday, 15 August 2004 14:03 (twenty-one years ago)

I didn't see SY in NY but I went to the Little Steven's garage festival and after watching the Dictators, I kind of got tripped out by Nancy Sinatra singing Momma's Boy which Thurston Moore wrote for her. Although it did segue nicely into Lightnings's Girl.

― Carey (Carey), Sunday, 15 August 2004 14:33 (twenty-one years ago)

Ran into Brian from Mouthous on the street yesterday and he said they blew him away friday.

― Dan Selzer (Dan Selzer), Sunday, 15 August 2004 16:32 (twenty-one years ago)

I was at the NYC show, and I thought it was a very above-average Sonic Youth set. Lots and lots and lots of jamming, sometimes very hot, occasionally a bit redundant (hello outro of otherwise transcendent "Teenage Riot").

I think that "Rain On Tin" is a great live song, but it makes so much more sense outside in the sun than indoors. That song feels trapped by the roof and stifled by the darkness, you know? Both times I saw them play it in Central Park, it was a major highlight. I agree that it's not the best kind of song for the encore - it's too long, it's not old enough, it's too easy to get distracted during it when you're tired from standing up for four hours or so.

I could do without "Drunken Butterfly" too, they play it way too often. I figure that it gets played a lot because it's a "hit" from the grunge era, and it gives Kim an excuse to dance around and play the rock goddess. It's also one of the few short songs that they have that works as a set closer.

Did any of you see Magik Marker's set? I was super impressed by them.

― Matthew Perpetua (Matthew Perpetua), Sunday, 15 August 2004 18:55 (twenty-one years ago)

This was the NYC setlist, for those who care:

I Love You Golden Blue / Stones / Pattern Recognition / Unmade Bed / 100% / Mariah Carey & The Arthur Doyle Handcream / Paper Cup Exit / Teenage Riot / Karenology / New Hampshire / Dude Ranch Nurse / Drunken Butterfly // Rain On Tin / Pacific Coast Highway /// Expressway To Yr Skull

― Matthew Perpetua (Matthew Perpetua), Sunday, 15 August 2004 18:56 (twenty-one years ago)

xpost -- aaarrgh!! I missed them. I felt totally bad because I know Pete and was psyched to finally see them, but, fucking NYC parking + rain. ugh. I heard it ruled though.

White Magic very meh but I was backstage for most of their set. Seemed very indie in a way that the record isn't. Quixotic were better.

― roger adultery (roger adultery), Sunday, 15 August 2004 18:58 (twenty-one years ago)

man Magik Markers were great a couple months ago at Lit.

― hstencil (hstencil), Sunday, 15 August 2004 19:01 (twenty-one years ago)

So they are from NYC?

I bought their little cd-r ep, and it's okay, but not quite as wonderful as their Webster Hall set, which was more heavy on vocals and grooves.

― Matthew Perpetua (Matthew Perpetua), Sunday, 15 August 2004 19:03 (twenty-one years ago)

no, they are from Kentucky, sort of.

― hstencil (hstencil), Sunday, 15 August 2004 19:03 (twenty-one years ago)

DC setlist was pretty much the same, except with "Eric's Trip" and "Burning Spear" and "Schizophrenia" instead of "Karenology" and "100%" and "Teenage Riot". I think I liked the selection at my show better, although I would've liked to see "Karenology" live again.

I missed the Magik Markers because they played before White Magic and such is my antipathy towards Quix-o-tic that I decide it was for the best to miss the opening acts entirely.

― Al (sitcom), Sunday, 15 August 2004 19:04 (twenty-one years ago)

I think all three members live in different places right now. Their drummer, Pete, is also in Virgin Eye Blood Brothers, playing in Brooklyn 8/28 with NNCK, Simon Finn (and uh me and Joel St. Germain).

― hstencil (hstencil), Sunday, 15 August 2004 19:04 (twenty-one years ago)

Have those girls been in other bands? I thought that the girl who did more singing was really charismatic, and the I really like the sounds that the other girl was making on guitar.

Their set was just this really nice surprise for me - everyone around me seemed to really like them a lot too.

White Magic on the other hand just seemed to bore everyone. I've seen that girl play with Quix-O-Tic, and she never seemed that dour and miserable. I don't think that I have ever seen a less enthusiastic person on stage. It's hard to tell whether she was actually deeply depressed or if it was the end result of years of DC scenesterism.

― Matthew Perpetua (Matthew Perpetua), Sunday, 15 August 2004 19:09 (twenty-one years ago)

you clearly have never met, say, Guy Piccioto, among the many very happy, funny and enthusiastic "DC scenesters" there are out there.

― hstencil (hstencil), Sunday, 15 August 2004 19:15 (twenty-one years ago)

Actually I have met Guy, and he is nice! Lots of DC people are very nice.

Surely you know what type of DC indie type I'm talking about, the kind of people who make the Black Cat seem like some kind of passive-aggressive social minefield.

― Matthew Perpetua (Matthew Perpetua), Sunday, 15 August 2004 19:19 (twenty-one years ago)

I dunno, I have never been to the Black Cat. The majority of DC musician scenester-types I have met over the years have been super-nice and friendly, with only a couple exceptions here and there. I can totally understand not getting into White Magic upon seeing them live for the first time, though. The first time I saw them (opening for Deerhoof at the Knitting Factory) I wasn't into it, either. Also, can't speak for Mira since I've only met her really once (though she seemed nice then), but Andy and Miggy seem like two of the nicest people in Brooklyn, bar none.

― hstencil (hstencil), Sunday, 15 August 2004 19:22 (twenty-one years ago)

I think that White Magic sound a lot better on record. I don't think that their performance was all that bad, it just was too dirgey for the most part. Their set was broken up into clusters of nearly identical songs, which was a bad call. Coming on after the Magik Markers didn't do them any favors, either, since they were so wonderful and full of energy. White Magic was just one long downer between two great shows.

― Matthew Perpetua (Matthew Perpetua), Sunday, 15 August 2004 19:27 (twenty-one years ago)

yeah, the Black Cat can totally be like that, although the last few times I've been there it's been more obnoxiously overzealous concertgoers than reserved hipsters bothering me. the SY show at the 9:30 Club had one of the most motionless, unenthusiastic audiences I've ever seen, though, which made it harder for me to enjoy the show.

― Al (sitcom), Sunday, 15 August 2004 19:28 (twenty-one years ago)

It should be noted in all fairness that I haven't been to the Black Cat since 1998, so things could be way different now!

― Matthew Perpetua (Matthew Perpetua), Sunday, 15 August 2004 19:31 (twenty-one years ago)

Needless to say that I won't be going out of my way to arrive early when White Magic opens up for the Fiery Furnaces at the Bowery Ballroom next month.

― Matthew Perpetua (Matthew Perpetua), Sunday, 15 August 2004 19:33 (twenty-one years ago)

maybe they'll be better! I dunno, some bands have off nights, it's okay.

― hstencil (hstencil), Sunday, 15 August 2004 19:41 (twenty-one years ago)

Who am I kidding? I'm such a punctuality freak that I'll probably show up at the venue before they do.

― Matthew Perpetua (Matthew Perpetua), Sunday, 15 August 2004 19:49 (twenty-one years ago)

you should be a tour manager.

― hstencil (hstencil), Sunday, 15 August 2004 20:06 (twenty-one years ago)

i'm the same way matthew - anyone i attend a show with is always mad, cuz we hafta sit around an empty club paying for drinks and making small talk, but i say early always better than late...

― roger adultery (roger adultery), Sunday, 15 August 2004 20:22 (twenty-one years ago)

they didn't play barrymore's, they played the Canada Music Hall or something to that name. i honestly don't recall.

but yeah, they were just sort of outside the building after the show. signed my playlist, and signed for other fans.

they were surprisingly nice.

― Andrzej B. (Andrzej B.), Sunday, 15 August 2004 22:32 (twenty-one years ago)

I saw Sonic at one of the Sydney shows at the start of the tour and it was pretty much magic. Similar set and quite jammy. For classics we got "Schizophrenia" "Tom Violence" and "Kool Thing" though i desperately wanted to hear "Expressway to Yr Skull!"

Oh well...still magic.

― piers (piers), Sunday, 15 August 2004 22:36 (twenty-one years ago)

"surprisingly nice???" why were you surprised?

They're some of the most unpretentious awesome people in the 'biz'

― roger adultery (roger adultery), Monday, 16 August 2004 02:07 (twenty-one years ago)

Man I'm really bummed out that I didn't make it to NY,Boston or Maine. The Magik Markers are the best punk rock band on the planet right now. I've seen them lotsa times in little places but it would be great to see Elisa step up and abuse some jockboy in front of thousands of people. Just wait till their album comes out its gonna kill.

― brg30 (brg30), Monday, 16 August 2004 02:49 (twenty-one years ago)

Roger, i didn't know. simple as that.

And they were cool, what can i say. i wasn't aware.

― Andrzej B. (Andrzej B.), Monday, 16 August 2004 08:50 (twenty-one years ago)

two weeks pass...

heheheheheheheheheheheh sonic youth at brixton last night oh my fucking lord what a show oops *falls over* i have forgotten how to walk. shit, they were incredible. i am so happy.

― emsk, Friday, 3 September 2004 07:44 (twenty-one years ago)

Were you the guy standing next to mne shouting "Thuuurston! Fuck shit up!" and dancing like a dying bear?

I thought they were brilliant. My legs started to give in with the 20 minute improv encore, but still fantastic.

― Anna (Anna), Friday, 3 September 2004 10:00 (twenty-one years ago)

ha! no, that wasn't me, but he sounds good! aaaaaah i still haven't quite come down, wish they would play more often. eeeheee eric's trip!

― emsk, Friday, 3 September 2004 13:04 (twenty-one years ago)

six years pass...

Brave Men Run
Death Valley '69
Cotton Crown
Kill Yr Idols
Eric's Trip
Sacred Trickster
Calming the Snake
Starfield Road
I Love Her All The Time
Ghost Bitch
Tom Violence
What We Know
Drunken Butterfly
------------------------------
Flower
Sugar Kane
------------------------------
Psychic Hearts (whole band)
------------------------------
Inhuman

Check out this sick, sick setlist from last night in Williamsburg--I've never seen them live, but I might have braved the hipster army for this....

― Iago Galdston, Sunday, 14 August 2011 20:38 (fourteen years ago)

I had a friend with xtra tix but I passed. Probably should've gone.

― dan selzer, Monday, 15 August 2011 16:22 (fourteen years ago)

psychic hearts! have they played that before?

― tylerw, Monday, 15 August 2011 16:24 (fourteen years ago)

Sonic Youth: August 12, 2011 Williamsburg Waterfront - FLAC and MP3 Downloads + Streaming Songs http://nblo.gs/lLyhU

― tylerw, Tuesday, 16 August 2011 20:21 (fourteen years ago)

ha Iago that setlist is very relevant to this thread! Sonic Youth songs that the band has not played live since 1995

― forkshighwaytopoopon (some dude), Wednesday, 17 August 2011 01:13 (fourteen years ago)

One of the best shows I've seen them play. They really seem to bring it for these outdoor summer NY shows.

― Badmotorfinger Debate Club (MFB), Wednesday, 17 August 2011 01:19 (fourteen years ago)

awesome setlist

― chief content officer (m coleman), Wednesday, 17 August 2011 10:45 (fourteen years ago)

^^^seconded
I've seen them do Psychic Hearts before, but it was just Thurston+Steve+Jim(I think?). It was years ago, when they were opening for Pearl Jam on an arena tour.
They did a show under an alias at the Last Place on Earth in Memphis. Everyone knew it was Sonic Youth, of course. They played for three hours and did a few lineup variations, including a Kim led set with Eddie Vedder on guitar. It was a fun night!

― Trip Maker, Wednesday, 17 August 2011 12:32 (fourteen years ago)

^^thirded. this is very unexpected and amazing

― sonderangerbot, Thursday, 18 August 2011 13:49 (fourteen years ago)

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