Brightest Young Things

all words and photos by: Alyssa Lesser

On Friday night, I made the trek out to 175th street to catch Sonic Youth headline at the United Palace Theatre. The venue was totally old, ornate, and beautiful - but a seated Sonic Youth show? Mrrrrrrrrrrrrf.

Fortunately for all that were in attendance on Friday, SY's live show never disappoints. With a new AMAZING, hard, hard, hard rocking album out (holy shit, and can we pause for a second and talk about how good it is? SO GOOD!), Kim, Thurston, Lee, Mark (yes Mark Ibold is still playing with them) and Steve squeezed out the jams for all us loyal listeners to hear.

There was a lot of new stuff, some SIster, and some other stuff; at this particular show, the band seemed to avoid playing their more "recognizable" songs (i.e. no "100%") in favor of lengthier, heavier tunes.

I once heard someone refer to the feeling they got after seeing My Bloody Valentine as like "having a really good massage." Seeing Sonic Youth is kind of like one of the most relieving, precious feelings in the world. I feel super lucky every time I get to see them; this show was especially awesome, as it happened the day after my birthday, and almost exactly a year after they headlined a free July 4th show in Battery Park. Eternally Sonic Youth is, was, and will forever be the coolest band alive.

Previously in Tangents:

• 12/28: Terrible Boyfriend/ Girlfriend Generator.
• 11/2: PHOTOS: TAXLO Halloween (feat. Chain Gang of 1974)
• 10/10: #OccupyWallStreet
• 8/10: PHOTOS: Lawn Mover Racing, Eastern Seaboard Regionals @ Bowles Farm
• 7/26: Special List: Things the BYGays Want Now That We Can Marry In DC (and NY!)
• 7/20: PHOTOS: Artscape
• 7/19: Miho Hatori's Guide to New York City
• 4/11: Cirque Du Soleil: Totem (A Review)
• 12/29: War, Reenacted
• 12/29: What in Hell is Slaughterama?!?