Sonic Youth Artist Information
When guitarists Thurston Moore and Lee Ranaldo met back in 1976, no one could have fathomed at that time the dramatic effect the two would have on alternative music just a few years down the road. Thirty plus years later the two still play together as part of one of rock and roll's true independent warriors, Sonic Youth. TickCo is your ticket to see this legend live in concert!
Thurston Moore and a female musician named Kim Gordon formed a band by the name of The Arcadians in 1980. When they played their first show in 1981 at Noise Fest, the band Lee Ranaldo was currently in, Glenn Branca's Electric Guitar Ensemble, played the same event. Moore asked Ranaldo to join the Arcadians, and soon thereafter the trio changed their name to Sonic Youth.
The band was part of the early No Wave scene and became known for the loud, abrasive music they created. Sticking to a fierce independent philosophy in regards to how their music was created, Sonic Youth slowly but surely began to build a following. Tracks such as Death Valley 69 and albums such as Bad Moon Rising added to their reputation, and eventually the band landed a contract with SST Records. This was a huge move for the band, for SST had serious credibility in the indie-music community. The band only released two albums for SST, but began to display signs of what was to come with the incredible Sister in 1987, an album which landed on the top of Flipside's year-end poll for Album of the Year.
Sonic Youth signed with Enigma Records and released Daydream Nation in 1988. Quite simply, Daydream Nation is one of the most brutal assaults a band has ever put on record, and critics absolutely went nuts over the album. A mind-blowing sonic experience that attacks all five senses when you are listening to it, Daydream Nation topped the year-end lists of such major indie zines as NME, CMJ and Melody Maker. Rolling Stone proclaimed the album as one of the best of that decade. More important, fans took notice, and the major labels soon came calling. Sonic Youth, one of the champions of the smaller labels, was about to make the jump to the majors.
Unlike many bands that make that transition, Sonic Youth never wavered in their philosophy or work ethic, and continued to maintain creative control of the music. Their first release for Geffen Records was Goo in 1990, and with a major label distribution they found more fans than ever. Kool Thing, featuring Public Enemy's Chuck D, became a big alt radio hit and frequent video on MTV's 120 Minutes. They continued to roll with the release of Dirty in 1992. The band ended up releasing a total of nine albums for Geffen Records, all of which were intense, but with each disc unique from the previous one. Sonic Youth, never content to produce the same album twice, was continuing to evolve.
Sonic Youth came full circle in 2008 when it was announced by indie label Matador Records they had signed the band and would release their next album. One of the giants of independent music had returned to the fold!
The band uses screwdrivers and drumsticks on their guitars to change the music's timbre. Both Thurston Moore and Lee Ranaldo tune several guitars before each live performance with each guitar specifically set to be used on very specific songs. Often times, this practice may result in a guitar only being used for one or two tracks! Every Sonic Youth tune is a special journey, with the band possessing a unique ability of utilizing some of the most vicious feedback ever put down on vinyl to create a beautful, mesmerizing, musical experience. Check out their 19 minute opus The Diamond Sea from 1995's Washing Machine if you doubt the claim.
This is one of those instances where regardless of what your favorite genre of music is, Sonic Youth must be experienced live. Who knows how much longer this amazing outfit will continue to create music for this world? Get your tickets from TickCo today to see Sonic Youth in concert!