Thurston Moore - Adelaide, 29th October 2012
Words: Jo Taylor
It was a quiet Monday night in Adelaide, but a collection of music enthusiasts had gathered at The Governor Hindmarsh to witness one of alternative rock’s greatest musicians. Thurston Moore, the strikingly tall guitarist from New York's famed Sonic Youth has a new band, Chelsea Light Moving and on this night, he and his cohorts give the crowd some insight into their soon to be released album.
The four-piece walked on stage without much fuss and it wasn’t until Moore smiled and greeted the crowd that most people become aware that the gig had actually started. “We’re not the Black Keys” he stated, before retelling the story of a case of mistaken identity at their hotel earlier. Apparently some honeymooners thought they recognised some of the band members as The Black Keys (also in town to play across the road the following night).
Kicking off the night with new song Frank O’Hara Hit, Moore’s signature guitar style drizzled throughout, with the song slowly built into heavier guitar distortion. The lyrics are based on events in the months of July throughout history that have had significant influence on Moore. If this track is any indication of what can be expected from the new album, then it will be one hell of a recording that will please any Sonic Youth fan.
Completing the Chelsea Light Moving line-up was guitarist Keith Wood, drummer John Moloney and on bass and violin, Samara Lubelski. The band, as a unit, have a great report and each musician held their own, though of course, all look to Thurston Moore to lead the way.
The four-piece walked on stage without much fuss and it wasn’t until Moore smiled and greeted the crowd that most people become aware that the gig had actually started. “We’re not the Black Keys” he stated, before retelling the story of a case of mistaken identity at their hotel earlier. Apparently some honeymooners thought they recognised some of the band members as The Black Keys (also in town to play across the road the following night).
Kicking off the night with new song Frank O’Hara Hit, Moore’s signature guitar style drizzled throughout, with the song slowly built into heavier guitar distortion. The lyrics are based on events in the months of July throughout history that have had significant influence on Moore. If this track is any indication of what can be expected from the new album, then it will be one hell of a recording that will please any Sonic Youth fan.
Completing the Chelsea Light Moving line-up was guitarist Keith Wood, drummer John Moloney and on bass and violin, Samara Lubelski. The band, as a unit, have a great report and each musician held their own, though of course, all look to Thurston Moore to lead the way.
Pretty Bad, off Moore’s 2011 album Psychic Hearts, with it’s gentle flow that then jaunts into thudding guitar, was gorgeous live. The heavier Burroughs and the more obscurely driven Groovy & Linda, the first singles from the upcoming Matador release followed and the crunching I Come To Get Wasted offered yet another fine example of what we can expect from the album.
As always, Moore was enchanting and natural on-stage. He luring the crowd in with “We will be back after the album is released, and with Hurricane Sandy currently sweeping through our city, we might come here to stay” followed by humorous banter with drummer John Moloney about the naming process of Hurricane Sandy.
Empires Of Time, with it’s gorgeous layering of guitar, slowly built into a heavier, distortion driven melody and won the crowd over before they were swept into Ono Soul, another glimpse into Moore’s solo Psychic Hearts.
Signaling the end of the main set, Chelsea Light Moving briefly exited the stage but quickly returned to launch into the encore Staring Statue and Patti Smith Math Scratch. With manic lyrics like “She’s crazy and so am I” how can you not get into it?! It had the desired affect on the crowd and everyone was hooked for more.
It was no surprise then that when they left stage, a second encore would ensue. “This song was written in my dirty thirties” Moore stated with a sly grin before finally ending the electric set with the buzzing Psychic Hearts.
Thurston Moore may be without Sonic Youth while that band is on an indefinite hiatus, but he obviously has music still streaming through his veins and this night was a clear indication that there’ll be plenty more ear-bending guitar sprinklings from him for a long time to come. Amen!
As always, Moore was enchanting and natural on-stage. He luring the crowd in with “We will be back after the album is released, and with Hurricane Sandy currently sweeping through our city, we might come here to stay” followed by humorous banter with drummer John Moloney about the naming process of Hurricane Sandy.
Empires Of Time, with it’s gorgeous layering of guitar, slowly built into a heavier, distortion driven melody and won the crowd over before they were swept into Ono Soul, another glimpse into Moore’s solo Psychic Hearts.
Signaling the end of the main set, Chelsea Light Moving briefly exited the stage but quickly returned to launch into the encore Staring Statue and Patti Smith Math Scratch. With manic lyrics like “She’s crazy and so am I” how can you not get into it?! It had the desired affect on the crowd and everyone was hooked for more.
It was no surprise then that when they left stage, a second encore would ensue. “This song was written in my dirty thirties” Moore stated with a sly grin before finally ending the electric set with the buzzing Psychic Hearts.
Thurston Moore may be without Sonic Youth while that band is on an indefinite hiatus, but he obviously has music still streaming through his veins and this night was a clear indication that there’ll be plenty more ear-bending guitar sprinklings from him for a long time to come. Amen!