Last night we headed downtown to catch Sonic Youth guitarist Lee Ranaldo in conversation with author David Browne. The two were there to promote Browne's most recent book, Goodbye 20th Century: A Biography of Sonic Youth.
I picked up a copy last summer at the book's release party at White Columns (one of Sonic Youth's very first live appearances was at White Columns in 1981. that book party was rad. thanks to our friend James J. Williams III for throwing it). For any fan, Browne's biography is a great look into the far-reaching world of Sonic Youth. I think for a band that are widely considered to be the godfathers of the alternative music scene, such a fascinating and detailed account of the band and its influence was long deserved.
The Ranaldo/Browne conversation was held at the Barnes & Noble on Warren St. in Tribeca - only a couple of blocks from the World Trade Center site and just around the corner from Sonic Youth's old Echo Canyon studio on Murray St. The band was forced out of their Murray St. space just a few years ago (post 9/11), and a tower of luxury condominiums now sits in its place. As I walked from the subway station to the bookstore last night, I found it hard to believe that Sonic Youth had ever rehearsed in the neighborhood. Everything seemed so clean, so upper-crust, so high-rent, so stiff. So I was interested to hear Lee discuss (among other things) how much New York has changed - for better and for worse - since the band formed nearly 30 years ago. Get it straight - there's nothing nostalgic about Sonic Youth. Although they've been together for almost 30 years, they continue to pump out records that are as relevant as ever. In fact, I think they keep getting better.
I picked up a copy last summer at the book's release party at White Columns (one of Sonic Youth's very first live appearances was at White Columns in 1981. that book party was rad. thanks to our friend James J. Williams III for throwing it). For any fan, Browne's biography is a great look into the far-reaching world of Sonic Youth. I think for a band that are widely considered to be the godfathers of the alternative music scene, such a fascinating and detailed account of the band and its influence was long deserved.
The Ranaldo/Browne conversation was held at the Barnes & Noble on Warren St. in Tribeca - only a couple of blocks from the World Trade Center site and just around the corner from Sonic Youth's old Echo Canyon studio on Murray St. The band was forced out of their Murray St. space just a few years ago (post 9/11), and a tower of luxury condominiums now sits in its place. As I walked from the subway station to the bookstore last night, I found it hard to believe that Sonic Youth had ever rehearsed in the neighborhood. Everything seemed so clean, so upper-crust, so high-rent, so stiff. So I was interested to hear Lee discuss (among other things) how much New York has changed - for better and for worse - since the band formed nearly 30 years ago. Get it straight - there's nothing nostalgic about Sonic Youth. Although they've been together for almost 30 years, they continue to pump out records that are as relevant as ever. In fact, I think they keep getting better.
Lee and David were both supercool dudes. Lee is such a sick guitar player and artist. I was really stoked to hear him talk and meet the dude.
Sonic Youth's latest LP The Eternal is out now.
David Browne's Goodbye 20th Century: A Biography of Sonic Youth is out now.
Also of note:
This July, Fender announced that they were revealing Lee Ranaldo and Thurston Moore signature guitars, designed by the dudes. Nice.
