Fading, Fading, Celebrating.

Sonic Youth could do no wrong today. They were tight, they were on, they put on the best show I’d ever seen them play. (I’ve seen them 11 times as of today) The intense sunlight in Central Park where they played was very punishing for the most of the time, but by the time SY got on stage, the sun had set and it wasn’t so bad. Yes, they did play “Kotton Krown”, along with some other favorites which I’d never seen live before. Here’s the setlist:

Kotton Krown/ Bull In The Heather/ The Empty Page/ Rain On Tin/ Eric’s Trip/ Plastic Sun/ Radical Adults Lick Godhead Style/ Shadow Of A Doubt/ Karen Revisited/ Tom Violence/ Candle/ Sympathy For The Strawberry/ Kool Thing. (encore#1) Disconnection Notice/ Making The Nature Scene. (encore#2) Drunken Butterfly.

Some notes:

* “Karen Revisited” (aka “Karenology”) seems to be the most popular song from Murray Street, based on published/blog reviews and this audience’s reaction. I’m glad, cos it’s my favorite too. I really do wish that Lee was allowed to sing more, both in concert and album. I get the feeling that it’s his decision to hold back, but I wish it weren’t that way. I know “Skip Tracer” is also in their current repetoire, and I would have loved to have seen that. Why do Thurston and Kim get seven songs each for Lee’s two? Lee’s great, we need more Lee in this world. The instrumental second part of this song was very well executed, and well recieved by the audience, which is a bit of a suprise to me actually, especially since it was at least half of a ‘free concert’ crowd.

* “Candle” was added to the setlist halfway through, cos Thurston heard a request for it and convinced the rest of the band to add it in, for which I am eternally grateful. The song was beautiful, and it felt good to finally get to see them perform it after all this time of it being one of my sentimental favorites. Even better, they didn’t cut anything out of the setlist – the audience got a bonus song out of the band’s generosity.

* “Rain On Tin” is so perfect for outdoor afternoon performances – so sprawling and mellow, it’s an ideal song for baking in the afternoon sun, surrounded by trees and a thousand people.

* “Plastic Sun” is a revelation when performed live. On the album, it doesn’t quite stand out for me; but on stage, the song’s arrangement makes more sense and Kim Gordon is far more forceful and charismatic. The same goes for today’s versions of “Kool Thing”, “Drunken Butterfly”, and “Making The Nature Scene”. I remember when Kim was a lot more icy and reserved on stage, it’s really cool to see her blossoming into a very rocking showwoman. I loved her white shirt/black tie/pink skirt/sunglasses outfit, by the way.

* “Kotton Krown” was absolutely beautiful. It made me miss someone specific very, very much.