Thurston Moore Revisits His Sonic Youth

Huge Sonic Youth fan, albeit a younger one. I caught the tail-end of their career in my HS/college days, c. 2003-2010. I can't think of an equivalent band today that has the kind of stature they had at the time in the indie scene.

Part of what I loved so much about them is the number of free shows they put on. I can always pin the year that I saw them in Prospect Park at 2010, because the iPhone 4 had just been released, and my friend who I was with proceeded to watch the entire show through her new phone, being completely enamored with the "retina display" while tripping on acid.

When I saw them in 2008 in Battery Park, I had the pleasure of sitting on the lawn next to 90s child star Danny Tamborelli, who many will remember as one of the stars of Pete & Pete (a show with its own sort of indie cred). My friend I was with turned to me and said "That's Danny Tamborelli, we need to say hi to him" and before I could get "No we absolutely do not" out of my mouth, he dragged me over and proceeded to introduce us saying "We're great fans of your work". So I shook his hand, way too high for this interaction, as Thurston took a drumstick to his guitar in the background.

I miss Sonic Youth a lot.

He wasn’t unknown. Loser Baby was giant hit. Moore says so at the very start of the interview.

Saw them first in 2004 with my brother. Wolf Eyes opened, my brother ended up leaving because he was sick.

It was my first “real” concert. I’d been listening to music heavily by then, we’ll into indie, but being poor and 17/18/19 it was hard to see live music. I’d been to others concerts small and big (Closing Olympic Ceremonies) - but that one cemented my love for live music, and I got really into the local scene after seeing another smaller show (Q and not U) after that.

I saw them again ~2008 and it was good, not as good, but Rather Ripped was a great album so got to see a bunch of stuff from them.

Pavement was up there for me too, and I just saw them twice over the last 12 months.

I was never big on Sonic Youth but I met Thurston Moore at a poetry reading when he was touring around for his book. I went because a friend suggested. I was in awe at his ease with fans and his general excitement for "the scene". I wish that was how most musicians treated their local following. Great music is fostered by local communities and he knew that and emphasized it. I admire that as much as I admire his talent.

I remember this interview so well. It was a common reference for a friend and I in highschool. "Xanadu, I'm sure all the listeners will be able to relate to that"