Caught the very first show of Sonic Youth’s record promo tour. Although I did not know it was the first show at the time, I can look back now and tell you they might have appeared a little stiff.

Behind them stood four lit columns with abstracted images of human couples. Sort of a sculpted analogy to Sonic Youth’s place in music. You can still clearly see the shape and form but it’s an abstraction.

I had not seen SY in years; felt familiar like an old friend with new stories to tell.

The show was added just days before — it seemed like the tour came out of nowhere from my perspective. It actually felt like everybody, including the band, was a little surprised to be there. And it wasn’t completely packed. It felt, in retrospect, a little like a Broadway preview. They played mostly songs from the new album and they re-interpreted older stuff so rarely did the crowd go into a big uproar for an opening chord.

The opening band was a sexy retro rock trio with some beauty but nothing new to say and regrettably only one guitar lick. They reminded me of a discussion I had right around this time last year with some NAPPers in town for Pitchfork. Someone made the comment that some new band was playing an old worn out sound. This someone might have been me. DD responded, maybe but the difference is that they are doing it now.

I like better what Sonic Youth is doing now. They have, as always, my full respect.