Sunday, March 01, 2009
there is a whole lot of cross-platforming going on these days; actor/musican/model/artist/dj/novelist. a direct symptom of the confluence of the easy one to one distribution of internet technology/culture combined with our myopic obsession with celebrity. in other words, we are easily interested in everything done by someone we are interested in. mouthful. but last night belle and i walked away from bergamot station talking about how impressed we were with the quality of the artistic work by the musicians in this show. gibby haynes works were our personal favorites but we began speaking specifically about the folks from sonic youth; lee ranaldo, kim gordon, and thurston moore. unlike my crazy admiration of gibby and the butthole surfers, i was never as fond of sonic youth as i always knew i should be. not to say i didnt like them, i did, but i think i admired them more than i listened to them. after all, sonic youth were undoubtedly one of the most influential and artistic bands during my lifetime. to see that at least the three of them obviously qualified as visual artists in their own right was, not a surprise but, an affirmation of the creative power that can be brought to bear when you put together a band of folks that are, in a way, sort of creatively overqualified for their positions.
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13 comments:
And now I'm really upset that I didn't go to that opening last night. I had every intention of being there. But, I had a few beers at my buddy Matt's 40th birthday party and I went into a BBQ coma when the sun went down.
I'll be checking the show out on Monday, but I sure as hell wish I could have been there to thank you, Eric. Seeing you playing together with Jane's again has truly been a blessing and an honor. But more importantly, thank you for all of the great music over the years.
Eric,
Sonic Youth are huge contributors to alternative music and it's pretty cool you got to meet them.
I haven't written on here for a while, but I just want to say, thank you so much for agreeing to do the jane's reunion. this means so much to me, especially because i wasn't around during 86-91. i can't wait to see you guys make great music, which i plan to do this may at sasquatch. my friend and i were so excited to hear you guys were playing at the gorge, which is about a 3-4 hour drive from us. how are you feeling about the upcoming tour? will you use the brahms bass? will you open w/ up the beach? thank you again eric. i have been waiting for this to happen for three years.
ALEC
Wow, that looks like it was a real inspirational and fantastic exhibit of art. I'm envious as I wish there was something akin to this in NYC. (Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of very cool venues to see great works there, but at the moment not anything like this combination). I would go in a heart beat. Thanks for sharing Eric. I have a few friends who wear many hats in the creative world and I am in awe of them. It's so awesome to know well rounded creative people did something like you saw last night.
I met Lee Ranaldo one time when my old band Shirley Temple of Doom opened for his band at the time in CBGB's in the mid 90's. He was a real gentleman.
Have a good Sunday.
Best, Matt
Eric, this reminds me of meeting Lou Reed at an exhibition of some of his photographs back around 1997, and how great that was. I love it when, you know, you find out Tony Bennett is an avid painter or something. I think real artists can excel in almost any media. William Blake made those wild illuminated poems.
Also, as I read what you wrote, a quote from a certain musician came to mind:
"I've had a good time these last three or four years. I've met a lot of interesting people and seen things in a short space of time that I probably would not have run into in twenty years of living. I can't say I regret it. If I had it to do over, I think I would have gone for the quiet, undemonstrative artist, plodding away in his own garden."
AND
"I think there's a whole region of images and feelings inside us that rarely are given outlet in daily life. And when they do come out, they can take perverse forms. It's the dark side. Everyone, when he sees it, recognizes the same thing in himself. It's a recognition of forces that rarely see the light of day. The more civilized we get on the surface, the more the other forces make their plea."
I you haven't figured it out, this was James Douglas Morrison, who was much more intelligent than he has been portrayed in films, books, etc.
I've got one extra quote from Jim:
"Los Angeles is a city looking for a ritual to join its fragments."
EA,
Sounds like a cool exhibit.
Sonic Youth and Buthole Surfers were both bands that I held in high esteem. Paradoxically, I was not -- and am still not -- all that familiar with their catalog. Perhaps it's time for a listen.
I will say that Teenage Riot by Sonic Youth is a masterpiece and a potent, evocative tune.
Back to the larger point about art and creativity. Cool to see these musicians have other outlets and expressions of gifts in different forms.
I heard that you painted; do you still?
Good and interesting show you went see Eric.
I don't think I know much of the art of the Sonic Youth guys, got ALL their records thou.
Of all the artists mention on the poster (link) the one I would really like to see more work from is Raymond Petibon brother of Greg Ginn of Black Flag. He made most of their album covers and he made the famous GOO cover of Sonic Youth, which for me, is their best cover along with Sonic Nurse.
Gibby haynes I don´t know if he made the cover of Independent Worm Saloon, love to see his work
Regarding Daniel Johnston I like his art much better than his music. I think when other artists like Yo La Tengo have done covers of his songs, then you realise how god the music is.sorry.
I don't know if Perry still paints or does sculptures but the covers of Nothing and Ritual certainly made their mark in rock music. Love them!
JMP
"i was never as fond of sonic youth as i always knew i should be."
Maybe you weren't into them because they're overrated crap?
Just heard Cramps singer Lux Interior died like 3 weeks ago,what a damn shame.
My respects to him and his great punk rock/rockabilly band, also to his wife Kristy Wallace aka Poison Ivy.
EA,
I was reading "Whores" and read about SY attending some Psi Com shows in the mid 80's. I wondered how much cross over there was w/ Jane's, both bands being such big influences on music at the time. SY is kind of an acquired taste, really dug "Sonic Nurse" from a few years back and "Goo" is an all-time fav (especially the Lee songs).
Eric,
Do you like the art of the Meat Puppets records? I think Cris and Curt made most of the art but I think Derrick did some too.
P.
Uhm for me too, SY is a state of mind, I admire them but never listen to them much. Two months ago I interviewed Lee, Thruston and Steve (very nice person) here in Italy. The issue was the vernissage of sensational fix in Bolzano, an exhibition about SY and all the artists who are in the SY circle. Very nice thing, but still about an idea, or an attitude, of SY and not about music.
Sorry for my rusty english.
Jadel
I'm coming to LA for the PJ Harvey & John Parish concert. I hope this show is still up at the end of March I'm a fan of Sonic Youth, but not to the extent I was of Jane's Addiction when you were in the band.
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