My bloody eardrums

What does payback sound like? A lot like tinnitus. Last night I left the office during deadlines to see My Bloody Valentine play the Santa Monica Civic. My friend Wayne bought me a ticket months ago, and he offered to pick me up after he and the Ella sisters had dinner. Perfect: Leave at 9:30 or so and get back in 2 hours or less, right?

We got there just after the second opener finished. I would have like to have caught Spectrum, but I was satisfied just to bump into friends on the way in. A bunch of people from UCLA were there (Gaby, Jens, Ajay...), the fabulous Lana Kim, and one of my favorite artists Shizu Saldamando, too. Man, I should get out more!

And the show was incredible. After a long buildup of mellow music and darkness, MBV came out with dizzying strobes and the loudest fuzz ever. You've probably already read about it in music blogs, etc. The music sounds as gorgeous and powerful as ever (if you don't have Loveless burned into your brain, go get it now.

An online video can't possibly do justice to the band's live show, but here's a sample from their latest tour anyway:



The actual volume was shocking. I could feel my skin ripple. The final song included 10-15 minutes of white noise that was like being outside at an airport. I think that's the song that did the most damage.

Right after the show, I went back to the office to do some work and Eric told me that I was talking really loud and not responding to his questions, which he asked numerous times. Crap!

Despite wearing plugs, 24 hours after the show, my ears are still ringing like crazy. Talking on the phone is really difficult. At least I can kind of hear bass again and treble sounds don't crack up mid-air. The weird part is that when I was listening to the radio or watching baseball this afternoon, I could hear what sounded like tinny music coming out of someone else's headphones echoing from the opposite side of the room. Are my ears too sensitive now?

But that show was worth it. You can't replicate the feeling with a bootleg because your speakers just aren't that loud. You can't feel the lightness in your chest--the sort of feeling you have when you're sleep deprived or in love. Amazing.

The only other times my ears have been this worked were after seeing the Butthole Surfers at the Roxy (circa Locust Abortion Technician, I think) and Sonic Youth at Iguana's in Tijuana (for Goo). Those times, my ears healed up in a week. If this one lasts longer, I'll probably go to see a doctor. By then, the mag will be in solid hands at the printer.