Sonic Youth, Steve Shelley, soon tofu

After meeting up at Covina Tasty for vegetarian junk food, Sandy, Wendy, and I rolled up to the Fox Theater in Pomona around 8:30, just in time to catch the last song by openers Sic Alps. Not bad. Then we strolled onto the floor and stood three or four people away from Thurston's side of the stage. You can tell from the very tall microphone, which was on the right side.


When I told my friend Ben that I was going to the show, he said that he was jealous, adding, "They're the Beatles of our time, man!" True in so many mays. I wonder if there will ever be a Rock Band or Guitar Hero that allows gamers to recreate the Sonic Youth canon on a de-tuned plastic guitar with toy screwdrivers strategically jammed into the neck.


I've seen Sonic Youth so many times, and the shows are inevitably memorable. The Sister tour at Scream with fIREHOSE opening (no, they didn't play Ciccone Youth); at the Palladium with Nirvana, L7, and STP; at the Whisky with Superchunk; at Iguana's in Tijuana with Mudhoney and Gumball; Castaic Lake with Mudhoney, Pavement, and Kurt Cobain's surprise song; the show in Irvine where their truck got stolen and they played with Sleater-Kinney's equipment; the art opening at OCMA in a tiny patio. This show was memorable, too, with a very experimental set leading up to two songs off Daydream Nation...


And then Sandy took us backstage since she is friends with drummer Steve Shelley (our hookup). From the backstage balcony, you can see Thurston's famous rack of guitars in the background as the crew (including a few more of Sandy's homies) embarks on its two-hour task of breaking down the stage and getting ready to leave for the next night's show at the Wiltern in L.A.


Steve was up for food, so we headed out for some soon tofu in Rowland Heights at a 24-hour BCD Tofu House. Amazing drummer and super nice guy, too. There are just a couple nights left on the tour, so catch Sonic Youth while you can. The band is taking a break this year, except for many some shows in Japan, but Steve's trio which features members of the crew and special guests will be quite active...