Review
Review
Sonic savage Kim Gordon treats Los Angeles to eclectic lesson on endurance
Playing in a former school auditorium to a room of eager students, Kim Gordon's packed-out show proves she hasn't missed a step in the last 40 years
There’s a new venue in Los Angeles called Sid The Cat Auditorium. It’s name is a literal reference to how the concert hall rejuvenated a defunct elementary school auditorium. A venue befitting for Kim Gordon to open the US leg of her PLAY ME tour, then – it felt like she was the cool teacher running an elective class that was filled to the brim.
Many people in the sold out audience were of the age where they have likely been fans of Gordon since she founded Sonic Youth back in 1981. But there were also many who looked like they might have been attending classes in a similar school setting not too long ago.
Kim Gordon has built a career upon the basis on being cutting-edge and embracing experimentalism. PLAY ME is the latest result of her restless creativity, smashing together contemporary trap beats with her classic brand of untamed rock. Whilst the album’s musically current elements naturally appeals to the younger section of the crowd, her older fans have happily followed Gordon to whatever unconventional sonic destination she may lead them. At one point, someone in the latter category yelled “you’re a genius!” during a mass of distortion and electronic drums. Need they say more?
The set was fiery, slamming, and unpredictable. Crashing through the bulk of PLAY ME, Gordon’s set also leaned readily on her other recent solos albums in The Collective and No Home Record. Each song was a short, rapid-fire burst of intensity, and each of which was bookended by a humble “thank you” from Gordon.
At 72, Kim Gordon is as fierce as ever. With the help of a febrile backing band – who may have less combined years of living between all three of them than Kim has lived on her own – she harnessed a comprehensive understanding current sounds, which she combined with her savage vocals.
None of Sonic Youth’s discography was shoehorned into the setlist, testament to Gordon making whatever kind of music she wants (between her solo albums she made two ambient albums, one of which was a collaboration with Yoko Ono), and her solo body of work becoming more compelling with each milestone record.
Gordon may have inspired that kind of dedication with Sonic Youth. But given her shows are still full of eager students, it’s evident she hasn’t missed a step in the last 40 years.
(Photo Credit: Taylor Hill/Getty Images)
Kim Gordon plays London’s O2 Shepherds Bush on Tuesday 14 April. Find tickets here.
