Type and hit ENTER

Commonly used tags...

Brighton Festival Brighton Fringe Brighton Pride British Sea Power Cinecity Lewes Psychedelic Festival Locally Sourced Lost & Found Love Supreme Festival Mutations Festival Nick Cave Poets Vs MCs Politics Rag'n'Bone Man Record Store Day Save Our Venues Six Of The Best Source Virgins Streets Of Brighton Street Source Tattoos The Great Escape Tru Thoughts Unsung Heroes
  • Home
  • News
  • Previews
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • Food
  • Tickets
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Advertise
  • Home
  • News
  • Previews
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • Food
  • Tickets
  • Contact
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Advertise
Reviews

Thurston Moore And Andy Pyne Review

Jan 28, 2013
-
Posted by Stuart Huggett

With Arts Council budgets undergoing a series of heavy government cuts in recent years, numerous organisations around the country have had their funding axed, including Brighton’s internationally respected Colour Out Of Space festival. This afternoon’s show aimed to raise funds for COOS’s planned sixth festival of experimental sound and art, with Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore – a long-time COOS ally – headlining.

Unsurprisingly, the chance to see a musician as influential as Moore in such a small space ensured every ticket had been snapped up in a matter of hours and the Green Door was heaving. Fortunately, even the ticketless were able to hang out with Moore and co in the bar for the day, listening in and picking up some limited vinyl.

It’s a busy afternoon, with well attended sets of spoken word, voice and tape experimentation and offhand improv, but there’s an extra push for space as Moore begins setting up. With Sonic Youth on hiatus since 2011, the guitarist can be found gigging in various ad hoc duos and trios currently, and today he’s in a first-time collaboration with Brighton drummer Andy Pyne.

Pyne’s most visible role in recent years has been in soon-to-split indiepop band Shrag, but he indulges his primary interest in experimental music in ensembles such as Medicine And Duty and Kellar and with his excellent Foolproof Projects label. Anyone hoping for a run through ‘Teen Age Riot’ is at the wrong gig.

Moore starts off scraping at his battered Fender with a metal bar, generating peals of searing high tones, as Pyne scatters light taps across his cymbals. This tingling exploration of the guitar has long been a Sonic Youth signifier, with Moore using a screwdriver as an additional bridge, drumming on its neck with his fingers and bending strings with the tremolo arm. The pair gradually pick up speed, Pyne marking out a beat with his bass drum and rumbling all across his kit as Moore begins striking at the guitar more firmly, making foot stabs at a simple four pedal set up.

As the noise builds, Pyne heats up, shedding his jacket and keeping an eye on Moore, his own glances out of sight below that mop of hair. The energy ebbs and flows, but heads always towards higher ground, with ever more layers of feedback, discord and drum smash. Pyne varies his tips from hard to soft to hard, Moore pushing a spare stick through his strings, getting increasingly animated and throwing out rock poses stage front. Hitting 30 minutes on the clock, there’s a nod of acknowledgement and the pair pull to a sudden stop.

It’s been a thrilling and rewarding ride, running the gamut from ear tickling treble to outright cacophony. Topping a full afternoon of experimental performances, here’s hoping that, as well as giving Sonic Youth fans an intimate encounter to remember, Moore’s draw helped raise awareness of COOS’ wider field of interests while raising some of those crucial funds.

Green Door Store, Saturday 26th January 2013

Jan 28, 2013
Email
Stuart Huggett
Stuart Huggett grew up in Hastings, writing fanzines and blogs about the town’s underground music scene. He has been a regular contributor to SOURCE, NME, The Quietus and Bowlegs. His huge archive of magazines, flyers and vinyl is either an invaluable research tool or a bloody pain. He occasionally runs tinpot record label Dizzy Tiger, DJs sporadically and plays live even less.
← PREVIOUS POST
SOURCE New Music With Jennifer Left
NEXT POST →
Sea Monsters Day 4 Review
Mailing List

Recent Posts
  • Love Supreme Festival 2025 Review
    Jul 13, 2025

    Despite the poor weather, the performers, whether legends or newcomers, shone to ensure this year's festival ranked as one of the best yet.

  • Ghost Stories Review
    Jul 8, 2025

    A genuinely terrifying production, beautifully produced, stunningly acted and wonderfully directed. If you love a good psychological horror; don’t miss this.

  • Oral Habit Release Garage Frock! ep With a Family Store In-Store
    Jul 5, 2025

    Is this the best new band in Brighton? Team Source says "Hell Yeah!"

  • Get Ready For Some Summer Hi Jinx
    Jun 26, 2025

    New promotions team Hi Jinx are inviting you for beer and free live music beside the seaside. What's not to like?

  • Big Long Sun Launch Album No 2!
    Jun 25, 2025

    With two slamming singles the new Big Long Sun album should be the soundtrack to late night summer parties across the land.

  • Great Escape 2025 Day 4 Review
    Jun 13, 2025

    Day 4 started with a party whistle thrash punk Extravaganza and ended with the glorious debut of Post Common. We love you TGE.

  • Great Escape 2025 Day 3 Review
    Jun 9, 2025

    One of the real joys of the Great Escape is you can often see the bands that really grab you more than once. Day 3 delivered.

  • Great Escape 2025 Day 2 Review
    Jun 7, 2025

    Day 2 provided a diverse range of acts. Within 30 minutes we went from beautiful Australian folk to riotous Korean DnB and that was before tea time!

Website developed in Brighton by Infobo
Copyright © Brighton Source 2009-2023
Thurston Moore And Andy Pyne Review - Brighton Source