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Thurston Moore opened for Dinosaur Jr. & Henry Rollins, playing Fallon & the 1st of 4 PS122 benefits (tonight)

Thurston at MHOW in May (more by Dana (distortion) Yavin)
Thurston Moore

Dinosaur Jr. brought their “Bug” tour to Calvin Theatre in Northampton, MA last night (6/21). They were supported by Northampton resident Thurston Moore who played a “Demolished Thoughts”-heavy set before Henry Rollins took the stage for a live interview of the headliners (which was followed by a set of spoken word).

A friend and casual fan texted me during the Whole Children benefit show. He said, “Henry Rollins just interviewed dino jr for 30 minutes. People are starting to get antsy.” That said, afterwards I got a “show was great.” Hartford Courant reports:

[Dinosaur Jr.] dispelled the awkwardness when the musicians came out to play, charging through a pair of post-“Bug” songs including “The Wagon,” a wistful melody cutting through a churning blend of bass, drums and singer J Mascis’ super-heated guitar.

Next came “Bug,” the last album the original lineup of the band released before Mascis kicked out bassist Lou Barlow, leading to years of enmity before Mascis, Barlow and drummer Murph regrouped in 2005.

It sounded on “Bug” as though someone remembered belatedly to turn on the house PA system: everything was suddenly louder and crisper, with overpowering blasts of guitar pushed to the brink of feedback on “Freak Scene,” the booming crack of Murph’s drums on “Yeah We Know” and guitar squall worthy of an army of screeching wildcats on “Let It Ride.”

On “Don’t,” the last song on the original version of “Bug” (the 2005 reissue included an extra track the band didn’t play), Barlow invited a fan to help shriek the lyrics in his place after the bassist blew out his voice doing the song Monday night in Maine. Not only did the fan look a little like Barlow, with a big mess of curly hair, he took to the part like a Method actor, howling into the microphone and eventually shedding his shirt as the band thrashed around behind him.

Dinosaur returned after a pause for two more songs, ending with its cover of the Cure’s Just Like Heaven.”

Dino’s tour continues, but without Thurston. It hits NYC on Thursday (6/23) at Terminal 5 with Off!, Fucked Up (who have a new video), and another live interview by Henry Rollins. Tickets are still on sale.

Thurston doesn’t appear on any of the other dates on the tour, but he does play a different type of show tonight (6/22) in NYC. The show is the first of four benefits at PS 122. He performs tonight, along with John Fleck, the TEAM, Temporary Distortion, Yoshiko Chuma, and many others. Other notable appearances include Reggie Watts (who plays Summerstage tonight) on Thursday (6/23) and Amanda Palmer (who plays Maxwell’s tonight) and John Zorn on Saturday (6/25). Tickets are still available. Full PS122 Benefit lineup below.

Thurston also plays Fallon tonight (6/22) (Bon Iver played last night).

La Blogotheque recently filmed Thurston at his NYC apartment for the Take Away Shows. He played “Benediction,” “Blood Never Lies” and “Circulation” off the new album and talked about getting his start in New York City, CBGB, and the like. To quote Matador, “These videos are essential viewing, complete with shots of Manhattan’s streets, Thurston’s reminiscences on his early days in the city and some insights into the record.” Watch the videos below.

Thurston heads out on his tour with Kurt Vile soon. That tour doesn’t hit NYC but Kurt is also on the bill for the Sonic Youth show at Williamsburg Waterfront with Wild Flag. Tickets for the Brooklyn show are still available. All tour dates below.

Meanwhile, Thurston Moore and Kim Gordon’s daughter Coco Gorden Moore is currently fronting the Massachusetts punk band Big Nils. Their album Sibling is streaming on their bandcamp and is available for a $5 digital download. We recently heard from Coco when she performed in the band She Murders at the Kathleen Hanna tribute at Knitting Factory in December.

And as mentioned, Thurston’s Sonic Youth-bandmate Steve Shelley plays this Friday (6/24) at Death By Audio with his band Spectre Folk. The bill also includes Sic Alps, Weekends, and Philip Seymour Hoffman.

All Thurston dates, PS122 lineup and videos below…


Thurston Moore on the Take Away show

Thurston Moore on the Take Away show

PS122 Benefit Shows

Wednesday, June 22
MCs: Julie Atlas Muz & David White

Performances by Thurston Moore, John Fleck, the TEAM, Temporary Distortion, LeeSaar The Company, Yoshiko Chuma, Yvonne Meier, Penny Arcade, Okwui Okpokwawasili, Nicky Paraiso, Jeff McMahon

Thursday, June 23
MCs: DANCENOISE with Richard Move & Friends

Performances by Forced Entertainment, Alien Comic, NTUSA, Vivarium Studio, Tamar Rogoff, Sally Silvers, Young Jean Lee’s Theater Company, Maria Hassabi, Eric Bogosian, Reggie Watts, and a Special Spalding Gray Award announcement

Friday, June 24
MCs: Sarah Michelson, Carmine Covelli and Neal Medlyn

Performances by Every House Has A Door & Goat Island, Jack Ferver, Deb Margolin, Jennifer Miller, Sarah Maxfield, Banana Bag & Bodice, Mabou Mines, Jonathan Ames, Neal Medlyn, THEM by Ishmael Houston-Jones, Chris Cochrane, and Dennis Cooper (excerpt), Ain Gordon, Meredith Monk
Music by DJ Duo Team Company LLC

Saturday, June 25
MCs: Carmelita Tropicana & The Staff of Performance Space 122

Performances by Amanda Palmer, David Leslie, New York City Players, The Wooster Group, Elevator Repair Service, John Zorn, Big Art Group, Split Britches, Big Dance Theater, Carmelita Tropicana
Music by Bob Wonder & the Future Ex-Wives


Thurston Moore and Kurt Vile 2011 Tour Dates
* = Thurston Moore is on the bill
% = Kurt Vile and the Violators are on the bill
& = both Thurston Moore and Kurt Vile and the Violators are on the bill
Jun-25 North Adams, MA Wilco’s Solid Sound Festival *
Jun-26 North Adams, MA Wilco’s Solid Sound Festival *
Jul-11 Boston, MA Brighton Music Hall %
Jul-12 Montreal, QUE La Sala Rossa %
Jul-13 Toronto, ONT Lee’s Palace %
Jul-14 Cleveland, OH Grog Shop %
Jul-15 Bloomington, IN Russian Recording %
Jul-16 Chicago, IL Subterranean %
Jul-16 Madison, WI High Noon Saloon *
Jul-17 Chicago, IL Pitchfork Music Festival &
Jul-18 Minneapolis, MN Varsity Theatre &
Jul-21 Vancouver, BC Rickshaw Theatre &
Jul-22 Seattle, WA Capitol Hill Block Party &
Jul-23 Portland, OR Alladin Theatre &
Jul-25 Oakland, CA New Parish &
Jul-26 San Francisco, CA Great American Music Hall &
Jul-27 Big Sur, CA Henry Miller Library &
Jul-28 Los Angeles, CA Troubadour &
Jul-29 Los Angeles, CA Troubadour &
Jul-30 San Diego, CA Casbah &
Jul-31 Tempe, AZ Rhythm Room %
Aug-04 Salt Lake City, UT Twilight Concert Series (FREE) &
Aug-09 Carrboro, NC Cats Cradle %
Aug-10 Washington, DC Rock N Roll Hotel %
Aug-11 Montclair, NJ Wellmont Theatre (M. Ward) %
Aug-12 Brooklyn, NY Williamsburg Waterfront (Sonic Youth/Wild Flag)%
Sep-16 Austin, TX Austin City Limits %
* = Thurston Moore is on the bill
% = Kurt Vile and the Violators are on the bill
& = both Thurston Moore and Kurt Vile and the Violators are on the bill