A good snapshot into the Sonics' live state of mind circa 2000 in the form of a sprawling, and often exploratory set of some standards and five tracks from their recently-released NYC Ghosts & Flowers. While not pleasant to invoke the infamous gear theft in California prior to that album's birth, it's somewhat important for perspective here. The creation of the album not only inspired recommission of guitars that hadn't been dragged out in a long time (as well as breaking in new gear), but the band's creation process itself became revamped in a way definitely reflected in the twisting, expansive record. I always kinda thought of it as a big ball of twine, with all the individual components being dense yet leaving great space for its players; Jim O'Rourke's studio aid evolved into him joining the live lineup here allowing often for Kim's guitar figures to factor more into the equation. When Lee announces at the top of the set "we're gonna take our time tonight and play real slow and long," ensuing opener "Schizophrenia" swirls more delicately than some of the roaring '87 initial live versions, though throttlers like "White Kross" and "Brother James" stoke up the usual fire and add additional blast with the expanded lineup.

But showcasing of the new songs here is the key stamp of this gig, which plays like a soundtrack more than just a standard rock gig. On record and as a concept, the LP most certainly illuminated the spirit of NYC's fiery poetic past (especially the late 60's) where writers, free-verse-spielers, jazz musicians, impressionist filmmakers blurred and co-existed. While SY always processed/re-zoned/reflected the multi-culti elements of NYC live, their transferral of these particular songs to live forum made for a heightened meditative element to their rock experience more than ever (to this point). "Nevermind (What Was It Anyway)" steams and simmers into long passages of Kim's free intonations, the slow cauldron bubble of "Lightnin's" intro over the mild traffic free-jam of FX is reminiscent of her call-and-response ala "Ghost Bitch's" disruptive stew of yore. "Free City Rhymes" features a slow burn of arpeggios and harmonics with Thurston's voice also in hovering/orating mode, and Lee's natural Beat penchant to infuse such lyrical approach into SY's overall vibe is at high tide on "NYC Ghosts & Flowers", a real set peak. "Renegade Princess'" Neu-chug gives way to a long cool-outro with geyser-like emissions of shifting shapes and new brushstrokes.

This gig is the sound of the band locking down new live potential and vocab, easing back when needed to let the colors blend into the mix, new phrases to evolve, letting songs rise and fall naturally. While these particular poetic/collage-like elements in the setlist are punctuated by some classics, you can almost sense SY were about to embark on a live period that spotlighted their enthusiasm to chase down all the sounds this new lineup and instrumentation hinted at. Surely it wasn't long before the SYR recordings and often fully-instrumental live sets sans the classics started to pop into focus, but for now this show, like NYC itself, displays the great pastiche of elements coming together to create something all new.

- Brian Turner

November 2020