Arts Brief: New Youth
On Saturday, Sonic Youth takes the stage at what may be the last concert ever mounted at abandoned-public-works-project-cum-outdoor-venue McCarren Pool. Several generations of music fans will pour in to hear the legendary post-punks make some noise, and they would do well to arrive in time to hear the opening acts. Part of Sonic Youths lasting relevance stems from their role as patrons of a living, boundary-pushing rock scene, and many a young bands rise has been aided by their golden seal of approval. Brooklyn three-piece Vivian Girls is about to join fellow openers Times New Viking and Wolf Eyes in earning this distinction, and the band couldnt be happier.
Im fucking psyched, Cassie Ramone, Vivian Girls lead singer and guitarist, enthused. Sonic Youth has been one of my favorite bands for a very long time. Itll probably be one of the best days of my life. Formed less than two years ago, this band has spared no time in writing genre-straddling songs that appeal to punks, shoegazers and garage rockers alike. With fast-paced riffs, 1960s pop harmonies and a healthy dose of reverb, Vivian Girls digests the best parts of rock history into something fresh-sounding and supremely cool. I think it came together organically, Ramone explained, we all came from different genres and it came together naturally that way.
The bands rapid success is due in part to a relentless schedule of shows both at home and across the country. Ramone, along with bassist Kickball Katy and as-yet un-prefixed new drummer Ali, just returned from an extensive national tour that would have a band of lesser exuberance feeling drained. We love touring, said Ramone, its like vacation for us; we dont mind doing it all the time. Its so much fun, you meet people everywhere you go it rules. Such positive energy, along with an out-of-print debut LP (to be re-released by In the Red Records October 7), and the bands increasing confidence as performers, can only bode well for the future. Add in the blessing of indie rocks favorite geriatrics, and taking up the banner should pose no problem.