Moore, far right, says there are many areas of art that interest him, and thankfully, Sonic Youth is still one of them.
Finding time for Youth in their 50s
From fashion to books to a daughter’s impending high school graduation, Sonic is still one of the most important things in their lives
Thurston Moore, man of letters
Moore has had his nose stuck in books of late. Following scene-sampling photo tomes such as “Punk House” and “No Wave: Post Punk. Underground. New York.,” is the just-published “Grunge,” featuring photographer Michael Lavine’s candid 1980s Seattle street and artist portraits, which reveal an evocative human side to the mass marketing of the worst named music movement ever. In 2010, Moore launches the publishing arm of Ecstatic Peace Records, niftily titled Ecstatic Peace Library, which will publish art related books, including one documenting Kim Gordon’s drip paintings. “They’re beat poetry drip paintings, they’re really cool,” enthuses Moore proudly.
Sonic Youth returns to the northeast for a performance blitzkrieg and nowhere will it be more appreciated than Boston. The noise rock vets’ recording return to force, “The Eternal,” was released way back in June, on the band’s new label home, Matador Records.
Since then, Sonic Youth toured from the West Coast to the Eastern seaboard, through the South and Midwest. Japan and Europe got shows. Even New York and Philly saw performances. But not Boston. Western Massachusetts might be home for guitarists and vocalists Thurston Moore and Kim Gordon (yes, Metro knows Gordon is/was also the bassist, but that spot is currently held by Pavement’s Mark Ibold), but Boston doesn’t get top dibs. What with Youth’s members having fingers in various pies — from solo records to books to fashion — the band’s schedule has been hectic, especially as other interests spark their enthusiasm, too.
“ I’m at that time in my life where I want to look at other things,” Moore says on one of his regular drives from Western Mass to Manhattan, the city where Sonic Youth cut their artistic teeth.
“I mean, I’m in my 50s now. My daughter is about to go to graduate high school,” he says of his and Gordon’s daughter, Coco. “And there are many areas of the arts that interest me.”
Moore confirms that Sonic Youth continues to be a dominant force in all their lives, though.
“That’s just as strong as ever. There are absolutely no plans to stop making music.”
Sonic Youth
With The Feelies
Sunday, 7:30
With Meat Puppets and Cold Cave
Monday, 7:30
Wilbur Theatre
246 Tremont St., Boston.
MBTA: Green Line to Boylston Street
$29.50, 617-423-4008
www.thewilburtheatre.com
