Yesterday we posted a free Sonic Youth mp3 from the new album, The Eternal (which is better than we expected. Actually, it kinda rocks!). For some reason, writing about this longstanding New York band made us think of another NYC institution, the Velvet Underground.
Of course, the Velvets aren’t around anymore, but leader Lou Reed is hitting the concert stage twice in NYC this week for a pair of rather unusual shows.
The NYC shows (4/23 and 4/24) will consist of improvised music that Lou’s website calls, “A Night of Deep Noise,” featuring the Metal Machine Trio: Lou on guitar/electronics along with Ulrich Krieger on tenor sax/electronics and Sarth Calhoun on live processing/fingerboard continuum. NO SONGS. NO VOCALS.”
Does anybody else get the feeling Reed’s trying to scare fans away?
We’re not saying he has to open and close with “Sweet Jane” and “Heroin,” but the all-caps warning seems a little snobby, no? And we’re pretty sure that anyone who claims to love Reed’s largely dismissed/loathed1975 experimental noise album, Metal Machine Music might be lying. (For his part, Reed claims he invented and exhausted heavy metal with the disc. Modest, as always.)
Anyway, if you’re still interested, we found out that a cool music site The Music Slut (no relation), is offering up a chance at a pair of free tickets. To be entered in the drawing send an email by 5pm today (4/22). Easy, right? Good luck!
4/23/09 Lou Reed/Metal Machine Trio @ Gramercy Theatre NYC
4/24/09 Lou Reed/Metal Machine Trio @ Gramercy Theatre NYC
Of course, even if you don’t win freebies, you can still buy seats. Tickets range from $50-$65.
