Kim Gordon is finally getting Grammy nods for her album, The Collective, and it’s sparking interest in Sonic Youth.
In a surprising twist, a special live album, Hold That Tiger, recorded at Chicago’s Cabaret Metro back in October 1987, is set to be released next February by Superior Viaduct on both vinyl and CD. Originally, it was a semi-bootleg under Goofin’ indie.
During this performance, the classic group of Gordon, Thurston Moore, Lee Ranaldo, and Steve Shelley was present. They were known for shaking up the rock scene but were starting to shape their noise into more recognizable songs, while keeping that gritty New York vibe. At that moment, they were promoting Sister and were only a year away from dropping their iconic double album, Daydream Nation. That’s the one that made it into the Library of Congress, a pretty big deal for an indie record.
We can’t help but feel excited about diving back into some legendary tunes.
The album showcases tracks from Sister like “Schizophrenia” and “White Cross,” plus older ones like “Brother James.” To top off the show, they covered four Ramones songs in a row, giving a shout-out to their CBGB’s roots.
Here’s an interesting tidbit: Steve Albini, a well-known producer who passed away recently, introduced them on stage that night. Steve Shelley shared a story with Rolling Stone about how they stood up for Albini when he wasn’t allowed into the club. The band demanded he be let in, and surprisingly, the club agreed. On the recording, you can hear Albini announce, “Ladies and gentlemen, from NYC, the kings of cough syrup — Richard Kern and the Black Snakes!”
Keeping up with their playful style, the new release of Hold That Tiger keeps its original cover photo, which doesn’t even feature the band. It’s actually a picture of Bob Bert and Julie Cafritz from Pussy Galore, another noise rock group.
