April 28, 2009 9:08

Sonic Youth watched by Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Klaxons at London show

Band showcase new songs at intimate gig

Sonic Youth played a rare intimate gig at London's Scala last night (April 27) to showcase material from forthcoming album 'The Eternal', their first for independent label Matador.

Members of Klaxons, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and estranged Specials keyboard player Jerry Dammers joined the the sell-out crowd to watch as the band played selections from their back catalogue alongside new tracks.

The band bantered with the audience throughout, with Thurston Moore telling one over-enthusiastic fan to "keep it in your pants". He also thanked Bob Dylan for "kicking ass" at his Sunday night concert at The Roundhouse, and praised Yeah Yeah Yeahs for "destroying the joint" at their weekend gigs.

Sonic Youth, who were joined by former Pavement bassist on Mark Ibold, played five tracks from 'The Eternal', sharing instruments and vocal duties.

When freed of her bass, Kim Gordon, wearing a black dress, danced around the stage, and before playing final track Kool Thing, a track she originally performed as a duet with Public Enemy rapper Chuck D, asked the audience if anyone had run the London Marathon. She was met by a bemused silence from the crowd.

Sonic Youth played:

'She Is Not Alone'
'Bull In The Heather'
'No Way'
'Calming The Snake'
'Hey Joni'
'Tom Violence'
'Sacred Trickster'
'Antenna'
'Making The Nature Scene'
'Schizophrenia'
'What We Know'
'The Sprawl'
'Cross The Breeze'
'The World Looks Red'
'Brother James'
'Kool Thing'