Sonic Youth are finally set to play their first shows in mainland China during an upcoming tour of the Far East.
Aside from taking in Japan, the art-rock quartet also have dates planned for Shanghai and Beijing subject to the Ministry Of Culture in the People’s Republic of China granting their approval.
Speaking to NME.COM, singer/guitarist Thurston Moore revealed his excitement at this jaunt.
He said: “Usually these kind of things are pretty underground but it seems like we’re playing in real theatres so there must be enough people out there who are into us to make it worthwhile. I’m planning to wear my promotional T-shirt of the film ‘Shanghai Surprise’ with Sean Penn and Madonna in it- it’s one of the worst films ever made!”
Moore also admitted that that he wasn’t entirely sure what the audience reaction would be judging by previous experiences.
He added: “We played the USSR in the late 80s and everybody expected this rock band from America but the way we were playing, I think a lot of people thought we were getting it wrong! They were like, ‘What’s that? That’s not rock music. That’s some other kind of fucked up shit’. Maybe it’ll be a similar thing.”
The full far-east tour is:
Osaka, Japan, Namba Hatch (April 17)
Nagoya, Japan, Diamond Hall (18)
Tokyo, Japan, Studio Coast (20- all Japan dates with The Boredoms)
Beijing, China, The Star Live (23)
Shanghai, China, Shanghai Concert Hall (24)
The band then return to the US to play the first day of Coachella on April 27.
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