January 25, 2014 - LA debut of Burial Hex and Victor Portsmouth at Complex. Flyer design by Greh Holger, concept by G. Holger & J. Short.
The first time The Grinding Gig was performed outside of Europe was Dec 1992 in New York, in a dark warehouse basement full of junk. The main source of lighting was the blank static from a TV set hung just above the performers. During the whole 25 minutes, a petrol-like fragrance poured out from the grinder’s motor. As the microphone was slowly pushed into the grinding wheel, it turned into a fine black powder which filled the air. Just two weeks later, with a screwdriver in hand, GX Jupitter-Larsen quietly removed 100 screws from the Coney Island Boardwalk. Staged during most of the day, this performance was another variation of Building Empty Holes.
“A new world vision. Organismusic, OK?”
“Just like Nissan.”
“‘Raping a Slave’ is fantastic - one of the most horrifying things I’ve ever heard - play it, but the end cuts cold.”
“Possibly the most awful listening experience available. Sorry. Ultra-yuk.”
“This is shit!”
“Yes exactly.”
“AWESOME”
“It was great.”
“This record is ultra-good.”
“Please god, I just wanna be cool.”
“This was never meant to be ‘cool’ or anything and people who ‘like’ it because it’s ‘cool’ to do so are idiots. This is however some of the most powerfully gut-wrenching stuff (music, noise, whatever) ever recorded. Some people want their guts wrenched, some can’t handle it. I dig this - fuck you.”
“I don’t give shit for ‘cool.’ I don’t give shit for ‘good, great.’ I like this record. I like this band for my own reasons. Fuck everything else. OK?”
“(over)”
“Robt. Palmer of the NY Times wrote an article on Swans & Sonic Youth. He liked ‘em! So none of you are as cool as y’wanna believe. Drop dead.”
“Couldn’t’a said it better myself.”
“Whether you like it or not, this is not rock & roll.”
“Great R & R upsets parents and clears rooms. This is great R & R and you’re all fit to be listening to ‘gourmet rock’!”
[written over the preceding in bright red marker:] “AND THAT’S THAT?”
“It’s hard for the common to approach new ideas.”
“If only this record had any …”
“God’s gift to the music industry.”
“Ooooh! Video please! Again and again and again. Dead cats!”
“You know what? Michael Gira went out with Madonna, for a long time even (he’s the singer/founder), so he’s not even as cool as one would expect. THIS IS TRUE!” [Note: this is not true, as far as I can tell. I found this interview with Sonic Youth where the interviewer says it as a joke in response to Thurston Moore’s claim that she went out with a friend of theirs for a while. When the interviewer says “Madonna went out with Michael Gira,” Thurston says “Why Michael Gira? … You can’t say Michael Gira, ‘cause he’d be offended.”]
“It’s a sad commentary on the music of today when pure shit like this gets hailed as the greatest ‘music’ of all time.”
“Doesn’t improve with age.”
“Why can’t we accept noise as noise and not some brilliant, ‘culturally right’ or relevant thing? Just admit you like or dislike it, because you like noise or don’t like noise.”
“You mean this isn’t Heavy Metal?”
[This comment scribbled out beyond recognition.]
“Eat c–t” [This will be the only place I exercise a little restraint, and hold back from printing everyone’s words as written. Unlike the FCC, I’m not that concerned with F or S bombs, but this one is a bit much.]
“Blech” [Not sure if that’s in response to the record, or the previous comment. If it’s the latter, my sentiments exactly!]
“Well excuse me for being interested in something new and alternative.” [Wow, remember that word? “Alternative”? Those were the days …]
“A little musical exploration is really painless.” [Unless you were in the audience at some of those Swans shows, I’m guessing.]
“I’m playing this after ‘Blue Monday.’ So there!”
“This sucks! Period.”
“I [heart] this disc. Period.”
“One of the best rock & roll bands of all time. Almost as revolutionary as the Beatles or Elvis, even.”
“Wonder if it sounds better at 33?”
“This peice [sic] of garbage is a classic example of KCMU djs/programmers trying to outcool each other (at the listeners’ expense).”
(Source: oregoneyes)
(Source: damnedtobefree, via -dosage)
just part of an excellently written insert in the 4 years in 30 seconds 10" compilation (merzbow, nurse with wound, shadow ring, beequeen, idea fire company, faust, incapacitants, and more rad bands)