Sonic Youth Smart Bar - Chicago 1985

Sonic Youth – Smart Bar – Chicago 1985

2xlp/ CD / digital

In August 1985 Sonic Youth were touring across the states following the

release of their recently released LP ‘Bad Moon Rising’. This performance

from August 11, 1985 at Chicago’s Smart Bar was recorded on 4-track

cassette. This live recording consists of much of Bad Moon Rising and early

performances of Secret Girl + Expressway to Yr Skull later to be released on

EVOL, as well as a rare never before released live rendition of Kat ‘N’ Hat.

Mixed and mastered by the band from the original tape source for this double

LP edition w/ download card (or CD or digital edition) along w/ liner notes by Gerard

Cosloy and Sonic Youth engineer Aaron Mullan and photos by Pat Blashill and

Steven Koress and released by Sonic Youth on their own label, Goofin’

Records and distributed via Revolver USA.

An excerpt from the LP’s liner notes: “Having now listened to this tape maybe 100 times, I can say this: it’s a killer show. The material was mostly released on the studio album Bad Moon Rising. The album is brilliant, but the material is also so visceral and improvisatory that it greatly benefits from the additional perspective offered by a live recording. Kim’s vocals, more detached on the album, are fierce here. Sheets of feedback insanity on the album which I always assumed to be lucky studio accidents turn out to be actual parts that Lee and Thurston can re-create at will. The album was recorded with Bob Bert on drums, but this show was one of the first after Bob left and Steve took over. Bob’s primal stomps doubtlessly propel the studio versions, but hearing these parts as interpreted by Steve’s systematic pummeling, illuminates the crucial transition to the Evol and Sister albums and beyond. We do get a taste of Evol too, with an early performance of ‘Expressway To Yr Skull’ and the first known live performance of ‘Secret Girl,’ plus an instrumental version of the rarely performed, and never released, ‘Kat ’n’ Hat.’” —Aaron Mullan, Feb. 2012

1- Hallowe’en

2- Death Valley ’69

3- Intro/Brave Men Run(In My Family)

4- I Love Her All The Time

5- Ghost Bitch

6- I’m Insane

7- Kat ‘N’ Hat

8- Brother James

9- Kill Yr Idols

10- Secret Girl

11- Flower

12- The Burning Spear

13- Expressway To Yr Skull

14- Making The Nature Scene