Thurston Moore brought an all-star band to Boot & Saddle
Virtuoso. Icon. Legend. These stately adjectives, among many more, stick with ease to Thurston Moore. This past Saturday at a sold out Boot & Saddle, he and his band (existing under the moniker Thurston Moore Band) showcased his talents with mesmerizing results.
Tall and lanky, Moore stood like a giant in his corner of the stage while often venturing to the edge of the plane between himself and the crowd. Sonic twists and turns from the band’s 2014 record The Best Day dominated the setlist. Moore’s vocals creep in from time to time, but the aural interactions were predicated around string and drum. Longtime collaborator Steve Shelley was behind the Sonic Youth drumkit, pounding away poetry. My Bloody Valentine bassist Deb Googe and guitarist James Sedwards perfectly complemented the noise and fury of Moore.
Moore showed the crowd he has so much left to give the music world. Philly was rewarded with one of the finest live performances of 2014.
Openers PCPC warmed up the ears for Moore with their layered guitars and drums. A band made up of members of Parquet Courts and PC Worship, it may have been a one-off type of performance (they seem to only exist to open for Thurston Moore at this point), but they certainly showed an ability to take experimentation and make it a satisfying reality.