we had a hot tip you'd be in the balcony!

Yeah, you said you'd be there. That's what you said a few months ago, anyway. We were looking...

No, I most certainly did not! I said that because everyone who drinks goes to the balcony the floor is wide open and you can walk right up to the band! Of course that was based upon the Rather Ripped tour show when there were less than half as many people in the place. But regardless, when Sonic Youth play, look for me as close to the stage as humanly possible. I will step on children and run over little old ladies to get there. Thankfully all I had to do was squeeze in between some sweaty indie kids and once I started jumping up and down they inched away!

Sorry I missed your message. I was in the throes of debauchery at that point, I must admit...

More, more, more...

no worries, sorry we missed you, but we had a pretty incredible view in the balcony (which i never would have said 10 years ago).... i think we got our fair share of sweaty mosh action in vancouver (or seattle for those who were there).

fun fact: my friend was talking to one of the shirtless macho moshers who appeared out of nowhere at van and apparently he 'used to' be paid to show up and start mosh pits......so i'm curious if the seemingly spontaneous shirtless macho moshfest right up front in vancouver was actually choreographed...

I find highly suspect the claims of a large shirtless man that he "got paid to start mosh pits". Paid by who and for why? I doubt even Epitaph bands would stoop so low.

The roseland theater sucked big monkey balls... just for the record.

The show started super early (SY were already playing when I walked in at 9:30). No bars on the main floor? wtf?

super early? doors at 7... awesome color at 8...played for half an hour (which is about all an opener should play for)... sonic on at 9-ish? i think they were scheduled to play 9 til 11... (which seems standard for most 'club' shows on this tour, i think?)

That's so kids under 21 can see Sonic Youth. Something Sonic Youth and 99.9% of their fans are rather in favor of...

I think it is a "theater" thing or possibly an all ages thing. At clubs the doors usually open at 8ish, openers start at around 9:30ish and main acts start at about 10:30ish.

I'm looking at my ticket stub and it says 8PM. That is when I assumed the doors opened... not the show starting. Fucking weird... but I had a good time anyway despite almost missing it completely.


I grew up in the Washington D.C. area where all shows are all ages. They just put a stamp on the under aged kids. Problem solved! Strange liquor laws the Pacific Northwest has for supposedly being the "final frontier".

Next time I hope SY come to real venues when they pass this area of the country... not the fucking Block Party (couldn't hardly see the band from the "drink pit") and not the Roseland theater (Metal detectors, frisk on entry, no bar on stage level, main act starts at 9PM, AC broken).

I agree the liquor laws suck, but the club has a choice, keep the kids out with a bar on the main floor, or have a bar a few yards away on one of the other two levels and let the show be all ages. Unless those liquor laws we both would rather have change happen to actually change by the next time SY plays Portland, I can guarantee the band will play a place where the kids can be up next to the stage.

Put a stamp on the under aged kids and open the fucking bar I say!! :D

I also vote for Sonic to play the Showbox in Seattle next time around.

Sure and if you, I, the club, or the band got to decide that would be the case. But since we don't, the band does the cool thing (pun noted but not planned) and plays where the kids can get to the stage (and so can adults who have finished their drinks in the very same club). Bitching about the club when they are doing the best they can with a set of laws undoubtedly they hate even more than you do, is just whining. If you want to change the laws, why don't you get a petition going? I'll sign it.

the first couple of my holgas from Portland...