Thurston Moore, guitarist, vocalist, author and co-founder of Sonic Youth, helped lead a revolution in Rock Music, Noise Rock and NoWave.
Last year, Double Day Press published his memoir, “Sonic Life,” which became a “Vanity Fair” pick for favorite book of 2023.
In September, he released his ninth solo album, “Flow Critical Lucidity,” highlighting his continued talent for finding new, fascinating ways to experiment musically.
Moore joined “City Lights” last year to speak with music contributor Chad Radford, and tomorrow, Dec. 10, Moore and Radford will again be in conversation, but this time at the Tara Theatre. The event will also include a book signing and screening of the 2018 film Desolation Center.
The documentary shares the story of a group of 1980s punk artists playing shows in the desert and features rare performance footage from bands like Minute Men, swans and, of course, Sonic Youth.
Moore recently joined “City Lights” Managing Producer Kim Drobes to discuss the documentary and what to expect at the Tara Theatre.
The concerts at the heart of “Desolation Center” were “all about blowing things up and creating chaos and fire,” says Moore, creating “this sonic chaos on stage of fire and chainsaws and metal grinders on stage as musical tools.”
The musicians decided to set up shop in the middle of the desret to escape the scrutiny of LA’s police, who were ill-inclined to support the chaos that Moore and his associates were aiming for. Most of which “they couldn’t really do on stage too much without getting arrested,” he explained, “so they do it in the desert… and the footage of that is incredible.”
Moore’s new album can be found at his website.
Information about “Desolation Center” can be found here.
Thurston Moore and Chad Radford’s conversation at the Tara Theatre can be found here.
