'Cross the Breeze

To see Sonic Youth perform Daydream Nation at McCarren Pool is a concert I'd been looking forward to for a long time. Or, to be more specific, I guess you could say I'd been waiting for it my entire life. One of the most prolific, long-lasting rock bands of its kind, Sonic Youth should be regarded as a national treasure. The set list came as no surprise, since they were playing directly from their 1988 groundbreaking album, but it still brought on a slightly euphoric feeling when hearing the first few riffs of "Teen Age Riot."

I guess enough pent up anticipation will do that to you. After finishing the album, they came back for an encore with a bunch of songs from Rather Ripped, "bringing it back to the 21st Century," as Thurston Moore put it, allowing Kim Gordon to focus only on the vocals and swinging dance moves. There really is nothing like seeing a couple of 50-somethings get guitarded on stage while you stand below in an emptied out, Olympic size pool with hundreds of other dedicated listeners.