If you've been following Kim Gordon's solo career, which surprisingly didn't really kick off until just before COVID in 2019, you're aware that the former Sonic Youth member has continued to forge new paths of uncharted musical territory that may sound rather distant from her old band's glory days on the outset, but it slowly reveals its similarities over time, especially when brought to life onstage. Gordon and crew took to the stage for the night and immediately descended into her new record, playing it from start to finish with nothing more than a few thank yous delivered between tracks. With live drums, bass, guitars, and a plethora of samplers and other noise machines, the band hit it off with the trip-hop styling of the title-track "PLAY ME" which eased the crowd into the evening with its seductive sway before slowly turning up the energy on "GIRL WITH A HOOK." Before you knew it, the blitzed-out trap beats were hitting with industrial force as droning noise began to permeate from underneath. The bass was obliterating and guitars shredded into oblivion, but it was the steady drumming delivered like the pounding of a jackhammer that pushed the songs to another level. Gordon's lacerating vocals were harsh, hoarse, and dragged on the beat, her eternal cool glistening with white hot heat as each track simmered under her spoken word, near slam poetry performance. Her IT rebellion track "BLACKOUT" was met with a roaring cheer from the crowd as her mutilated repetition of "IT IT IT" cut like a serrated knife, ripping into the audience with its visceral snarl. "DIRTY TECH" was another rapturous moment that felt menacing and also invigorating all at once, the brutality of the music stirring something deep within and letting it be expunged as she really laid into the song with a killer sense of vengeance. Finishing out the record when the blaring beat of "BYE BYE" hit the room exploded and the band sunk their teeth into the groove, tearing it up with striking force and pure, ragged glory that let them flex and put their muscular noise to work. After a few more hits from The Collective and her solo debut No Collection, she led the band through a solid noise jam that recalled her past and proved that decades into her career she's still pushing boundaries and and trudging through sonic landscapes most are far too intimidated to explore. As she song her guitar over the middle of the stage during the droning encore, she guided the sound or turbulent energy across the room in such a distinct and timeless manner proving that she's been an innovator from the start and still leading the way today.
Set list:
02 "GIRL WITH A LOOK"
03 "NO HANDS"
04 "BLACK OUT"
05 "DIRTY TECH"
06 "NOT TODAY"
07 "BUSY BEE"
08 "SQUARE JAW"
09 "SUBCON"
10 "POST EMPIRE"
11 "NAIL BITER"
12 "BYE BYE"
13 "Trophies"
14 "It's Dark Inside"
15 "Psychedelic Orgasm"
16 "Paprika Pony"
17 "Cookie Butter"
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18 "Cigarette"
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