My Bloody Valentine
(via julio_newlove @flickr)
Someone once told me that My Bloody
Valentine is so heavy, they defy any attempt to discuss or describe
them. “They’re so loud,” he said, “they don’t even give you
a chance to turn to your friend and ask. ‘ What do you think?’”
No one does noise quite like MBV. My
American friends give me puzzled looks and awkward glares when I tell
them this; surely, they say, you realize that Sonic Youth is the be-all end-all practitioner of noise
rock? Surely, you realize Dinosaur
Jr. is the loudest band
in the world?
And yes, Thurston & Co. are legends
in their own right, and yes, many an eardrum have been destroyed by
J Mascis’ amps. But when Kevin Shields, Belinda Butcher, Colm Ó Cíosóig
and Debbie George finally hit the stage at Coachella (like they were
rumored to last year), it’s a pretty safe bet that everyone in the
immediate vicinity of the Empire Polo Field will know. And no one will
be thinking about “Death
Valley ’69.”
If we’re lucky, we’ll be treated
to more of “Loveless” and “Isn’t Anything” than cuts from
their forgettable self-titled debut, but one thing is certain: when
MBV breaks into perennial set closer “You Made Me Realise,” lives
will be changed. The 35-second breakdown in the middle of the track
gets stretched out beyond recognition, sometimes spanning as long as 15 or 20
minutes. Minds and eardrums
will be blown, confused festival-goers will walk out in disgust, drugs
and drink will be ingested, and musical dreams will come true.
Written by: Matthew Ismael Ruiz
(via freekorps @flickr)
USA TOUR DATES
4-19 Coachella
4-21 Austin Music Hall, Austin, TX
4-22 Palladium Ballroom, Dallas, TX
4-24 Fillmore Auditorium, Denver CO
4-27
WaMu Theater at Qwest Field Seattle, WA
8-1 All Points West