It was so cool getting to see Kim Gordon at First Avenue. She’s a real-life rockstar and legend, and this show felt like a part of rock and roll history. The openers for Minneapolis and Chicago were The Fiery Furnaces, a brother-and-sister art-rock band, for lack of a better term, that got popular in the 2000s. They killed it! I got to talk to some of their fans who were so excited to see them live for the first time ever, and never thought they would get the chance. They said, “Their music was the sound of my youth!” Then, after they finished thanking the audience, Kim Gordon came out with all the confidence in the world. She started singing and sounded even better live than she does on her records. She had the unmistakable presence that has defined her career while still having a new sound and vibe that was fresh and modern. I spotted a ton of people with Sonic Youth merch on, and even though she is probably best known for Sonic Youth, her solo work is something completely different and should be appreciated on its own. It’s kind of crazy and noisy and experimental, without being too highbrow or weird or inaccessible.

 

She has done a great job at transcending genres and generations, and just performed great music for everyone. You could tell a lot of the crowd had been following Kim for decades and were there in appreciation and to genuinely love the music. When I left the show, I couldn’t wait to tell my parents that I got the chance to see Kim Gordon live. I really appreciate that she is making waves and doing something that she is passionate about away from Sonic Youth. Check out her new album from this year, “PLAY ME”, and go back and listen to her album from 2024 as well, that's what got me into her solo stuff. Both are great!