Gordons - Live in TAITA, Wellington, July 1984 (final show ever.....apparently).

This is a live recording of the second Gordons line up. It was dropped in my lap a couple of years back by Seigfried the Satanic Rocker and I've been enjoying it ever since. Sounds like a desk recording to me. Possibly desk to four track? Certainly much better quality than most shitty live recordings. There are a few tracks on here that were unreleased so they are un-named thus far. If anyone knows the names, let us know. I don't wanna rant too much about this band. Most of you who arrive here will know who they are. But if you don't.... (don't kill yourself just yet) here's something you should read.
Written by Rob Mayes of Failsafe Records.

GORDONS

I was too young to have seen them live alas. I know people who did see them. All of them pretty much floored by the experience. Some literally blown over in fact. Thankfully the later Gordons incarnation 'Bailter Space' were totally amazing anyway so i got to be floored by that lot on many an occasion. I remember one morning after a Bailter Space gig I was in the kitchen making a cup of tea and my flatmate came in and was gesturing away to me..... her lips were moving but no sound was coming out.... I was like Huh? Then I realized, I couldn't actually hear anything! Fucking deaf.... Took a day or so to come right.....next time i took the earplugs.

I may have been unlucky in seeing the Gordons live but I am lucky to have in my collection, original vinyl LPs of both albums and the future shock 12". I think I paid $25 back in the 80's for the second LP and there's a copy on Discogs listed for over $300 currently. Glad I picked that one up. Rare as hens teeth. Like those early Skeptics LPs (Ponds etc). Gotta love those weird NZ rarities!

Anyway, here's a link. Listen. Be amazed, Don't kill yourself just because you didn't see them live. Ok?

Just reiterating, this is a live recording and not a download of the second LP.

Gordons Live

Thanks to Rob Mayes for info on when & where this was recorded.

Sonic Youth - Live In Christchurch 12.02.93

I open the wooden chest containing all my old cassettes. I know it's in here somewhere. Layer after layer of cassettes are removed to reveal nothing. Maybe i took it out years ago and put it somewhere for safekeeping? No, surely. Finally, on the bottom layer, there she goes..... scrawled along the cassette spine 'Sonic Youth - Live in Christchurch'. The 'Youth against Fascism' tour no less.

I give the tapeheads a good clean with some Isopropyl, set the computer to record & press play. The sound quality is good. A stereo recording in fact. I don't know who recorded this but they did a good job. As i recall, a friend Todd (bassplayer in band Maus) gave me this sometime after the gig. His friend had apparently recorded it & thankfully he'd decided to make me a copy.

Halfway through the tape rip the tape refuses to budge. Oh no..... not now.... not halfway....! 

I take the tape out. Seems to spin easily enough. But there's a loose piece of plastic inside the cassette. Could be an issue. I take it apart carefully. Its not an issue. Back to the tapedeck. I try a different cassette. No movement. Hmmmmm. Crack open the tapedeck lid. The rubber pulleys are not looking so hot and the main drive belt appears to have slipped off somewhat. I give the area a good clean, right the belt & press play again. The wheels turn sweetly. These 70's cassette decks never die (he says nervously).

The day of the gig i was cycling down Manchester St and happened to see Lee Ranaldo, Steve Shelley & entourage walking along. I catch the american accents as i bike past. 

That night The Theatre Royal was packed. Peter Jefferies & the Dead C support. If you were lucky enough to be there as i was, you were in for a treat. A Sonic treat .... a Sonic ice cream with cherries on top......

Sonic Youth didn't disappoint. 

And here it is. For those of you who were there, you'll enjoy reliving the moment.

I love hearing Kim tell the audience off for stage diving. 'You bunch of fucking arseholes!' she yells..... but later she relents. 'Only the girls can stage dive'......... followed by the screams of appreciative 20 somethings from the audience. Actually the screaming didn't stop the entire show. 

Such was our appreciation that they'd finally shown up in our little village.

Enjoy.....

Sonic Youth Live @ the Theatre Royal. Christchurch, NZ. 12.02.93

P.S. the song 'Genetic' is only half there. As it was on the tape. Who knows.... maybe the recorder nicked out for a sly ciggie.