Quintron & Miss Pussycat + Kim Gordon & Thurston Moore + Hawnay Troof + Harry Merry
21 Grand, Oakland, CA
July 15, 2006

After an early morning band practice, my friend and bass player JJ says, “So, are you going to the secret Sonic Youth show tonight?” I say no, not because I don't want to go, but because it’s the first I’ve heard of this. JJ gives me some more information and I learn that the show is in honor of a birthday party for Vice Cooler (of XBXRX & Hawnay Troof) and the word on Telegraph is that Sonic Youth will be showing up for a surprise set. I'm intrigued.

The day goes on with some time at the pool and a pig roast at my friend KL's house. By about 9 p.m., with my belly full of pork and coleslaw, I decide that some secret Sonic Youth is exactly the thing I need and head over to 21 Grand for the show.

Originally billed as Quintron & Miss Pussycat + Hawnay Troof + Get Hustle + Dinky Bits, there is sign at the door that says “Sonic Youth is NOT playing tonight.” Yeah, right!

I walk into the middle of Harry Merry's set and am immediately confused and creeped out. Having never seen or heard of this guy before, I speculate that he is German. JK says no way, that he is some fake hipster posing as a weird dude with a wig. (I'm right!) He is playing busy keyboard parts over backing beats and tracks from his iPod and singing along in a children's show sing-song voice. It's weird and disconcerting, but after three or four songs I really get into it and discover the magic. My favorite song was about the erratic bus driver.

Apparently, Get Hustle bowed out of playing the show and I missed Dinky Bits, so next I see Hawnay Troof taking the stage and looking hot in a red, ruffled evening shirt. He immediately gets the crowd jumping with some songs from his bloated 34-song double album, which came out in May. As always, the man knows how to entertain and get a party going. Happy birthday, Mr. Troof!

After his set, Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore and Kim Gordon take the stage as Mirror/Dash, their side project. They both play guitar, Kim sings and plays drums on a few songs and Thurston just rocks it with a goofy grin on his face, looking like a mischievous kid. They are in town to open up for Pearl Jam and the acoustically challenged Bill Graham Civic Center, so tonight they came over the bridge after their set. I don’t recognize any of the meandering songs, and suspect that they were all made up on the spot, but nevertheless, it’s a lot of fun to see the famous couple performing up close in a tiny venue.

The elaborate puppet show/experimental band that is Quintron & Miss Pussycat go on last and, once again, melt my brain with their trippy sounds and equally demented storytime session. To be honest, I don’t even remember the storyline from the puppet show, but I do know that I was entertained. Great stuff from two highly creative people and a kickass out-of-the-blue (for me, anyway) show.

Words by Nate Daly

Photo by Kimberly Chun

www.harrymerry.com
www.hawnaytroof.com
www.sonicyouth.com
www.quintronandmisspussycat.com
www.21grand.org

8/2006