Lou Reed to tour Metal Machine Music.

Eccentric is the best thing they could say about this guy?

I don't suppose anyone went to this... http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2009/04/24/lou-reed-brings-controversial-metal-machine-music-to-new-york/

The description sounds pretty great

The small venue was probably only half full and its patrons consisted mostly of intellectual types and hard-core Reed fans. Long before the band came on, the sound system was playing an unnerving dissonant loop that seemed to keep getting louder. When they took the stage, Reed and his band, tenor saxophonist Ulrich Kreiger and Continuum (a touch sensitive MIDI keyboard) player Sarth Calhoun wasted little time for pleasantries before they dove into the apocalyptic rush, although Reed announced appreciatively beforehand, “I just want to tell you how happy I am to see you all here tonight.” There were no “songs,” but instead the musicians churned out a continuous blaring fog that rose and decreased in its deafening intensity, marked by shrill electronic shrieks, long demented sax solos and Reed’s occasional yelling voice.

Although the music was played in the same spirit as the original album, it had much more direction, making it more listenable. Saxophonist Kreiger was an extremely talented soloist. He saw the noisy mass not as an opportunity to play as manically as possible, but as landscape ripe for tasteful musical exploration. His soloing, which provided a leading musical voice throughout the performance, ranged from strange and jagged to bluesy.

Reed, who seemed good-humored, looked youthful and vibrant. He was seated behind a tall rack stuffed with dozens of pedals, effects and switches. He would viciously attack and twist the buttons, adding a deafening warble, a squealing death howl or some other unearthly sound to the mix. At one point he shouted the lyrics of “Coney Island Baby” into the microphone, looped his voice, and then manipulated it to frightening and unrecognizable degrees.

Toward the second half of the show the music calmed down and Reed got ready to play guitar. This was when people started to leave. It was as if a quiet illness had come over the audience. People would slowly get up and then stagger through the aisle to get out. Others had started staring at a young man near the front row who kept erupting into inexplicable fits of laughter.

As Reed started chugging a low note on his guitar, the band proceeded to play its most coherent and listenable passage of the night. Calhoun started playing his Continuum as if it was a throbbing Hammond organ, creating a low undulating swarm of sound. The band then ferociously climaxed and Reed emerged with a triumphant power chord riff. He kept on playing it, letting it ring out against the otherwise thorny music.

Lou doesn't go apeshit on guitar nearly enough.

I wish I'd been there. Oh god, how I wish I'd been there. Thanks, Chris. Would love to hear first hand accounts. Anyone?

Just in case you weren't aware Zeitkratzer released an album/DVD package of the concert about 18 months ago.

They pretty much nail it and the interviews are interesting. Only Lou Reed 'fluffs' his bit on the fourth track.

I interviewed him at the time about MMM and - surprise, surprise - he was a cunt but hilariously and knowingly so.

I had the opportunity to interview Reed in connection with his ambient CD, Hudson River Wind Meditations or whatever the hell it was called. I've never been what you'd call a big fan - I have MMM in my iPod but never listen to it, and the same goes for The Blue Mask and Legendary Hearts; I owned New York back when everyone did, and at one point kinda sorta liked Rock 'n' Roll Animal. But that's it. So I turned down the interview offer, and have no regrets.

that sounds fucking awesome

I have MMM in my iPod but never listen to it

x-post This is like a double "why?"

live recording up over here of a recent show ... http://bigozine2.com/roio/?p=463
you can also buy a live recording of a show from last year in LA here: http://www.loureed.com/metalmachinetrio/

Petridis: “It reaches a climax when Reed whacks a gong at the back of the stage: incredibly, it’s the loudest and most startling sound all night. Some people boo, more rise in a standing ovation, which doesn’t last quite as long as Reed laps it up for. Still, he’s waited 35 years for the public to applaud Metal Machine Music: under the circumstances, you might be inclined to milk it too.”

har. sounds sweet!

The tour was here last night but it was like 70 euros a seat; bummer, I guess?

Lou Reed, name your reasons why he is so bad and hated

it is funny that he's spent so much time during the last 10 years touring behind/re-recording/re-imagining his two most controversial records of the 70s, MMM & Berlin. Personally, I think Lou doing guitar noize jams is kinda awesome! Better than going 'round playing "Walk On The Wild Side" again anyway. Listening to those old VU boots, you can tell that the dude just loves fucking it up on the guitar, so it's nice that he's come back around to that.

looking forward to him touring the Raven when he's 90

hell yeah ... that album is soooo underrat - oh never mind. kinda sucks.

When did Alexis Petridis start being nice about experimental music? He used to hate it with a vengeance. Anyway, I would've gone to this but I can think of better uses for £55.

also, i'm guessing that the booing he heard was actually Lou-ing. pretty standard at his shows.

^^^ I made the same mistake of perception when I used to see the Brewers play the Twins on tv. Willie Wilson would be up to bat and the crowd would be all 'boooooooooo' but actually they were saying 'coooooooooool' which was WW's nickname.

http://images0.cafepress.com/product/260647340v4_480x480_Front_Color-Black.jpg

So is Lou just going to come onstage and turn on a vacuum cleaner?

I think that's how the Stooges got there start.

argh, their

I know I would be bored so I decided not going to the show. Now I am kind of sorry because most people here don't know it's the Metal Machine show. Two nights sold out in one hour. And I'm sure it will be hilarious to see all these people who are expecting 'Sweet Jane' and they will have Lou turning on a vacuum cleaner.

He was here in Vienna the other day at the film festival talking about this new documentary he's made about his 100-year-old cousin Shirley. I didn't go but it sounds sweet, completely unexpected coming from him.