It’s gotta be a bit unnerving to dust off your earliest artistic endeavors and put them out on display once again. It’s been thirty years since Psychocandy hit an unsuspecting world, and sent hundreds of people scrambling to their turntables, futilely searching for that phantom cotton ball of fuzz that must be on the stylus, creating a blasted out static cloud of sound.
The live sound is updated with a much fuller sound, with William Reid’s biting guitar tone has been augmented by Phil King, who’s switched over from bass to second guitar. The band took a bit of time to get momentum though, and the first set’s inclusion of “Head On” felt like a plodding Pixies tribute band. Luckily, the band found their stride and the indelible drum start to “Just Like Honey” set the band in motion for good. Brother Jim skulked around the microphone, bathed in chemical fog and blinding back lighting, not saying much aside from thanking the crowd for coming out to see “us miserable fucks.” Closer “It’s So Hard” took several feedback-laden detours until it found its end, leaving the band and crowd with little else to say.
The Black Ryder, an LA via Australia band, handled opening duties and were well-matched for the bill. Suitably moody, the band rifled through the dogeared pages of the Slowdive/My Bloody Valentine/Spacemen 3 songbook, but did a very solid job delivering their own spin on it.
Photos from the concert:
Primarily based in Boston, Massachusetts, Tim Bugbee is no stranger to traveling throughout the country or overseas to capture the best live music photos.
