Stream: My Bloody Valentine “Soon”

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My Bloody Valentine shook the house, literally, at the Santa Monica Civic, on October 1st and 2nd. I attended both shows and though both were equally ear piercingly loud, only the second of the shows actually brought the roof down. As rumors buzzed about the crowd after the show, Shields himself confirmed—quite pleased—that a chandelier had fallen from the ceiling during the 17-minute sound assault during the middle of the last song “You Made Me Realise.” Now I have been to shows where I left dusted with plaster from the ceiling, but a chandelier—that’s a first! The sensation I got from the high decibels was like no other feeling I have ever in my life experienced. It honestly rattled my bones and I felt like someone had taken a hammer to my heart. With my earplugs in, I still felt as if I were coming dangerously close to losing a significant amount of my hearing. But like my brother said when he was three and pummeled by a wave at the beach: “I wanna do it again!” Which is why I went back for more the second night. Despite the experimental-jet-engine ending, the set stayed pretty true to the album versions of the tunes both nights, with the only possible complaint being that you couldn’t hear enough of Bilinda Butcher’s sweet and gentle vocals that we all identify with and love so much—but what do you expect when the guitars are that loud? They kicked off the set with “I Only Said” and kept the hits coming: “Only Shallow,” “Soon,” “Come in Alone” and “When You Sleep” off Loveless, and my personal favorite “Feed Me With Your Kiss” off Isn’t Anything, which showcased MBV’s brilliant rhythm section of Colm O’ Closoig and Deb Googe. The two of them were on fire all night, fighting their way through the thickest walls of guitars and relentlessly keeping it rocking the entire time. I am careful not to describe this as a reunion show, because technically My Bloody Valentine never broke up—they were simply on hiatus, according to Mr. Shields who assured me six years ago that they would in fact make a new album and tour again. Though many of us had our doubts, I am sure glad—for the sake of music and for all of us who like to be pummeled by waves—that Kevin Shields kept to his word. My Bloody Valentine has yet to be surpassed in the marriage of beautiful melodies and fantastic noise.

—Tiffany Anders