Tonight: Sunn0))) @ Riot Room

July 7, 2009

Jason Harper,

Ambient drone-metal wizards Sunn0))) pull in for a rare local appearance tonight at the Riot Room. If you’re in the mood for something heavy and transporting outside the realm of the conventional (and, evidently, the physical), you’re advised not to miss — and to bring earplugs. And eat a simple meal beforehand.

Paul Friswold of the Riverfront Times saw fit to quote a tour rider in his recent interview with Sunn0))): “Sunn O))) is 125dB on stage. Sunn O))) is very loud. Sunn O))) focuses on low & sub-bass tone with intention of a heavy physical presence within music beyond the typical concert experience.”

“Heavy physical presence within the music.” Did you get that?

Says the article:

[Greg] Anderson, partner with Stephen O’Malley in the ambient drone-metal band Sunn O))) (the “O)))” is silent), knows the music the duo creates is not likely to appeal to a large cross-section of society. Twenty-minute tectonic incidents — built around an almost sub-harmonic roar that’s felt as much as heard — lack the big audience of the three-minute pop confection. However, the slender crescent of the population that follows Sunn O))) is fanatically devoted. Limited-edition, colored vinyl records of its digitally released albums sell out instantly through the website of Southern Lord (Anderson’s record label) and then go for triple digits on eBay; fans travel miles to see the duo’s infrequent live performances; and speculation about what they’ll do next runs rampant.

Speaking of good press, the band was the subject of a fascinating (and rather out-of-character) New York Times Magazine story in 2006. Sunn0))) has a new album out called Monoliths & Dimensions, which adds strings, a choir, harps and keyboards to the band’s amp-roaring alchemy.

Not that it’ll do the band justice, but here’s some live footage from a Berlin festival.