Tag: Sonic Youth

JG Thirlwell backs Thurston Moore and Anne Waldman on Burroughs Tribute Box Set

JG Thirlwell

The Travel Agency Is On Fire featuring poet Anne Waldman and musician Thurston Moore, is the second major studio composition by bassist and composer James Ilgenfritz to deal with the work of 20th century experimental writer William S. Burroughs.

The second disc features Waldman’s and Moore’s readings accompanied by musical backing from JG Thirlwell on two of the tracks, as well as musical contributions from by Bob Bellerue, AC Diamond, Chuck Bettis and others.

This limited-edition hand-assembled 4-CD box set on September 25, 2026 on Infrequent Seams. Each box set includes a hand-painted box, decorative slipcover, 12-page booklet, and four CDs. Two discs feature Waldman and Moore reading the Burroughs texts, while the 3rd and 4th discs showcase selections from the instrumental recording sessions, featuring Zeena Parkins, Elliott Sharp, William Winant, Daniel Carter, Brian Chase, and others.

JG Thirlwell performs at Gregg Foreman Memorial / Vega tribute

JG Thirlwell

JG Thirlwell will be performing at a memorial for his friend and colleague Gregg Foreman, who died in April 2026. Foreman gained recognition in The Delta 72, and also worked with Cat Power, Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Pink Mountaintops and more. The evening also serves to commemorate Alan Vega‘s birthday. Gregg Foreman and Vega worked together, and Foreman had helmed several Vega / Suicide tributes in the past. Thirlwell performed the Suicide song “Harlem” with Foreman twice on these tribute nights.

Also appearing at the tribute will be Cat Power, Bob Bert (Sonic Youth / Pussy Galore), Grace Bergere, Jesse Malin, Liz Lamere (Vega’s widow), members of The Delta 72, Cynthia Ross, Genre Is Death, Johnny Scuotto and many more. The event will occur at the Bowery Palace in New York. Tickets are available here

JG Thirlwell contributes to new score of Bickford film

JG Thirlwell

Prometheus’ Garden is a 1988 film by the acclaimed clay animator Bruce Bickford (1947–2019), well known for his collaborations with Frank Zappa.

The film was updated in 2024 with a new reimagined score created by 28 artists, who contributed one minute each :
 JG Thirlwell, Bradford Reed, Bent Arcana, thisquietarmy, Victoria Keddie, Edley O’Dowd (Psychic TV), Ian Williams (Battles), PLQ MRX, Helms Alee, Tunde Adebimpe (TV On The Radio), Michel “Away” Langevin (Voivod), Lee Ranaldo (Sonic Youth), Tony Molina, Rob Noyes, Cumgirl8, Ego Sensation & Dave W. / White Hills, The Residents, MV Carbon, Her Space Holiday, Corset Lore, Wand, White Magic, Jonti and TheDieYoungs, Father Howl, Alicia Vanden Heuvel, Brian Chippendale (Lightning Bolt), David J (Bauhaus) and Jim Coleman (Cop Shoot Cop / Human Impact).

Prometheus’ Garden was inspired by the Greek myth of Prometheus, a Titan who created the first mortals from clay and stole fire from the gods, Prometheus Garden immerses viewers in a cinematic universe of dark and magical images, unfolding in a dreamlike stream of consciousness of competing characters engaged in a violent struggle for survival.

The new version of the film was produced by Eric White, Aaron Guadamuz & Sam Zimmerman. The NYC premiere will be a 2pm matinee on March 22 2025 at TV Eye in Queens. Tickets available here.

Thirlwell art in Pioneer Art Zine

JG Thirlwell

 

JGThirlwell has contributed four pages of exclusive new graphics for the new edition of Pioneer Zine. This issue was curated by Bob Bert (Pussy Galore, Sonic Youth, Chrome Cranks etc) and features contributions by JG Thirlwell as well as Thurston Moore, Lee Ranaldo, Lydia Lunch , Jasmine Hirst, Reuben Radding and Mark C. You can pick it up here

JG Thirlwell performs Lou Reed at Lincoln Center

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On July 30 2016, Reed_by-Julian-Schnabel-and-courtesy-the-Lou-Reed-ArchiveJG Thirlwell will be performing the Lou Reed song “Men Of Good Fortune” at Lincoln Center Out Of Doors as part of an all-day celebration of Lou Reed curated by Laurie Anderson and Hal Willner entitled The Bells. Thirlwell will perform with a band comprised of Don Fleming (Gumball), Sal Maida (Roxy Music), Kenny Margolis, Lee Ranaldo (Sonic Youth), Steve Shelley (Sonic Youth) and Matt Sweeney (Chavez). Other guest singers performing in the same set include Joanaspolicewoman, David Johansen, Lenny Kaye, Jesse Malin, Kembra Pfahler, Felice Rosser, Harper Simon, Jon Spencer, Bush Tetras, JG Thirlwell, and Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls. The set begins at 11.30am.

The day will also include a Tai chi lesson with Master Ren GuangYi; Lou Reed DRONES: an immersive sound installation created from six of Lou Reed’s guitars and amps in a feedback loop; readings of Lou’s lyrics from Steve Buscemi, Willem Dafoe, Natasha Lyonne and many others; and a set of Lou’s love songs in the evening performed by the likes of Laurie Anderson, Anohni, Emily Haines, Mark Kozelek, Bill Laswell, Maxim Moston, Jenni Muldaur, Jane Scarpantoni, Jim White, John Zorn and many more.

The concert will take place in the Damrosch Park Bandshell on the grounds of Lincoln Center at Amsterdam Ave. and W. 62 St., New York, NY 10023 and admission is free.

JG guests at Kill Your Idols screening

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kill_your_idolsIt’s the tenth anniversary of Scott Crary’s documentary about the New York music scene, Kill Your Idols. It’s being celebrated with two midnight screenings at the Nitehawk Cinema in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. JG Thirlwell will be a guest after the screening tonight, November 15, for a discussion and Q & A, along with Jim Sclavunos (Teenage Jesus, Bad Seeds etc), Chris Pravdica (Flux Information Sciences, Swans) and Aaron Warren (Black Dice).