David Lester
Art by David Lester, text by Jean Smith. Mecca Normal comes to Toronto for the Over the Top Festival this Friday as part of the guitar-voice duo’s 25th anniversary tour. More art from David throughout the week.
Sonic Youth
In the 90s, at the height of grunge, we got a call that Sonic Youth wanted us to open for them in Seattle. The theater, the Paramount, was big - balconies and all that. When it came time in our set to do “I Walk Alone,” I left the microphone and ran to the side of the stage - I edged past the main speakers, singing, and down the steps. I ran up the aisle to sing directly into people’s rather shocked faces. I dashed back towards the stage - but there was a bouncer standing at the top of the steps and I guess he hadn’t seen me leave the stage. I must have appeared to be a rabid fan trying to accost Dave, who was playing the simple riff over and over, wondering if I’d ever return. The guitar was blasting out of the mains right beside the bouncer, so I couldn’t get him to hear what I was saying. Eventually I pushed past him and returned to the mic totally exhausted, with Dave looking at me like I’d lost my mind for being gone for so long. [Jean Smith]
