Tuesday night in Manhattan, the Knitting Factory was a shrine devoted to Ecstatic Peace. A sold out crowd piled in to the Prefix- sponsored gig and marveled at Thurston Moore's selective prowess. And after excellent sets from his label's acts Religious Knives, Tall Firs, and MV & EE, the magnate strapped on his acoustic guitar and proceeded to completely rock out. The mainly mellow songs from last year's Trees Outside the Academy took on a tougher edge when handled by a trimmed-down four-piece anchored by longtime Sonic Youth drummer Steve Shelley. When his band had finished a terrific set of those, he broke out his electric and laid into some even meaner tracks from 1995's Psychic Hearts.

In between songs he even had time to participate in some informal election night polling. After asking if anyone had the New Hampshire primary results, a crowd member asked for his presidential pick. "Either the black guy or the chick." Met with mixed murmurs, he floated the punk answer. "Fuck 'em all." To which, the packed room rejoiced.

Thanks to Thurston, Ecstatic Peace, the Knitting Factory and everyone who came out. ~Jeff Klingman

Photos by: Chris Owyoung