In response to Texas’ recent law restricting abortion rights, Sonic Youth have unearthed two live records from their archives that will benefit abortion rights groups in the state. Both shows were recorded in Texas, and in a statement announcing the releases, the group said “abortion is embraced as health care and a human right.”
Sales from both live records will benefit Fund Texas Choice and the Abortion Support Network, and the previously unreleased shows are available to stream today via Bandcamp.
The first album is from their November 15, 1995 performance at the Austin Music Hall, from Sonic Youth’s Washing Machine tour. The second captures their June 24, 2006 show at the Gypsy Tea Room in Dallas, a part of their Rather Ripped tour.
They also have revealed three vintage Texas concert and Texas-themed t-shirts to raise funds for Women’s Choice. Two of the t-shirts bear photographs from the band’s friend and Texas photographer Pat Blashill, reading “Support the power of women” and “Fund Texas choice!” The third features a variation of Richard Prince’s “Dude Ranch Nurse” artwork.
The second tweet of the band’s announcement thread of the new material reads: “In response to alarming restrictive legislative measures against the women of TX (& increasingly elsewhere) SY have announced new releases on their
@Bandcamp & merch store to fundraise for @fundtexaschoice.”
Today Sonic Youth Release 2 Vintage Texas Concerts and Texas-Themed T-shirts to Raise Funds for Women’s Choice
Concerts available on #Bandcamp: https://t.co/cEjTVXPlD9
Shop T-shirts:
US: https://t.co/jlOjmXke2K
EU: https://t.co/1ImadkxRmz1/5 pic.twitter.com/9LY5snFBpC
— Sonic Youth (@thesonicyouth) November 5, 2021
Two vintage live sets are now available in full: 1995 Austin Music Hall and 2006 Gypsy Tea Room, Dallas. These classic, previously unreleased shows are available to stream and download today with 100% of their proceeds to support the two causes. https://t.co/cEjTVXPlD9
3/5 pic.twitter.com/4N3qajbgiB
— Sonic Youth (@thesonicyouth) November 5, 2021
Sonic Youth support a national and world community where abortion is embraced as health care and a human right.
5/5
— Sonic Youth (@thesonicyouth) November 5, 2021
