If anyone asks, tell ’em I’m out to Lunch

The ‘High Priestess of New York Punk’, Lydia Lunch will play at The Lab as part of the IVW shenanigans.
The musician, writer, photographer and performance artist will be with Etant Donnés’ founder Marc Hurtado, who also releases his vision as a poet, painter, producer and film-maker.

Their collective cup of creativity doesn’t just runneth over, it positively floods!

The duo will dig deep into the songs of the ridiculously influential Suicide, aka frontman Alan Vega and instrumentalist Martin Rev, also feasting on some of Vega’s solo work.

Lunch first met their acquaintance when she was a teen runaway who had just touched down in New York in the mid-70s, going on to form a creative partnership, and an enduring friendship with the pair.

Get set for ‘a kind of sonic “Blitzkrieg” and a visual shamanic ceremony, where both artists will burn their souls in the volcanic heart of the music of Suicide and Alan Vega,’ is the teaser.

5 Minutes Alone with Lydia…

What song, gig or album first made a real impact on you, and how?
Berlin by Lou Reed made a huge impact. Concept album, real life horror, gorgeous and depraved. Almost all of my albums are concept albums.

Last album you played, last band you saw live?
Last album played was Joecephus & The George Jonestown Massacre tribute at the MC5. The last band that impressed me live was Tina Kit (Brighton/London). Brutal, beautiful, outrageous.

You’ve collaborated with an amazing number of people over the years. Who left the biggest mark on you, or someone who delivered a real life lesson or piece of advice?

JG Thirlwell (Foetus) a maximalist genius who has always stretched musical boundaries creating work that is monumental, extravagant and glorious. I’m a minimalist but working with him on Stinkfist, Don’t Fear the Reaper, and various other recordings, as well as his production on Shotgun Wedding, an album I did with Rowland S. Howard, was incredibly stimulating.

You’re an uncompromising, outspoken badass! How much of that is intrinsically you, and how much has been learned behaviour ?
Honey, I WAS BORN THAT WAY.

What’s your biggest aid to creativity?
Reality and its complete absurdity.

Is there something that hinders your workflow?
Never. Even though it may appear that I am highly prolific, I am not a workaholic. I just create what is necessary at the time I am inspired to do so.

Your podcast’s are really engaging; as a listener, I come away with insights and knowledge I’d never expect. What’s the criteria for the artists you host?

Thank you. There is no set ‘criteria’ for The Lydian Spin. I just want to expose stubborn, relentless, independent artists who create on their own terms to others. It also offers an opportunity to get some spoken word rants in (the intro) about the ridiculous sh*t that happens weekly.

What’s on the setlist? Three songs you’ll air at the Northampton date
• Sacrifice which was a duet between myself and Alan Vega from his LP Sniper with Marc Hurtado. Subject matter is about being tracked and eliminated for being outside of the rest of society and also being turned into spies for the government with all the bullsh*t Facebook, Instagram, selfie crap people stupidly do, not knowing that they are tracking themselves.
• Harlem, just one of the best Suicide songs.
• Frankie Teardrop, a terrifying track about being driven to madness and violence by poverty and isolation. Beautiful.

This upcoming tour aside, how is 2025 looking for you?
I have two albums finished – one of psycho late night jazz noir with Sylvia Black, and a spoken word LP off set with satanic symphonies by Tim Dahl – bass (RETROVIRUS) and saxophonist Matt Nelson.

More spoken word shows, continue my podcast. Keep touring and have as much f*cking fun as possible, as that orange ass clown infiltrates the White House.

Lydia and Marc play The Lab on February 2. Book tickets at sbdpromotions.com
For more with Lydia tap to lydia-lunch.net