Drone Henge: Ambient drone-metal band Sunn O))) makes a rare live appearance in St. Louis

"Really, the concepts are what I think we're all interested in exploring, especially the dynamics [of the music] concept. We've kinda been the band for a long time, that the live show has been one extreme wall of sound. We like to experiment with spaces in the music, bring the volume down and then bring it back up as an effect."

But whatever Sunn O))) plays, it'll be at bowel-churning volume. The band's rider for last year's tour stated bluntly: "Sunn O))) is 125dB on stage. Sunn O))) is very loud. Sunn O))) focuses on low & sub-bass tone with intention of a heavy physical presence within music beyond the typical concert experience."

Damon Allen Davison

Sunn O))): Greg Anderson and Stephen O'Malley aren't here to play the hits.

Details

Sunn O)))
9 p.m. Wednesday, July 8.
The Firebird, 2706 Olive Street.
$15. $3 minor surcharge at the door.
314-535-0353.

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• Greg Anderson
• Sunn O)))
• Southern Lord
• Metal and Hardcore
• Medicine

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That mass of volume comes at a price — such as a possible case of Ménière's disease — and other strange effects. "I have had dizziness and disorientation after a long period of time playing, like an hour in," Anderson claims. "Your sense of perception gets messed with because of how the volume envelops you. But it's also the physical thing, it's such a physical sensation with the amount of air coming out of the speakers, that it can be deceptive, and it messes with you. The funny thing is about [the low frequency sound] is that a lot of people really are into it. It's not painful, but the aftereffects are just as damaging as high-end loudness. It's more a pleasurable feeling."

I note that my cats always flop down in front of the stereo when I crank a Sunn O))) album.

"Yeah, I've had the same sort of reaction from my cats; they like it too," Anderson replies. And then he chuckles, perhaps picturing cats in monk robes and corpse paint lazing about in the front row.