The new line-up was already working on the songs that would end up on the Sonic Youth record when Edson left the band, leaving the remaining trio to play several shows without a drummer.
Shortly after the Noisefest performance, Ann left the band, which opened up the door for Lee to step in - after one practice, they made their live debut with Lee in July the Just Above Midtown/Downtown Gallery. Lee did perform at the Noisefest - with Branca as well as with David Linton, the latter of which was excerpted on the "Noise Fest" compilation as well as Lee's "East Jesus" album. Elements familiar to Sonic Youth's later work were apparent, but several things separated these songs from the shape the band took after Lee joined - Ann's keyboards, and the dual vocal chanting by Kim and Ann. Sonic Youth performed on the third day, their set consisted of 4 unique compositions, likely Arcadians leftovers. A couple weeks later was the Noisefest conceived by Thurston, which took place at White Columns in NYC. Their next known gig was on June 3rd, 1981 at Great Gildersleeves, opening for Glenn Branca, whose ensemble that night featured Lee Ranaldo. Their first known live performance was on May 8th, 1981 at Club 57 in NYC, where they were billed on modified Arcadians gig posters as "FUCKING-YOUTH" and "SONIC-YOUTH" - the latter was used as a template for the Confusion is Sex album cover. The first SONIC YOUTH line-up featured Thurston on guitar and vocals, Kim on bass and vocals, Ann DeMarinis on keyboards, guitar, and vocals, and Richard Edson on drums. Dave Keay was replaced by Richard Edson, and the band's named changed one final time, to Sonic Youth.
That gig was ill-received, so they changed their name once again, to The Arcadians. Together with Ann DeMarinis on keyboards and Dave Keay, the Coachmen's former drummer, they formed Male Bonding, then became Red Milk for their first gig, on December 17th, 1980. Thurston wanted to start a new band with Miranda Stanton, who suggested her friend Kim Gordon after witnessing Thurston's intensity in rehearsal. The Coachmen, Thurston Moore's first serious group, had broken up. Though their first gig billed as Sonic Youth was in May 1981, the roots of the band date back to late 1980. The record was finally reissued on Geffen/Goofin' in 2006 w/ seven exclusive live tracks from 1981, and an instrumental demo of "I Dreamed I Dream". Though considered an EP by some, the band have always referred to it as the first album, and that is the official status appointed to it for the purposes of this site. Sonic Youth was the band's debut record, featuring five songs recorded in late '81 with original drummer Richard Edson. SONICYOUTH.COM DISCOGRAPHY - ALBUM: SONIC YOUTH SONIC YOUTH